Professional Standards

OCTs show compassion, acceptance, interest, and insight into developing students' potential. They demonstrate care through a commitment to students' well-being and learning expressed in practice through positive influence, professional judgment, and empathy.

OCTs demonstrate consideration and fair-mindedness. They honour human dignity, emotional wellness, and cognitive development. In their professional practice, they model respect for spiritual and cultural values, social justice, confidentiality, freedom, democracy, and the environment.

OCTs demonstrate honesty, reliability, and ethical practice. Ongoing reflection helps them uphold integrity in their professional commitments and responsibilities.

OCTs demonstrate fairness, openness and honesty. Their professional relationships with students, colleagues, parents, guardians, and the public are based on trust.

OCTs honour First Nations, Métis, and Inuit strengths, knowledge systems, languages, and Ways of Knowing by acknowledging the truths about how education continues to be shaped by the legacies of colonialism; deepening their understanding in relationship with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities; and applying this knowledge through culturally informed and inclusive, strengths-based pedagogy, and responsive methodologies.

OCTs develop knowledge, skills, and teaching practices through experience, collaboration, and ongoing, relevant learning, and apply these competencies to make informed professional decisions. They remain responsive to student needs, current research on effective teaching and assessment, and evolving educational contexts, including emerging technologies.

OCTs build a current and comprehensive knowledge base that includes an understanding of student development, pedagogy, curriculum, content knowledge, and community-held knowledge systems, as well as relevant policies and legislation. They apply this knowledge with care, integrity, and contextual awareness to make decisions that improve students’ learning and promote their well-being.

OCTs foster collegial relationships grounded in ethical and collaborative professionalism to strengthen students’ support networks and create safe environments that promote students’ learning and well-being. They recognize power dynamics within these relationships and work to interrupt inequitable patterns so that collaboration authentically centres students’ strengths and needs.

OCTs demonstrate their commitment to every student through professional practice informed by students’ lived experiences, and grounded in care, dignity, and the upholding of human rights. They take actions to create culturally safe, accessible, and barrier-aware learning environments where students feel respected, supported, and empowered to learn.

Help promote the refreshed standards with ready-to-use text that can be easily copied and pasted into newsletters and social media posts. Content is updated monthly.

Use this graphic in newsletters, presentations, websites, and other communications to promote awareness of the refreshed Professional Standards.

Watch this video to learn more about how the refreshed Professional Standards support Ontario Certified Teachers.

Download a printable poster highlighting the relationship between the nine Professional Standards.

Download a printable reference poster featuring the complete descriptions of each standard.