Internationally educated teachers wishing to work in Canada must fulfil certification requirements set by each province or territory in 2025.
The Canadian government in 2025 has added teaching-related occupations to the category-based draws in Express Entry, including roles for secondary school teachers, early childhood educators, and teacher assistants.
According to CIC News, teaching in Canada is governed at the provincial or territorial level, meaning each region has its certification process.
Teachers trained outside Canada must meet these regional requirements, including providing proof of academic credentials, completing a teacher education programme, and demonstrating proficiency in English or French.
Some provinces, such as British Columbia, require international teachers to complete additional familiarisation courses to meet local standards.
Hereunder are five steps that internationally educated teachers must follow to apply for certification:
* Ensuring eligibility generally requires a post-secondary degree and a teacher education programme.
* After meeting these criteria, teachers must submit various documents to the provincial regulatory body, including identity verification, criminal record checks, and proof of language proficiency.
* An application fee must also be paid, which varies by province.
In provinces such as Alberta, teachers have the option to work under interim certification while they accumulate the necessary teaching experience.
This provisional certification permits them to teach in the area until they can apply for permanent certification, provided they meet certain work experience criteria.
According to reports, teaching opportunities in Canada encompass full-time salaried positions, supply teaching roles, and long-term occasional (LTO) positions.
Full-time teachers typically work for 10 months a year and are often unionised, with pay scales based on experience. Supply teachers are on-call substitutes, while LTO teachers take over the classroom for an extended period, such as during maternity leave.
Teachers certified in one province can transfer their certification to another under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. This process generally requires submitting forms and supporting documents to the new provincial regulatory body.
Prospective teachers can visit provincial education websites or the CIC News portal for more details about the certification process and immigration pathways.
