How We Certify Teachers
Teacher certification in Ontario is regulated by the Ontario College of Teachers. Teachers who are certified by the College can use the Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) professional designation.
Teacher Education Programs
If you want to teach in Ontario's publicly funded elementary or secondary schools, you must first complete an initial teacher education program. You can apply for College certification if your initial teacher education program was completed in Ontario or in another jurisdiction.
Once you have completed an initial teacher education program, you can apply to the College for a Certificate of Qualification and Registration, which is your licence to teach in Ontario.
Teaching Certificates
Certificate of Qualification and Registration
Your Certificate of Qualification and Registration (CQR) is your licence to teach in Ontario’s publicly funded schools. You must pay an annual membership fee to keep your certificate in good standing.
The certificate identifies your teaching qualifications in four sections:
- Degree(s)
- Program of Teacher Education
- Basic Qualifications
- Additional Qualifications
Basic Qualifications (BQ) identify the school system divisions for which you have successfully completed studies in teaching methodology: Primary (Grades K-3), Junior (Grades 4-6), Intermediate (Grades 7-10) and Senior (Grades 11-12) or Technological Education (Grades 9-10 and Grades 11-12).
You must be qualified in at least two consecutive divisions, such as Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate, or Intermediate/Senior plus:
- Junior/Intermediate teachers must also be qualified in at least one teaching subject at the Intermediate level.
- Intermediate/Senior division teachers must be qualified in two teaching subjects, one in Intermediate and one in Senior.
Additional Qualification (AQ) courses may be taken after you’ve completed your initial teacher education program.
Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration
If you are a teacher candidate and have completed at least 30 credits and 40 days of practice teaching as part of an initial teacher education program, you may qualify for a Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration (TCQR). Your faculty of education must recommend you to be eligible for a TCQR.
The TCQR is valid for 18 months and may be extended once for six months, as long as you maintain your College membership in good standing.
Up to 20 days of teaching under a TCQR can be counted towards the practice teaching requirements in your initial teacher education program.
To learn how to request a TCQR or for information on how to convert a TCQR to a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Multi-Session Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration
You may qualify for a Multi-Session Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration (MTCQR) if you have finished the first session of a multi-session teacher education program, where the first session included at least 10 days of practice teaching and 12 post-secondary credits. Your faculty of education must recommend you to be eligible for a MTCQR.
The MTCQR is valid for six years and may be extended once for one year, as long as you maintain your College membership in good standing.
To request one or learn how to convert an MTCQR to a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Adding Additional Qualifications
Your faculty of education or AQ course provider automatically lets the College know when you’ve completed a course. You will receive an email from the College when the AQ is added to your certificate.
Your AQs appear on your public register profile and on your printable teaching certificate that is available in your member account. They will appear on your Certificate of Qualification and Registration the calendar year after they are completed. For $24, you can ask to have your certificate updated earlier.
