Teaching

How do I choose a teaching program?

The requirements for becoming a teacher in Canada vary in each province and territory. The content in this section is directed toward people who want to teach in a public-school board and will pursue a Bachelor of Education (BEd).

The most straightforward path to teaching in a public board in Ontario is to complete a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Ontario. The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) will accredit certified teachers from other provinces, but normally will require a minimum four-semester teaching program, which is met by Ontario programs. The OCT website has more information if you decide to train outside of Canada and want to teach in Ontario. You can also attend an information session with OCT for more details. The OCT website has further information on all of the requirements to become a certified teacher in Ontario.

When considering which teaching programs may be best for you, it may be helpful to reflect on the levels (grades) of teaching you want to pursue and the subjects (teachables) that you want to teach. In Ontario, there are different divisions of how grades are grouped in teaching programs:

(Ontario College of Teachers, n.d.)

A teachable is a concentration in a particular subject that you would be able to teach in a school setting. This typically corresponds to taking a certain number of post-secondary courses within that subject or topic to be considered as a teachable. Depending on the divisions and levels that you wish to teach, your teachable requirements may vary. Look into the requirements of individual teaching programs for more information on what you need to become certified in a subject.

After you finish your BEd, you can take additional coursework to expand the levels and teachables that you can teach. This is called Additional Qualification (AQ) or Additional Basic Qualification (ABQ). AQs and ABQs allow you to:

Another factor which may influence your program selection is if there is a specific school board you want to teach in. If this is the case, find out which schools place student teachers in that board. Being able to complete one or more teaching placements in a board you want to work in can help you connect with teachers and administrators in that area.

Each school with BEd programs will likely have a list of partnered school boards on their website. You can use those lists as a starting point for narrowing down your options.

How do I apply?

To apply to a teaching program, you may:

• Apply through the Teacher Education Application Service (TEAS) for Ontario teaching programs

• Apply through individual program websites for teaching programs not included in TEAS or outside of Ontario

The application process may consist of the following components:

Ontario College of Teachers. (n.d.). Teaching divisions. https://www.oct.ca/public/professional-standards/how-teachers-are-certified/initial-teacher-education/teaching-divisions#:~:text=Ontario%20teachers%20are%20initially%20certified%20with%20basic%20teaching,are%20qualified%20to%20teach%20Kindergarten%20to%20Grade%206.