Teaching in Canada?

[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

[Deeana]

Hi,
In order to teach in the state system in Canada you have to have either a Canadian teaching qualification or to have the equivalent from another country. The UK training does not match up to the Canadian in any way, and you will have to enrol in a university teaching degree course to requalify before being considered for employment. I know this to my cost, having gone through the same thing myself, and I have a son with several years of UK teaching experience now who cannot return to Canada as a teacher. He will have to go back to university and do a 2 year course before starting again in his career. The same kind of advice applies to many professions and trades. My husband is a degree holding mechanical engineer with (at the time we emigrated) 15 years experience at a high level but the only job he could get was as a painter. Luckily he progressed rapidly, but myself although I retrained I was never able to enter the system. It is hard to break into what can be seen as a network of people who know each other (this was in Calgary). Hard to accept this reality, but it is true.

[Lavender_etc]

Hi,
I'm a qualified teacher in Ontario. Anyone who wants to teach in Canada must go through the process of being certified at the provincial level. You submit your documents, transcripts, degrees etc and then you are told if you qualify. For example in Ontario you must be certified through the Ontario College of Teachers in order to teach in publically funded school. Google Ontario College of Teachers for more info about being an overseas trained teacher.

Re: primary teachers. The key work is FRENCH. If you are fluent in French, can get certification to teach here, there are always French jobs being advertised. There is a need for French teachers at all levels. Otherwise, it's hard to get a full time teaching job. I can specifically speak to BC and Ontario, but I've heard it's not great in other provinces either. We have a lot of unemployed teachers here. My understanding is that Toronto is always hiring teachers, however in most parts of the country you would likely start off as a supply teacher and then get long term assignments and eventually get a contract job. I graduated 5 years ago and am still a supply teacher. On the plus side the pay isn't too bad. I make $190 day as a supply teacher and if you get a long term assignment you can make $220 a day or more depending on the school board.

[DTHOMAS]

Hello:
I've been teaching HS English in Quebec for 11 years. I did a PGCE (English) in the UK back in 96-97. I can teach anywhere in Canada - I'm registered with the MELS (Quebec), theOntario College of Teachers and the BC Teacher's College. I had to submit all my credentials and transcripts to get equivalency or teaching certification. Some provinces (QC and BC) require foreign teachers to take 3-6 credits of iniversity in Canada (usually equivalency or provincial systems courses). You will not have to go back to school to retrain if you have a PGCE and a BA in a teachable subject.
Primary teaching opportunities are really scarce in BC, Quebec and Ontario - with one exception; remote areas. Declining demographics and city-centred populations are responsible for this. If you can teach French (language or subjects) this is a huge advantage - the demand for French speaking teachers exists in every province, including Quebec.
As a new teacher you are at a great disadvantage - it will take a number of years as a sub/supply teacher and much moving from school to school before you get permanent or tenured. One option is the private sector, which sucks, as the pay is unfavourable and the schools often take advantage of their staff (working them excessively and with too many responsibilities). Good luck with your efforts.

[haushinka_66_]

Hiya everyone,

I'm a newbie here. My husband and I are thinking about making the move to Canada at some point but are in no deperate rush to leave Scotland.

After reading the thread here, I'm disappointed to read there is not a great demand for teachers and that we would have to go through some sort of university training. In Scotland we have four years to train to become a teacher but realise in England, teachers who want to teach in Scotland need to go through the same sort of routine as we would have to undergo in Canada.

My question is quite specific though. I am currently in the middle of my postgrad masters to become a qualified teacher of the deaf. Does anyone have any information on any assosiations I could contact to enquire about jobs in this field? I have tried using a search engine but have not been very successful!

Many thanks!

[lanie911]

hmm... interesting question about working with deaf children... i have a friend who is working in alberta with deaf and blind children, will see if she knows anything for you.

[haushinka_66_]

Originally Posted by lanie911

hmm... interesting question about working with deaf children... i have a friend who is working in alberta with deaf and blind children, will see if she knows anything for you.

That would be very useful and much appreciated!

[bringbackleroybrown]

interesting thread. i'm a teacher considering making the move also.

with regards to teaching does a PGCE count as the equivalent of a masters in Canada??? i'm 2 points shy of 97 needed to pass if it doesn't!!

[Deeana]

I'm afraid not. No extra points on my application. And later once there I found it didn't count for much at all. I was able to get a few credits for what I had done on my PGCE and degree, but still had a year of university to do in Calgary to make up the difference between my qualifications and the Canadian one. And of course I had to pay for it - although you don't have to pay the foreign rate once you have a Permanent Resident's visa.

Originally Posted by bringbackleroybrown

interesting thread. i'm a teacher considering making the move also.

with regards to teaching does a PGCE count as the equivalent of a masters in Canada??? i'm 2 points shy of 97 needed to pass if it doesn't!!

[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!