Teaching in Canada?

[Deeana]

To make sure of the information I would email a Canadian university and ask them how they rate a PGCE. But in my case it didn't count as a second degree when we applied, it was considered a professional qualification which wasn't recognized in Alberta/Canada and needed to be upgraded, but I didn't find that out until I got to Canada! Oops!

And frankly I would not have got in at that time on my own, no hope. My husband had a degree in Engineering and about 15 years experience in the same field. That was where most of our points came from.

And on your last point, yes, most likely. My son, who has a Canadian education and citizenship, but who trained to teach in the UK, cannot go back to Canada and teach without going to university for TWO years fulltime. His experience counts for NIX, NADA, as far as teaching in Canada is concerned.

Not easy. Also, I have to warn you, getting a job in teaching might not be that easy. It seemed to me that there was a lot of "jobs for the boys" going on in Calgary at that time.

Thing is, what happens is, people train to become teachers, and they do A LOT of teaching practise in the local schools. Then they get hired by those schools. If I had wanted a job I would have had to take another year and do the teaching practise. To be honest I ran out of momentum and money before I managed it!

That sounds terribly negative! I'm sorry! Don't take my word for gospel - check out the universities and their attitude towards British teachers. It may have changed in some ways and in some places. I'd be very interested to hear what you find out. I know the Calgary information is up to date though, because of my son's recent enquiries.

Originally Posted by bringbackleroybrown

thanks for the quick reply!!!

does the pgce count as a second university degrees at the bachelor’s level?

if you don't mind me asking how did you get enough points? is it next to impossible without family or a spouse? i'm worried i'll have to wait to gain enough experience teaching in the uk to get to canada and then find i'll have to retain once there!

[lanie911]

Hey my friend said there are jobs for people with those skills. but i think that maybe you would have better luck if you got in contact with the Alberta board of Education. i think they might be a pretty good place to start from.

[lanie911]

http://www.teachers.ab.ca/ a good website i think for people wanting to move to alberta that are teachers.

[JumpingBean]

Hi everyone - another newbie here!

Does anybody know anything about becoming an instrumental music teacher in Canada?

Are they required to have similar qualifications as classroom teachers? Is there any more demand??

My partner and I are considering moving to Toronto in 2 years. I would like to continue with peripatetic teaching in schools and teaching privately at home.

I have a BMus and a Masters in Music Teaching in Professional Practice. I don't currently have QTS, but would consider further training in Canada if this would help me get my foot in the door!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[loukemper]

hi all, im looking to emigrate to canada with my husband( he is a canadian citizen)
i am a teaching assistant here in the uk, is there a need for them in canada ? if so will the nvq level 2 i have got be good enough to get a job as a teaching assistant in canada?
thank you in advance for any advice )

[blondepixie]

Does anyone know how a Masters Degree in Education would convert to a Canadian qualification?

[chan_konabe]

Originally Posted by blondepixie

Does anyone know how a Masters Degree in Education would convert to a Canadian qualification?

I'm an elementary school teacher in BC. The answer to your question depends a lot on the province in which you wish to live. As education in Canada is a provincial, not federal, responsibility, each province has its own teacher certification requirements. However, provinces have just recently attempted to 'harmonize' the certification requirements of various professionals (including teachers) to allow easier inter-provincial labour movements. This is a difficult task because some provinces have very 'strict' requirements while others don't.

Anyway, your first step would be to contact the professional certification authority for teachers in the province. In BC, for example, this is the BC College of Teachers (BCCT). They will evaluate your foreign teaching credentials to see if it's equivalent to that of a teacher trained inside the province. Three things could happen: 1) They could issue you a provincial teaching certificate, 2) They could ask you to enrol in a teacher education program at a university in the province, or 3) They could issue you a temporary teaching certificate with the requirement that you must take one-or-two extra courses before the expiry date (usually 5 years).

From my experience as a teacher in BC, most foreign-trained teachers fall into the third category because we've very strict teacher requirements here. Even teachers moving from other provinces had to take additional university coursework before teaching here (at least, this was prior to the recent inter-provincial labour movement agreements). Which courses you take depends on your grade or subject level. For example, elementary school teachers need a certain number of Canadian Studies courses and university-level science courses (that must include a lab component).

If you give me more info, I should be able to point you in the right direction.

[ottou]

Originally Posted by Lexie

Hi all,

I'm new to Expats but was wondering if you could provide some information please?

I've just completed training to become a Primary School Teacher with QTS in Wales and I am very interested in teaching in Canada. My girlfriend has just completed her undergraduate degree in History and Religious Studies and wants to complete a PGCE.

1) Is it possible for me to teach in Canada with my qualifications?
2) Is it best for my girlfriend to complete her PGCE (teacher training) in Wales or in Canada?
3) Is there a need for primary trained teachers in Canada?

Many thanks in advance

Lee

I think it would depend on the province that you are going to. It may be relatively easy to get a job in the private schools with teaching quals from the UK, otherwise here in ontario you have to have an ontario teaching certificate.

For your girlfriend, it would be probably best to get an ontario qualification, a full time option may be Charles Sturt University-an Aussie Uni based in Burlington Ontario who offer a one year program, quite a few places do weekend courses Uof T, Brock etc.

good luck

[Oliver]

I too am English and want to emigrate to BC with my wife and daughter in a few years time. Ideally I would like to train as an immersion elementary teacher. I have a BA in French and will be begining a Primary PGCE course this september to become a primary school teacher here in the near future.

I understand there is a great need for specialists of French in Canada and was wondering what yiou could tell me about elementary teaching work in BC and in the area that you live.

1)What are the hours /holidays like?

2)Are people in BC school communities welcoming and friendly to yet more British immigrants?

3)And also what subjects do you think I would need to study to qualify as a teacher in BC?

Any comments (particuallly about BC) would be really helpful,

All the best, Oliver.

[SLOVENIAFAN]

Originally Posted by Lexie

Hi all,

I'm new to Expats but was wondering if you could provide some information please?

I've just completed training to become a Primary School Teacher with QTS in Wales and I am very interested in teaching in Canada. My girlfriend has just completed her undergraduate degree in History and Religious Studies and wants to complete a PGCE.

1) Is it possible for me to teach in Canada with my qualifications?
2) Is it best for my girlfriend to complete her PGCE (teacher training) in Wales or in Canada?
3) Is there a need for primary trained teachers in Canada?

Many thanks in advance

Lee

Unfortunately Canada Immigration is very poor in informing prospective professionals regarding their prospects to find employment for which they are qaulified in their own country. I meet countless physicians, dentist, lawyers who drive taxis or work in bagel shops...To requalify it sometimes takes up to 5 years, that is if you have the money to support yourself and study.

Regarding you qualifications please do contact schools and colleges in the province where you would like to teach (there are differences in qualifications also among provinces) and ask them whether your degree/certificate is valid in Canada. Also cruise job adds in papers and phone them, ask whether they would consider your certification. Contacting day cares directly would be best.

I do not want to scare you, however, with today's cheap phone lines, please do educate yourself before you come here. It is a great country but with many, many rules.

Good luck

Irena from Ottawa