Initial Teacher Education
Teachers working in Ontario's publicly funded schools must be a member
of the College and hold a Certificate of Qualification and Registration or a Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration issued by the College. These certificates are a licences to teach in Ontario's public elementary and secondary schools.
A teacher's certificate outlines the divisions and/or subjects a teacher is
qualified to teach.
To become a teacher in Ontario, teachers must complete a postsecondary
undergraduate degree, or meet other acceptable requirements, and
complete an initial teacher education program offered
by an accredited faculty
of education.
The College accredits initial
teacher education programs (sometimes referred to as pre-service
programs) offered in Ontario and reviews programs to ensure the accreditation
requirements are maintained.
Admission requirements to teacher education programs must comply with the Ontario College of Teachers Act. Candidates must qualify to
teach in at least two consecutive divisions and may obtain qualifications to teach in a specific subject.
Admission requirements vary for specific programs such as broad-based
technology subjects, teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing, teaching Native
Language as a Second Language, and teaching in the primary and junior divisions for persons of Native
ancestry.
Teacher Education Programs
Faculties of education offer teacher education programs that are delivered
consecutively and/or concurrently.
A consecutive program is a four-semester leading to a Bachelor
of Education pursued by a teacher candidate after they have completed an undergraduate
degree.
Teacher candidates in a concurrent program complete a program leading
to a Bachelor of Education while also completing an undergraduate
degree in a discipline other than education.
Teacher education programs completed in the English language qualify teachers
to teach in the English-language system. Teacher education programs completed
in the French language qualify teachers to teach in the French-language system.
See Teacher Education Program
Providers for a list of providers offering accredited initial
teacher education programs.
