elementary school teacher

National Occupational Classification Number: 4142

OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Who is the regulatory body responsible for certifying Teachers in Alberta?
• What are the requirements for internationally educated Teachers?
• How do I apply for an assessment of my credentials for salary purposes?
• What are the educational requirements for Teachers in Alberta?
• Who is responsible for the hiring of teachers in Alberta?
• What training programs or services are available for internationally educated teachers?
• What information resources are available for Teachers in Alberta?

Who is the regulatory body responsible for certifying Teachers in Alberta?

In Alberta, the Teacher Development and Certification Branch of Alberta Education is responsible for the evaluation of credentials and issuance of certification for teachers in Alberta.

What are the requirements for internationally educated Teachers?

Internationally educated Teachers must:

1. Apply (online) to the Teacher Development and Certification Branch of Alberta Education for an Interim Professional Certificate.
2. Possess evidence of: a 4-year university education degree or a degree in another field that contains or is supplemented with a teacher preparation program, immigration status in Canada, all names used for legal purposes, and language proficiency. TOEFL-iBT is the accepted language proficiency test. 
3. Submit all the required documents (found on the website) and pay the application fees.
4. Note: documents that are not in English must be translated by an official translator along with the statutory declaration form (found on the website). The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta provides translation services.

Note: The teacher preparation program presented must meet the criteria for teacher certification in the jurisdiction where the teacher preparation program was completed.

How do I apply for an assessment of my credentials for salary purposes?

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is the professional organization of teachers, and through the Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS), evaluates credentials for salary purposes.  TQS does not issue salary assessments until teaching authority has been issued by Alberta Education.  Any enquiries regarding salary assessments should be directed to the Teacher Qualifications Service.

What are the educational requirements for Teachers in Alberta?

Regulatory bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards)

The minimum qualification required to teach in an elementary school is four years of post-secondary education leading to a bachelor of education (B.Ed.) degree.

The following post-secondary institutions offer B.Ed. degree programs in elementary education.

• Canadian University College in Lacombe, Alberta.  
• Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton.  
• The King's University College in Edmonton.
• University of Alberta in Edmonton
• University of Calgary
• University of Lethbridge

Additional Occupational Information

For more information on occupational duties and wages, visit the Alberta Education Information Service at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and search for Teacher under occupational information.

Who is responsible for the hiring of teachers in Alberta?

Alberta’s public education system includes Public, Separate, Francophone and Charter schools, as well as alternative programs and virtual programs offered by school boards and home education. Alberta First Nations, Métis and Inuit schools follow the Alberta Programs of Study. All school types including accredited private schools employ teachers with Alberta teaching certificates. 

Public and Separate school boards operate the basic education system in the province – the universal system accessible to everyone.  Separate school boards administer Roman Catholic and Protestant separate school boards. School boards are responsible for the hiring and placement of teachers. For a list of schools and school boards visit: http://education.alberta.ca/apps/schoolsdir/

What training programs or services are available for internationally educated teachers?

Bridging Program

Transitions to Alberta Classrooms (TAC)

Immigrant Bridging Program for Foreign Trained Teachers

http://www.chinooklearningservices.com/ContEd/ImmigrantBridgingProgram.html

Transitions to Alberta Classrooms (TAC) is a six-month program offered by the University of Calgary Faculty of Education, in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), to help foreign trained teachers for whom English is an additional language prepare for employment. The program components include: enhancing language proficiency, differing philosophies of education and learning about Canadian pedagogical practices. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare students to gain and retain employment as teachers in Alberta.

Obtaining University Credits

Internationally educated teachers who speak English as an additional language and who need university credits to meet the requirements of the Alberta Education Teacher Certification Branch are may be eligible for the TAC program. To learn more about obtaining university credits visit the University of Calgary Division of Teacher Preparation at http://www.educ1.ucalgary.ca/dtp/tac/index.html.  

What information resources are available for Teachers in Alberta?

Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)
website: www.teachers.ab.ca

The Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS)
website: http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca

Education Canada Network
website: http://educationcanada.com

Apply to Education
website: http://www.applytoeducation.com

                                                                                                                             Last Updated: March 2008