Secondary School Teacher
Information you need to know to work as a Secondary School Teacher
Who is the regulatory body responsible for certifying Teachers in Alberta?
In Alberta, the Teacher Certification Branch of Alberta Education is responsible for the evaluation of credentials and issuance of certification for teachers in Alberta.
What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Secondary School Teachers?
Internationally educated Secondary School Teachers must have a minimum of sixteen years of schooling, including four years of university education and a recognized degree that includes or is supplemented with a structured, pre-service teacher preparation program from an institution acceptable to the Minister of Education. The program must include a minimum of 48 semester hour credits (1 and 3/5 years) in professional teacher education coursework, inclusive of a minimum of ten weeks in supervised student teaching at the elementary or secondary level. To obtain a Alberta teaching certificate, candidates must:
- Have their education and credentials assessed by Teacher Workforce Information Service (TWINS)
- Create a TWINS account
- Complete an online application on TWINS
- Complete any assigned coursework or supervised student teaching
- If successful, applicants will be issued with a Interim Professional Certificate (IPC), valid for three years
- After completing two years of full time teaching in an Alberta school and meeting all other requirements, applicants will be issued with a Permanent Professional Certificate (PPC).
Secondary teachers are required to present a minimum of 24 semester hour credits in a teachable subject area, and 6 semester hour credits in English / French Literature and Composition.
For complete information on the registration requirements, visit the Teacher Certification page on the Alberta Education website.
What are the educational requirements for Teachers in Alberta?
Note: Regulatory bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards.
The minimum qualification required to teach in a secondary 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 secondary education:
- Burman University in Lacombe
- King's University in Edmonton
- Red Deer College has an arrangement with the University of Alberta to offer coursework towards the B.Ed.
- Grande Prairie Regional College has an arrangement with the University of Alberta to offer coursework towards the B.Ed.
- Keyano College in Fort McMurray has an arrangement with the University of Alberta to offer coursework towards the B.Ed.
- Medicine Hat College has an arrangement with Mount Royal University to offer coursework towards the B.Ed.
- University of Alberta in Edmonton
- University of Calgary in Calgary
- University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge
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. School boards are responsible for the hiring and placement of teachers. For a list of schools and school boards, visit Authorities and Schools Directory
What training programs or services are available for internationally educated Teachers?
The following institutions offer bridging programs for internationally educated teachers:
- The University of Calgary offers a Bridge to Teaching Accreditation Program for Internationally-Trained Teachers
- The University of Alberta offers the Internationally Educated Teachers Bridging Program
Both programs require a letter of assessment completed by the Teacher Certification Branch.
What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?
Applicants must successfully achieve the required passing score on one of the Alberta Education approved English Language Tests.The only tests accepted for evidence of language proficiency are the TOEF-iBT and the IELTS-Academic Test.
|
Speaking |
Writing |
Listening |
Reading |
|
|
TOEFL-iBT |
27 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
|
IELTS-Academic |
7 |
7 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations.
What resources and supports are available for internationally educated Teachers?
Directions for Immigrants offers workplace communication groups to help you integrate into the Canadian work environment. Clear Communication for Business is designed to help internationally educated professional fine-tune their communication skills with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. In one week, you will learn through role-play and scenarios the nuances and expectations of the Canadian business culture. Topics include active listening, assertiveness, conflict resolution, problem solving, and teamwork.
What information resources are available for Teachers in Alberta?
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