Requirements

To teach in Ontario’s publicly funded schools, a teacher must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers. Certified teachers pay an annual membership fee to maintain their membership and certification.

To be certified, teachers must:

• have completed a minimum three-year postsecondary degree from an acceptable postsecondary institution
• have successfully completed a four semester teacher education program  
• apply to the College for certification and pay the annual membership and registration fees
• have successfully completed the sexual abuse prevention program.

Registration requirements may change without notice.

Before you begin your online application, you should select and print one of the registration guides listed here. Pick the one that applies to you and make sure you read it carefully. There are four different registration guides. Each one tells you what you need to know to get certified.

• 

  If you are applying as a teacher of academic subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 12, please read Requirements for Becoming a General Education Teacher in Ontario.

• 

  If you are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis applicant without a university degree applying to teach the Primary-Junior grades, read Requirements for Becoming a Primary-Junior Teacher if you are of Indigenous Ancestry.

• 

  If you are applying as a teacher of technological subjects, read Requirements for Becoming a Teacher of Technological Education in Ontario.

• 

  If you are applying as a teacher of a Canadian native language, read Requirements for Becoming a Teacher of a Native Language in Ontario. 

Internationally educated teachers can learn about registration requirements, language proficiency tests and the evaluation of credentials. The College holds regular information sessions for internationally educated teachers. Find out more about these sessions and upcoming dates.

If you completed your teacher education program outside of Ontario in a language other than English or French, the College has specific language requirements you must follow.

You need to have documents translated if any of your documents (like a birth or marriage certificate) are in a language other than English or French.

If you’re certified to teach in a Canadian province or territory other than Ontario,  you can learn about the requirements for Canadian certified teachers.