WHY BECOME AN ONTARIO CERTIFIED TEACHER?

All teachers must be an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers to teach in Ontario's publicly funded schools.

OCTs pay an annual membership fee to maintain their membership and certification.

WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY?

Apply only when you are ready to submit the following initial requirements:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of name change (if applicable)
• Criminal record check (vulnerable sector check not required)
• Proof of language proficiency test scores (for applicants who are submitting language proficiency test scores to satisfy this requirement)
• Teaching certificates from another jurisdiction (if applicable)
• All applicable fees

Before you begin your application, you should:

• Select the registration guide below that applies to you. Please read it carefully. Registration requirements may change without notice.
• Review the following checklists to ensure your documents provide the information needed to evaluate your application.
  • Degree Transcripts checklist
  • Academic Transcripts checklist (for technological education teachers)
  • Teacher Education Program transcript checklist
  • Statement of Professional Standing checklist
• Watch the video Registering with the Ontario College of Teachers.
• Read the FAQs for applicants online.
• Internationally educated teachers only: complete this self-assessment tool.

REGISTRATION GUIDES

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  Applying to teach academic subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 12? Read Requirements for Becoming a General Education Teacher in Ontario.

• 

  Are you a First Nations, Inuit or Métis applicant without a university degree applying to teach the Primary-Junior grades? Read Requirements for Becoming a Primary-Junior Teacher if you are of Indigenous Ancestry .

• 

  Applying to teach Technological subjects? Please read Requirements for Becoming a Teacher of Technological Education in Ontario .

• 

  Applying to teaching a Canadian native language? Read Requirements for Becoming a Teacher of a Native Language.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY?

Your application will be valid for one year from the date it was submitted.

Within 10 business days of the College receiving your complete application, you will receive an email with instructions for accessing your document status page. Your document status page identifies:

• documents you have already provided.
• a list of missing required documents (if applicable).
• any other information required to begin your evaluation.

When the College has received all required documents, your application will be reviewed as a whole to determine if any additional information is required. Once all of your documents and information have been deemed to be to the satisfaction of the Registrar, you will be notified by email.

TIPS FOR NEW APPLICANTS

• Save your application often as it will timeout after 30 minutes of inactivity.
• Sections marked with an asterisk are mandatory.
• Do not use your browser back button to navigate the application. You will lose the data you have entered on that page. Instead, use the quick navigation menu on the right side of the page to navigate the application.
• Ensure the information you've provided is correct BEFORE you submit your application. You will only be able to update your contact information after you submit your application.

NEED HELP?

For assistance, please email Client Services at info@oct.ca. You can also call Client Services at 416-961-8800 or toll-free in Canada and the U.S.A. at 1-888-534-2222.

Our contact centre is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.

When you are ready, click on Apply.