New teaching certificate helps address teacher shortage

On August 30, the College launched a new Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration following a request from the Ministry of Education. The new certificate enables eligible teacher candidates enrolled in an Ontario-accredited teacher education program to gain employment as Ontario Certified Teachers.

Individuals who hold a Transitional Certificate are subject to the same benefits and obligations as any other member of the College, including the complaints, investigations, and discipline process.

2023 Annual Meeting of Members

College members, applicants, stakeholders, and members of the public are invited to attend the Ontario College of Teachers’ 2023 Virtual Annual Meeting of Members on Tuesday, October 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

College leadership will provide attendees with updates on the College’s operations, as well as Council and Committee activities.

The meeting will be hosted on Zoom with simultaneous French and English interpretation and optional closed captioning. The meeting link will be sent to registrants one week prior to the meeting.

The meeting will conclude with a question–and–answer session. Questions can be asked in advance at the time of registration.

Register to attend and ask a question.

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned from Canada’s residential schools, as well as those who survived them and the families and communities that live with the intergenerational harms caused by the education system.

This day recognizes the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities.

Truth and Reconciliation as a guiding principle is reflected in every aspect of the College's mandate to protect the interests and well-being of students.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led commemorative occasion that encourages Canadians to wear orange as a way to recognize the legacy of residential schools.

The orange shirt is a symbol of the forced assimilation of Indigenous children. It was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose clothing – including a new orange shirt – was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling. Her clothing was never returned.

Learn more about of Indigenous culture, history and the ongoing impact of residential schools with resources from the Margaret Wilson Library.

Discover the latest findings on Ontario's teacher employment trends in the 2022 Transition to Teaching report

The Ontario College of Teachers’ 2022 Transition to Teaching report highlights the continued teacher shortage amid high employment rates and offers valuable insights into current teacher supply issues. With increasing retirements, pandemic disruptions, and fewer teacher graduates, the demand for new teachers is rising.

Early-career employment remains high, highlighting the promising opportunities for new graduates.

Read the full Transition to Teaching report for the latest employment patterns and the experiences of early-career teachers in Ontario.

Profile: Council member Abena Buahene

Abena has held senior roles with several regulatory/compliance focused bodies in Ontario, including as former deputy registrar of the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO).

Prior to joining the CAO, Abena was registrar and executive director of the Ontario Film Authority, where she helped lead the implementation of the organization’s inaugural regulatory mandate.

She serves on the College’s Council, on the Human Resources Subcommittee and the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee.

Help govern your profession

We are looking for members of the public and Ontario Certified Teachers to make a difference in education and student well-being by helping to govern the teaching profession.

There are roles available on different arms of governance, including Council, Committees and Rosters.

Governance members will be selected based on specified selection and eligibility criteria needed to do the job and reflective of diverse geographic, linguistic, and Indigenous perspectives of Ontario.

Library services

Whether you’re teaching math, science, language, or other subjects, the Margaret Wilson Library has books and eBooks to support your lesson planning.

Check out the library’s curated Back to School book list and others.

To access current lists:

1. Log in to your online College account.
2. In the navigation menu, click Library.
3. On the right navigation channel, click under Book Lists.

Looking for another grade level or subject? Library staff are happy to help and can send you a tailored list of resources.

Place holds on books, and we’ll ship them to you – free of charge. You can also borrow and download eBooks for offline reading.

Need library support? Contact us, toll-free (Canada and U.S.A.) at 1.833.966.5588 or library@oct.ca.

Have you completed an AQ?

OCTs, have you completed an accredited course/program? Learn how the College acknowledges your AQs.

View your application progress via your account

Applicants, you can log into your online account at any time to check the progress of your application. 

Questions? Consult our FAQs online where you’ll find responses to common questions.

Access services via your member account

OCTs, do you need copies of your Certificate of Qualification and Registration (CQR) or OCT membership card?

Access and print them from your member account online.

What would you do?

Our investigation case studies series, What would you do?, is a valuable educational resource for Ontario Certified Teachers. The case studies can help OCTs avoid potential risks on the job. The latest case study is as follows:

The College received a letter of notification from a school board regarding an occasional teacher who allegedly fabricated students’ final marks on report cards.