Teacher Movesby Expat Teacher's LoungeCanada teacher certification, explained.
There is no national teaching licence. Each province and territory certifies its own teachers, and most now start internationally trained teachers with Pathways to Teach Canada.
By Mpume (Edwina) Shangase, who went through New Brunswick certification while living in Qatar.
A question teachers ask us · TikTok
I completed my WES application and now I'm stuck. my pgce and bsc got approved but now I'm stuck. please help.
The process in
five steps.
What most internationally trained teachers go through, from choosing a province to getting a decision.
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Choose one province, or a short list
Every application costs money and time. Weigh certification rules, demand for your subject, language, cost of living and your immigration route first.
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Confirm your route
Use the Pathways to Teach Canada tool to see which assessments you need. For Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Yukon, follow the regulator's own instructions.
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Complete your assessments
In Pathways provinces, WES does the credential assessment and you book the language test (LCATP) through your Pathways account.
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Apply to the regulator
Pathways does not issue certificates. You still apply to the province and send the documents it asks for.
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Get your decision
Many internationally trained teachers first receive an interim or conditional certificate, with conditions to meet before full certification.
- No national licence. Each of Canada's 13 provinces and territories certifies its own teachers.
- Nine use Pathways to Teach Canada. Internationally trained teachers start with a credential assessment and, if needed, a language test.
- Four assess you directly: Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Yukon.
- Certification is not immigration. You need a teaching certificate and the right to work in Canada.
Who certifies teachers in each province.
Every province and territory has its own teacher regulator. Pathways means you begin with Pathways to Teach Canada. Direct means you apply to the regulator yourself.
| Province or territory | Who certifies teachers | Where you start |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Alberta Education |
Direct Alberta assesses your credentials course by course and first issues an Interim Professional Certificate. |
| British Columbia | BC Ministry of Education and Child Care |
Pathways Credential assessment through Pathways, then apply to BC. |
| Manitoba | Professional Certification Unit |
Pathways Pathways credential assessment is required. The Pathways language assessment is Manitoba's only approved language test. |
| New Brunswick | Office of Teacher Certification |
Pathways Credential assessment and, where required, the language assessment. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Office of Teacher Certification and Records |
Pathways Since 2025, teachers who don't meet every requirement but hold a Bachelor of Education and teach in their home country may receive interim provisional certification. |
| Northwest Territories | Department of Education, Culture and Employment | Pathways |
| Nova Scotia | Office of Teacher Certification |
Pathways Your Pathways results must be ready before you apply through Nova Scotia's portal. |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Educators' Certification Service | Pathways |
| Ontario | Ontario College of Teachers |
Direct The College assesses your credentials itself. The Pathways language test (LCATP) is one of the language tests it accepts. |
| Prince Edward Island | Department of Education and Early Years | Pathways |
| Quebec | Ministère de l'Éducation |
Direct You must pass a language exam before you receive a licence. |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board | Pathways |
| Yukon | Yukon Department of Education |
Direct You need a course-by-course equivalency from a credential evaluation service. |
Pathways to Teach Canada keeps the current list on its regulatory bodies page. Check it before you pay for anything.
Documents most provinces ask for.
The exact list depends on the province and your route, but expect most of these:
- Proof of identity, plus name-change documents if your records show different names
- Degree and teacher-education certificates
- Official transcripts, usually sent directly by your university
- Evidence of your supervised teaching practice (practicum)
- A Statement of Professional Standing from every place you have been certified, sent directly by that regulator. For South African teachers, this is the Letter of Good Standing from SACE.
- Language test results, if your teacher education was not in English or French
- A criminal record check with a vulnerable sector check, in provinces such as Alberta and Yukon
- Certified translations of anything not in English or French
Start the professional standing request first. It comes from another country's regulator and often takes the longest. Some provinces won't accept one that is too old: Nova Scotia asks for an updated copy if yours is more than a year old.
Language requirements.
If your teacher education was completed in a language other than English or French, expect a language test. Each regulator sets its own rules. Here is what some of them require (as of October 2026):
- Pathways provinces: the Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP), a four-part online test of reading, writing, listening and speaking. In Manitoba it is the only approved test.
- Ontario: accepts several tests, including IELTS Academic (6.5 overall, with at least 6 in reading, listening and writing and 6.5 in speaking) and LCATP (at least 60 in each skill). Results are valid for two years and must be sent directly by the test provider.
- Alberta: may ask for evidence. IELTS Academic needs 6.5 in reading, writing and listening and 7 in speaking, from the last two years.
- Quebec: you must pass a language exam (the TECFÉE for French) before you receive a licence.
Scores change. Confirm the current requirement on your regulator's site before you book a test.
How long certification takes.
Plan in months, not weeks. If your province uses Pathways, the assessments come before your application. After that, published decision times include:
- Ontario College of Teachers: a decision within 60 days of a complete application from an internationally educated teacher. Applications stay open for one year.
- Alberta: within 120 business days of a complete application. The fee for applicants outside Canada is CA$250, non-refundable.
The clock usually starts only when your file is complete, so documents that come from overseas set the real pace. Don't book flights or resign from your current job based on an estimated processing time.
Certification is not immigration.
A teaching certificate shows you meet the professional standard to teach. A work permit or permanent residence decides whether you can live and work in Canada. One does not give you the other.
Some provinces also link the two. Manitoba requires Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or a valid work permit to hold its teaching certificate; without one, you can receive a Statement of Eligibility instead. Yukon lists the same status requirement. Run your certification and immigration plans side by side, not one after the other.
Mistakes that cost time and money.
- Applying to several provinces at once. Fees add up, and each regulator wants its own documents.
- Assuming your immigration credential assessment counts. An Educational Credential Assessment done for immigration does not replace the credential assessment your teacher regulator asks for.
- Sending documents yourself when the regulator says they must come directly from your university or previous regulator.
- Relying on someone else's route. Your route depends on where and how you trained, so a friend's checklist may not match yours.
- Waiting to prepare your job search. Use the waiting time to build a Canadian-style CV, research school districts and prepare interview examples.
For what the process felt like in practice, including chasing SACE from Qatar, read my certification story, step by step.
Official sources
- Pathways to Teach Canada
- CMEC: Teacher mobility
- Ontario College of Teachers: language requirements
- Government of Canada: Foreign credential recognition
This page is general information, checked against official sources in October 2026. It is not legal, immigration or certification advice. Requirements, fees and processing times change, so confirm every step with the regulator for your province or territory.
Your next step.
Pick the support that fits where you are.
The Province Shortlist
Compare seven Canadian destinations before you pay for applications.
Canada Teacher Pathway Assessment
US$197A Canada Pathway Report, document checklist, 90-day action plan and a 30-minute debrief.
Canada Teaching Certification Guide
US$7.99The province-by-province process in one resource.
Teacher Moves community
Ask questions and learn from teachers making the same move.
Frequently asked questions.
Is there a national teaching licence in Canada?
No. Teaching is regulated by each province and territory. You apply to the one where you want to teach.
Can I teach in Canada with a teaching qualification from another country?
Often, yes, but your qualification has to be assessed first. Regulators look at your degree, the length and content of your teacher-education programme, your practicum and your professional standing. Some receive full certification; others receive an interim or conditional certificate with courses or conditions to complete.
Do I need Pathways to Teach Canada?
Only if you plan to teach in a participating province or territory: British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island or Saskatchewan. Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Yukon have their own processes.
What is the LCATP?
The Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession is the language test run through Pathways to Teach Canada. It tests reading, writing, listening and speaking online. Ontario also accepts it.
Can I apply while I'm still outside Canada?
Yes. Pathways is online, and regulators such as Alberta publish a fee for applicants outside Canada. Starting before you move is one of the best ways to save time. I requested my documents and followed up with organisations from Qatar.
Does a work permit or permanent residence give me a teaching certificate?
No. Immigration status and teacher certification are separate. You need both to teach in a Canadian public school, and some provinces need your status before they'll issue a full certificate.
Can I apply for teaching jobs while my certification is in progress?
Sometimes. Some employers ask for certification before you apply; others will consider you if your assessment is underway. Read each vacancy carefully and describe your certification status accurately.
If I'm certified in one province, can I move to another?
Usually. Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, a certified teacher should be recognised by another province or territory without significant extra requirements, though you will still file a transfer application and may need to show language proficiency.
Is WES the same as teacher certification?
No. In Pathways provinces, WES completes the credential assessment, but the provincial regulator makes the certification decision.