1. What qualifications do I need to be able to teach in Ontario?

Answer: To teach at the publicly funded schools you must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers.
Many private schools require certification through the College, but there are others that do hire subject specialists.

2. How do I apply to teach in the public schools?

Answer: Every school board has it's own hiring procedures. Visit the websites of the school boards that you are interested in to find out the different procedures.

3. How can I supply teach in the public schools?

Answer: After receiving your Interim Certificate you can apply to the boards you are interested in to get on the supply list. You will usually need the signature of a principal working for the school board you wish to supply teach in before getting on the hiring list. Principals do like to know you before signing your application form.. A good way to have a principal know you is to volunteer in his/her school.

4. What can I do if I am not getting any calls from schools to supply teach?

Answer: Once one is on a board's hiring list for supply teaching, which does not automatically mean you will have a steady stream of calls to teach. Most Occasional teachers hope to have at least 3 days of teaching a week. A good strategy to become known at schools is to first decide on 2 to 3 schools which you can get to easily from where you live, then visit the principal in person and present him/her with your resume. Explain to the principal that their school is a priority school for you and that you will make yourself available to supply there as often as possible. It is recommended that you focus on 2 or 3 schools because if you spread yourself too thinly then you may not be available to go back regularly to the same schools, and in the end calls from those schools will be less frequent. Once you get well-known and liked at a school you may be booked in for up to 2-3 days most weeks just at one school (especially at the primary/junior levels where you can be called in for K to gr. 6) Note: supply teaching is usually slow for the month of September and also slows down May and June).

5. What qualifications do I need to teach at Private Schools?

Answer: Many private schools will hire only those certified through the Ontario College of Teachers. Others will hire those with teaching experience who are specialists (have a degree and teaching experience in a specific area such as Science, Music, Math etc).s

6. How do I apply to Private schools?

Answer: It is always advisable to try to visit the principal in person to present your resume and professional portfolio. Principals constantly receive dozens of resumes. You will have a much better chance of being called in for an interview if the principal can put a face to your resume. For the list of private schools located in Ontario visit. www.edu.gov.on.ca

7. How do I go about volunteering in the public schools?

Answer: Most schools have a staff member designated to manage volunteers. Contact the volunteer coordinator to inquire about the possibility for volunteering and to know about the volunteer requirements and/or policy. Most boards require criminal record check and TB testing papers. Prior to talking with the volunteer coordinator it is advisable to know in which area you hope to be of service (special needs children, coaching, tutoring, helping in the classroom, working with the drama teacher, etc.) Also know your time of availability (i.e. Monday afternoons, Friday mornings) It is better to commit yourself to fewer hours of volunteering that you know you can stick with rather than to take on too many hours that you cannot follow through on. Volunteering is a very good way to get known at the schools by both teachers and principals. You want to make sure you make an impression that you are reliable, punctual, committed, flexible and take initiative. 
See the OCRI website (www.ocri.ca/education/become_vol.html) for further volunteering information

8. What opportunities exist for ESL teachers?

Answer: To qualify as an ESL Teacher at the Primary to Senior levels in the public schools , one must be certified with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), as well as have Additional Qualifications in ESL from a Faculty of Education. However, one does not have to be certified with the OCT to teach ESL with the School Boards' Departments of Continuing Education. For ESL job opportunities in both Canada and overseas, check the website: http://www.teslontario.org/

9. What opportunities exist for teaching foreign languages?

Answer:  Private Language Schools are frequently looking for teachers of a wide selection of international languages. Check out the Yellow Pages for a listing of language schools. Departments of Continuing Education with the various public school boards also hire international language teachers to teach both credit and non credit courses in a variety of languages.

10. Should I get my academic degrees evaluated?

Answer:  Many institutions and agencies evaluate foreign degrees, but such assessments are not binding on the Ontario College of Teachers as they do their own assessment for those that apply for certification. Private schools and Institutes may ask for an assessment of your degree. For details go to either www.action2000.net or www.wes.org

11. At which Ontario universities can I get a teaching degree?

Answer: There are 13 faculties of education in Ontario; check their list and addresses @www.oct.ca

12. How much does it cost to go to Teachers' College for a year?

Answer: Presently tuition and books for the year of teacher training (Sept - April) costs in the vicinity of $5000.

13. I have my own original transcripts with me. Why can't I send these to the Ontario College of Teachers instead of having my transcripts sent directly to the College from my home country?

Answer:  For further explanation on original documents, please see the OCT website (http://www.oct.ca/) or
contact World Skills’ Bridge to Employment for Internationally Educated Teachers staff

14. Am I too old to be accepted as a teacher?

A. Opportunities for teachers registered with the Ontario College of Teachers will continue to open up as the country faces a shortage of qualified teachers. Even if one does find it difficult to obtain a full-time teaching position, there will always be a great need for supply teachers.

15. Where can I get language upgrading?

A. Many school boards offer language upgrading through their Departments of Continuing Education. You may also inquire at community colleges and centers. World Skills has a WLTN (Workplace Language Training for Newcomers) program that serves teachers.  Please click on the WLTN of this website for further information.

16. Where can I find tutoring work?

A. If you are interested in working for a tutoring company check under "Tutoring" in the Yellow Pages in your region. It is always advisable to ask to meet the director of the company in person to present your resume. Starting up your own tutoring business can be quite fruitful, especially when you can offer to tutor in your own native tongue if the need arises. To become known, tutors network with their own cultural communities, as well as design brochures that can be distributed at various schools. For information on starting up one's own business visit www.entrepreneurship.com

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