Important update for OCTs who have not completed the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program

The College has a regulatory responsibility to ensure Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs) meet their professional obligations.

On October 1, 2024, College Council approved a request to the Minister of Education that regulations be amended to establish a process to administratively suspend OCTs who do not meet the professional requirement to successfully complete the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program. Those amendments are now in force.

As a result, OCTs whose Sexual Abuse Prevention Program status is listed as “Incomplete” at 12:00 a.m. on July 2, 2025, will have their teaching certificate administratively suspended and they will no longer be eligible to teach in Ontario’s publicly funded school system.

To avoid this potential outcome, all OCTs who have not completed the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The program is free of charge and can be accessed at any time by signing into your member account on oct.ca.

Individuals who are administratively suspended can restore their teaching certificate to good standing by successfully completing the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program and paying a reinstatement fee.

Please note that provincial legislation does not provide the College with authority to grant exemptions.

For more information about the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, please refer to our FAQs.

The College’s goal is to encourage compliance, not to suspend teaching certificates.

We understand that this is a sensitive topic for many people, which is why we partnered with subject matter experts at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) to develop and administer the program.

C3P offers a variety of accommodations for individuals who may have difficulties completing the program. These accommodations include options for survivors of sexual abuse or individuals who are unable to use a computer or another internet-connected device.

Accommodations include taking the program in written format so that individuals do not have to view the videos if they find them triggering. They can also complete the program in groups or with a support person.

Individuals who want to learn more about accommodation options are encouraged to contact C3P via their website.

Now Open: Register for the Mathematics Proficiency Test

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is responsible for developing, facilitating and evaluating the MPT.

Registration for the Mathematics Proficiency Test (MPT) is open at mathproficiencytest.ca. Please refer to that website for the latest information on registering for the MPT.

OCTs who hold a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration (CQR) as of February 1, 2025, are not required to pass the MPT.

Satisfying the MPT requirement varies from group to group as follows:

Ontario Applicants

Ontario applicants who submit a complete application for a general CQR to the College before February 1, 2025, will not be required to pass the MPT.

Ontario applicants who submit a complete application for a general CQR on or after February 1, 2025, will be required to pass the MPT. This applies whether or not the application was started before February 1, 2025.

An application is only considered complete when the College receives:

• all required documentation, including proof of completion of an initial teacher education program, to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

Transitional Certificates and Multi-Session Transitional Certificates

Applicants are not required to pass the MPT to be eligible for a Transitional Certificate (TCQR) or a Multi-Session Transitional Certificate (MTCQR). However, passing the MPT may be required to convert either certificate to a general CQR depending on the conversion date.

OCTs who currently hold or are granted a TCQR or MTCQR and convert it to a CQR before February 1, 2025, will not be required to pass the MPT.

OCTs who currently hold or are granted a TCQR or MTCQR and do not convert it to a CQR before February 1, 2025, will be required to pass the MPT before they can convert their certificate.

Internationally Educated Teachers

Internationally educated teacher applicants who submit a complete application to the College for a general CQR on or after February 1, 2025, must successfully pass the MPT within two years of being granted their initial certification by the College or their certificate will expire. This applies whether or not the application was started before February 1, 2025.

An application is only considered complete when the College receives:

• all required documentation, including proof of completion of an initial teacher education program, to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

Please see the College’s Registration Guides to learn what documents are required to complete your application for certification with the College.

Any questions?

More information about the MPT requirement is available on the College website.

2024 Annual Meeting of Members

The College’s Annual Meeting of Members was held online on the evening of Wednesday, October 23 and was open to all OCTs and members of the public.

Council Chair Diana Miles began the meeting by sharing details of the College’s five-year Strategic Plan.

Speaking next, Registrar and CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, provided an operational update focused on the College’s ongoing commitment toward increasing new certifications, improving service timelines, and addressing record volumes of complaints.

Then, Keisha Lewis, the College’s Change Management Project Lead, spoke about the development and launch of the College’s updated Focus on Teaching survey that was distributed to all OCTs in good standing in September.

That was followed by the Council Chair’s update on the College’s finances, which was provided on behalf of the Audit and Finance Committee. The results of KPMG’s 2023 audit confirmed that the College’s budget was balanced without the need to increase the annual membership fee, which is still among the lowest levied by an Ontario regulator.

Finally, the speakers answered questions that were submitted by attendees. Topics included application advice for internationally educated teachers, the Math Proficiency Test, and details about College governance.

Summary of October Council meeting

A College Council meeting was held on Tuesday, October 1. Agenda highlights included receipt of a quarterly report from Registrar and CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, as well as a financial report for the period ending June 30, 2024.

Council also received a report from the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee regarding term lengths and appointment criteria for members of College Council, committees, and rosters.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 12 and will be open to the public. Information about how to attend is available on our website.

Valuing your voice: Thank you for participating in the Focus on Teaching survey

Thank you to the 38,345 OCTs who shared their professional experiences by completing the Focus on Teaching survey. This is an impressive response rate as one in six OCTs from across the province had their voices heard.

If you missed this year’s survey, keep an eye out for opportunities to contribute your voice to future ones.

Our survey partner, Forum Research Inc., began their data analysis this month. Their work will enable the College to offer anonymized and aggregated data that will inform key decisions that will shape the future of our profession and Ontario’s publicly funded education system.

The final report will be published on the College website in 2025.

Help shape your professional standards

The College is updating our Ethical Standards and our Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession, and we need your input.

We began our review in 2022 by studying how teaching standards are set across Canada and in international jurisdictions. Since then, we have:

• examined best practices among fellow regulators.
• consulted with internal College groups, including OCTs who are College employees.
• invited insights from the Standards of Practice and Education Committee.

Now, the opportunity is YOURS. This fall, we are engaged in focus groups with hundreds of OCTs, system partners, and the public.

Check your inbox! Earlier this month, all OCTs should have received an email from the College inviting input by December 16, into the development of a refreshed set of professional standards. If you did not receive that email, please sign into your member account to verify that your contact information is up to date.

You are encouraged to check upcoming editions of Your College and You for further opportunities to contribute to the professional standards review.

Library services

Did you know the library offers a free shipping service for OCTs? A contingency plan is in place for shipping during the Canada Post strike.

Canada Post Strike and the Margaret Wilson Library’s shipping service

Our shipping service will continue to operate during the strike. Please note all items with a due date during the strike period will be automatically renewed. Please contact library@oct.ca for additional information.

Place a hold and we will ship it to you. How?

1. Log in to your College account on oct.ca under Members.
2. On the left navigation pane, click Library.
3. On the right navigation pane, use the catalogue search box to search by subject, title or author, or explore the subject lists.

Still have questions? Visit the Margaret Wilson Library’s FAQs or contact the library team by email at library@oct.ca or by phone at 437.880.3000. Toll-Free (Canada and U.S.A.) at 1.833.966.5588.