Types of Teaching Certificates
A Certificate of Qualification (COQ) is also called a Professional Certificate of Qualification. If you apply for a Certificate of Qualification and do not meet all of the requirements, you may be issued a Conditional Certificate of Qualification.
Both the Certificate of Qualification and the Conditional Certificate of Qualification allow you to teach in the B.C. schools below.
- Public schools full-time, part-time and on-call
- Independent schools
- First Nations schools
- Offshore schools
A Conditional Certificate of Qualification is valid for up to five years to provide you with time to complete the academic and/or professional requirements to become eligible for a Certificate of Qualification.
A Conditional Certificate of Qualification can be issued to an applicant who has completed at least four years (120 credits or semester hours) of an acceptable post-secondary education (including a teacher education program) but may not meet all of the requirements for a Certificate of Qualification because
- They may be missing up to 12 credits of semester hours of academic coursework.
- They may need to complete professional education coursework.
An Independent School Teaching Certificate allows you to teach at B.C. Independent, First Nations and Offshore schools. You cannot teach at B.C. public schools with this certificate.
There are four different Independent School Teaching Certificates.
- System Restricted Certificate to Montessori or Waldorf – Teachers with this certificate can only teach within a B.C. independent Montessori or Waldorf school.
- System Restricted Certificate to l’Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger – Teachers with this certificate can only teach in French in elementary and high schools recognized by the l’Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger.
- Subject Restricted Certificate – This certificate allows teachers to teach only the subjects related to their specialized post-secondary training. For example, if you have a degree in mathematics, you will qualify for a Math–Subject Restricted Certificate.
- School and Subject Restricted Certificate – This certificate allows teaching only specific subjects aligned with the teacher’s specialized training or experience, at a designated independent school and for certain grades. It does not apply to generalist, Special Education, or provincially regulated subjects such as Math, Science, English, French, Social Studies, or Physical Education.
Learn more about the specific conditions related to each type of independent school certificate.
A Letter of Permission is a special permit allowing a person to teach without a teaching certificate in a particular public school district, Independent school authority or First Nations School.
A letter of permission:
- Is valid for one year, with no guarantees of continued employment (the employer may hire a certified teacher for the position).
- Requires the hiring employer to submit part of the application and guide the applicant through the application process.
First Nations Language Certificate
This certificate is not for an IET. It is for individuals recommended by a B.C. First Nation to teach the language, culture and traditions specific to that First Nation at a First Nations school.
Trades Certificate
The requirements to be eligible for a Trades Certificate are very specific to residents of B.C. This certificate allows an individual to teach a trade subject – for example, auto mechanics or woodworking.
Comparing Certificates
The Certificate of Qualification, the Conditional Certificate of Qualification and the Independent School Teaching Certificate are most relevant to internationally educated teachers. The employer and the Ministry of Education and Child Care determine the use of a letter of permission, which is used sparingly and only when certified teachers are not available.
Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal or professional advice.
Choosing the Right Certificate
When deciding on the certificate that is right for you, you may consider:
- School Type – where do you want to teach-public, independent, First Nations or offshore schools?
- Certificate Eligibility – are you eligible to teach in the school with the certificate that you’re qualified for?
- Qualifications – which type of certificate aligns with your current credentials?
You can use the Teaching Certificate Application Selection Tool to assist you in selecting the type of certification you should apply for. This tool does not guarantee the outcome of the certification application process. Read the definitions below to understand the terms used in the tool better.
Teacher education programs at B.C. universities are one to two years long. The coursework and practicum focus on teacher education, skills and professional conduct standards for educators in B.C.
Jurisdiction refers to the location (like a province, state or country) where you completed your teacher education program. Jurisdiction also refers to the location where you obtained your teaching certificate.
Where did you get your teacher certification?
- Did you get your certification in the same place where you completed your teacher education program?
- OR did you get your teacher certification in a different place from where you completed your teacher education program?
This certificate is not for an IET. It is for individuals recommended by a B.C. First Nations to teach the language, culture, and traditions specific to that First Nation at a First Nations school.
A semester hour credit is a way to measure how much you studied in post-secondary school. Pathways will calculate your semester credits.