Skills, Education and Experience

• excellent communication skills, and the ability to inspire their students
• flexible, patient, calm and able to empathize with students
• ability to teach students with a variety of learning abilities and needs
• resourceful, creative, and highly organized

Elementary and Kindergarten School Teachers

• Bachelor’s degree / Bachelor’s degree in education
• Provincial teaching certificate
• Certification is required to teach English or French as an additional language

Source: NOC

Secondary Teachers

• Academic Bachelor’s degree
• Bachelor’s degree in education
• Provincial teaching certificate
• Certification is required to teach English or French as an additional language

Source : NOC

Teaching is a regulated profession in British Columbia

Licensing Requirements for Teachers

If you would like to teach in BC’s kindergarten to grade 12 public education sector, you must have a certificate of qualification from the Ministry of Education & Training issued through the Teacher Regulation Branch. This certificate also enables you to work in all independent schools and First Nations schools in the province.

• The BC Ministry of Education & Training, Teacher Regulation Branch.

To qualify for a certificate, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• a BC grade 12 diploma or its equivalent
• a degree or its equivalent
• at least four years of post-secondary study
• completion of an acceptable teacher education program
• familiarity with the Canadian education system
• English proficiency, or, in the case of teaching French, French proficiency
• recent teaching experience
• a fit and moral character to work with children

More information:  Teaching certificates in British Columbia

To teach in BC’s kindergarten to grade 12 public education sector, you must apply to the Teacher Regulation Branch for a Ministry of Education teaching certificate.

For more information see:

• Apply for a B.C. teaching certificate from another province or country
• International Applicants: Country-specific documents

Familiarity with the Canadian education system If you have studied and/or taught in an education system that is significantly different from the education system in Canada, you may be asked to complete a familiarization program which takes about one year to complete. Find out if you need this training by completing your application for a teaching certificate. Your evaluation letter will tell you if you need this training.

Teacher Qualification Service (TQS)

If you are planning to work in the B.C. public school system, you also need to apply to the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) for a category which helps determine your salary level.