Teachers in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario must be able to communicate effectively in English or French and the College must have proof of this before you can be licensed to teach.

There are several ways to meet this language requirement depending on whether you completed your teacher education program in English, French or another language.

Teacher education program completed in English or French

If you completed your teacher education program in English or French, you have a few options to demonstrate your language proficiency.

  1. You satisfy the English requirement and do not have to send proof of language proficiency if you completed an English-language teacher education program in one of these countries:
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Benin
    • Bermuda
    • Botswana
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Cayman Islands
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Dominica
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Jamaica
    • Montserrat
    • Nigeria
    • New Zealand
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Saint Kitts-Nevis
    • St. Lucia
    • St. Vincent
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • Uganda
    • US Virgin Islands
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  2. You satisfy the French requirement and do not have to send proof of language proficiency if you completed a French-language teacher education program in one of these countries:
    • Benin
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Congo – Democratic Republic
    • Congo – Republic
    • France
    • Guadeloupe
    • Guiana
    • Guinea
    • Haiti
    • Ivory Coast
    • Luxembourg
    • Mali
    • Monaco
    • Seychelles
    • Senegal
    • Togo
  3. If your teacher education program was completed entirely in English or French in a country other than those listed above, you need to arrange to have a letter sent directly to the College from the head of the institution that you attended. The letter must confirm that the language of instruction at the time you attended was either entirely in English or in French.
  4. If you completed one year of postsecondary education entirely in English or French, ask the institution you attended to send a letter directly to the College. The letter must confirm that the language of instruction for the year you attended was English or French.
  5. If you completed your elementary and secondary education entirely in English or French, ask each institution to send a letter directly to the College. The letters must confirm that the language of instruction for the entire duration of the programs when you attended was English or French.
  6. You satisfy the French or English requirement if you completed your teacher education program in a country not on the above list, but you are certified to teach in another Canadian province or territory. You must have been assessed for language proficiency and met that jurisdiction’s requirements at the time of certification.
  7. If you do not meet the requirements set out in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, you must provide proof of proficiency in English or French by passing a language proficiency test. Arrange to have the test provider send your successful language proficiency test results directly to the College. We cannot accept proof from you, even in an unopened, sealed envelope. Learn more about language proficiency test requirements below.

If you have accommodation needs, please contact the testing agency directly.

Language proficiency tests

If you did not complete your teacher education program in English or French or you do not meet any of the requirements listed above, you need to take a language proficiency test.

English

The College has set minimum acceptable scores for the following tests to determine English-language proficiency:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (academic test)
International English Language Testing System Indicator (IELTS) (academic test)

On a single test, you must have a minimum overall score of 6.5, with minimum scores of 6 in reading, 6 in listening, 6 in writing, and 6.5 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (general training test)

On a single test, you must have a minimum overall score of 6.5, with minimum scores of 6.5 in reading, 6 in listening, 6.5 in writing, and 6.5 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test (TOEFL IBT)

On a single test, you must have a minimum overall score of 95 with minimum scores of 23 in reading, 23 in listening, 23 in writing, and 25 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

If your test scores were measured on the 1-6 scale, you must have a minimum overall score of 5, with minimum scores of 4.5 in reading, 5 in listening, 4.5 in writing, and 5 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Canadian English language Profiency Index Program (CELPIP) (general test)

On a single test, you must have a minimum overall score of 8 with minimum scores of 7 in reading, 7 in listening, 7 in writing, and 8 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core

On a single test, you must have a minimum overall score of 69 with minimum scores of 69 in reading, 69 in listening, 69 in writing and 69 in speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Pprofession (LCATP)

On a single test, you must achieve a minimum score of 60 in writing, speaking, reading, and listening. Test results are valid for two years.

French

The College has set minimum acceptable scores for the following tests to determine French-language proficiency:

Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF)

You will need to achieve an overall classification of C1 (Advanced 1). Test results are valid for life.

Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF)

You will need to achieve an overall classification of B1 (Intermediate 1). Test results are valid for life.

Test de connaissance du français (TCF)

You will need to achieve a score of C1 (Advanced 1 in reading, listening, writing and speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)

You will need to achieve a score of C1 (Advanced 1 in reading, listening, writing and speaking. Test results are valid for two years.

Évaluation des compétences linguistiques pour la profession enseignante (ECLPE)

On a single test, you must achieve a minimum score of 60 in writing, speaking, reading, and listening. Test results are valid for two years.

Taking language proficiency tests

Contact the test providers below directly for information on tests, costs and locations in Ontario and internationally.

English tests

IELTS Test Centre Canada

For locations within Canada, visit ieltscanada.ca or ielts.org/test-centres.

IELTS international

For information on testing overseas, visit ielts.org.

TOEFL IBT

For information on testing within Canada and overseas, visit toefl.org.

The Ontario College of Teachers institution code for TOEFL is 9041.

Pearson Test of English

More information is available at pearsonpte.com.

CELPIP

More information is available at celpip.ca.

French tests

Test results will be accepted from all institutions that are authorized to offer DALF, DELF, TCF, and TEF.