Requirements to apply for a Certificate of Qualification (COQ)

Elementary school teachers need 30 credits of general coursework in areas related to the B.C. elementary curriculum and must include:

• Six credits of coursework in English or French literature and composition
• Three credits of Canadian studies
• Three credits of mathematics
• Three credits of science (in the fields of astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, earth science and/or ocean science, physics or physical geography

Secondary school teachers need 30 credits of academic coursework and must include:

• Six credits of coursework in English or French literature and composition
• 24 credits of coursework in one of the following subject areas:

Trades teachers need to have the following preparation to be eligible to receive a Trades Certificate restricted to teaching a specific trade subject area:

• A Red Seal or SkilledTradesBC (formerly Industry Trade Authority) Certificate of Qualification that has a minimum of three levels in a trades subject area that is offered in B.C.’s K-12 school system
• A minimum of five years of journeyperson work and/or teaching experience in the trade area
• Six credits of coursework in English or French literature and composition
• The completion of an acceptable teacher education program

Trades teachers who hold a Trades Certificate may be able to upgrade to a Professional Certificate of Qualification by completing additional requirements. When applicants become eligible to receive a Trades Certificate, the letter of eligibility will include information about the requirements needed to upgrade the certification. These requirements may include a degree and additional coursework in another subject area that is offered in B.C.’s K-12 school system. 

Applicants who completed their teacher education program in B.C. need to have completed a program that:  

• Is offered at a post-secondary institution in B.C., and  
• Has been approved by the British Columbia Teachers' Council under the Teacher Education Program Approval Standards

Applicants who completed their teacher education outside of B.C. must have completed an acceptable teacher education program that:

• Was completed at an accredited post-secondary institute
• Included at least 18 credits of professional education coursework
• Included an acceptable practicum that was 10 weeks in duration, took place in a kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) school, and was observed, reviewed, and assessed by mentor teachers at the school and by faculty members or supervisors at the post-secondary institute
• Authorizes the applicant to teach in the K-12 school system in the jurisdiction where the post-secondary institution is located

An applicant’s teaching experience in a K-12 school or additional practicum experience may be used to meet the practicum criteria. 

To be eligible for a Professional Certificate of Qualification, applicants must meet the acceptable teacher education program requirements above. If their teacher education program was outside of Canada, they must have completed a familiarization course approved by the BC Teachers’ Council. In addition, they must meet the academic studies requirements and have at least 24 credits of professional education coursework, including studies in:

• Curriculum and instruction within their teaching area
• Assessment and reporting
• Educational psychology
• Foundations of education (history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology)
• Indigenous education within Canada
• Anti-racism and anti-oppression education
• Diversity, equity, and social justice in education within Canada
• Studies related to ethics, standards, and best practices for the teaching profession, and
• Inclusive education for students with disabilities/diverse abilities within Canada

In some circumstances, applicants who have not completed all the academic and teacher education requirements may be issued a Conditional Certificate of Qualification. This is a temporary certificate that is valid for up to 60 months. Applicants who are issued this certificate must complete any remaining academic and teacher education requirements within the 60 months. 

To be eligible for a Conditional Certificate of Qualification, applicants must meet the acceptable teacher education program requirements above. They must also have at least 24 credits of professional education coursework including studies in:

• Curriculum and instruction within their teaching area
• Assessment and reporting  

Applicants who completed an acceptable teacher education program outside of Canada and who qualify for a Conditional Certificate must complete a familiarization course while their Conditional Certificate is valid. 

Not all teacher education programs are recognized in B.C. Some examples of programs that may not qualify a person for teaching in B.C. include:

• French as a Foreign Language (FLE) programs that do not lead to teaching in France's K-12 schools
• Cambridge CELTA and DELTA programs
• TESOL language programs
• Some alternative certification programs, such as SCITT and provincial instructor programs
• Programs that do not include training or education related to teaching in the K-12 school system

Other teacher education programs that may not meet certification requirements include:

• Very short programs
• Alternative certification programs, such as TEACH-NOW and TeacherReady
• On-the-job or employment-based programs
• Programs completed entirely online or by distance education
• Other alternative certification programs

Demonstrate English language proficiency by showing proof of one of the following

• Completion of secondary school education, including grade 12, in Canada, in English
• Completion of an approved teacher education program in British Columbia in English, and receiving recommendation for teacher certification by that program
• Completion of an acceptable updating program in British Columbia in English, in line with the Certification Standards (2019)
• Completion of an acceptable teacher education program in another Canadian jurisdiction in English
• Completion of a minimum of four years of post-secondary education, in English, which must include an acceptable teacher education program
• Verified K-12 teaching experience in Canada, in English, of at least three years full time (or part-time equivalent) within the five-year period preceding your application, and a successful teaching report
• Verified K-12 teaching experience in a school where the language of instruction is primarily English of at least three years full time (or part-time equivalent) within the five-year period preceding your application, and a successful teaching report
• Results on TOEFL iBT (Institution Code 8693): a total score of 95 with a minimum of 23 on reading, listening, and writing, and 25 on speaking
• Results on IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5 with no band below 6 and with a minimum of 6.5 on the speaking band

Demonstrate French language proficiency by showing proof of one of the following:

• Completion of secondary school education, including grade 12, in Canada, in French
• Completion of an approved teacher education program in British Columbia in French, and receiving recommendation for teacher certification by that program
• Completion of an acceptable updating program in British Columbia in French, in line with the Certification Standards (2019)
• Completion of an acceptable teacher education program in another Canadian jurisdiction in French
• Completion of a minimum of four years of post-secondary education, in French which must include an acceptable teacher education program
• A letter from British Columbia School District No. 93 (Francophone Education Authority) that verifies your fluency and proficiency in French
• Verified K-12 teaching experience in Canada in French, of at least three years full time (or part-time equivalent) within the five-year period preceding your application, and a successful teaching report
• Verified K-12 teaching experience in a school where the language of instruction is primarily French, of at least three years full time (or part-time equivalent) within the five-year period preceding your application, and a successful teaching report
• A minimum score of C1 on the Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) 
• A minimum score of B1 on the Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) 

Applicants who are required to provide evidence of an acceptable score on a language proficiency test will be notified.