Application Information. for graduates of a teacher education program outside of BC

Transcription

1 Application Information for graduates of a teacher education program outside of BC August 2015

2 Table of Contents About the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch... 3 Certificates Issued... 4 Requirements for a Certificate... 5 Required Forms and Documents... 8 Application Process Application Results Fee Information

3 About the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch About Us The Teacher Regulation Branch is a part of the Ministry of Education. Its mandate is to regulate educators and is empowered through the Teachers Act to ensure that educators who work with students in BC classrooms are competent and suitable for the important role they play in society. No other occupation spends as much time with their clients as do educators. Parents entrust their children to the care of educators for seven hours a day, five days a week, 40 weeks a year, for 13 years. This intense interaction has an immense impact on children's intellectual, emotional and physical development. The Branch works to ensure that educators are well-educated and prepared for their important work with children and the responsibility they share with parents to raise strong, healthy and informed citizens. The Branch came into being in 2011 under the Teachers Act to assess applicants for certification, issue certificates of qualification, conduct reviews of certificate holders and suspend or cancel certificates when necessary. These responsibilities were formally held by the BC College of Teachers, which existed from January 1, 1988 to January 9, Certificate holders include classroom teachers, vice-principals, principals, directors and superintendents in the public, independent and First Nations school systems in BC. To learn more about the Teacher Regulation Branch, visit us at Office Location BC Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch W Broadway Vancouver BC V6J 1Z6 Canada Contact Information Telephone: Toll-Free (within Canada and the United States): Fax: Website: 3

4 Certificates Issued All educators working in BC s public schools must hold a certificate of qualification from the Ministry of Education. This certificate also enables educators to work in all independent schools and First Nations schools in the province. Your application may result in qualifying for a Professional, Basic or Conditional certificate. These are not restricted to any subject area or grade level, and they are valid for BC s kindergarten to grade 12 education system. If you qualify for one of these certificates and wish to teach outside the area in which you have completed your teacher training, you will need to consult your employer. Professional Certificate This is a non-expiring certificate that signifies a teacher has met all of BC s standards for teacher certification. The majority of BC-trained teachers receive a Professional Certificate upon successful completion of their teacher education programs. This is because BC teacher education programs are pre-approved, and the students have met most requirements for certification prior to being admitted to the programs. Graduates from teacher education programs outside of BC are also issued the Professional Certificate if they meet all of BC s standards for certification. Basic Certificate This is a non-expiring certificate issued in compliance with the Agreement on Internal Trade. This certificate signifies that a teacher has not met BC s requirements for a Professional Certificate, but does hold a current, valid, unrestricted teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory. Teachers who qualify for a Basic Certificate will have the option of upgrading to a Professional Certificate by completing specific requirements. Trades Certificate This is a non-expiring certificate that restricts the holder to teaching in a specific trade area. This certificate can be issued in compliance with the Agreement on Internal Trade. This certificate signifies that a teacher has not met BC s requirements for a Professional Certificate, but does hold a current, valid, restricted teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory. Teachers who qualify for a Trades Certificate will have the option of upgrading to a Basic or Professional Certificate by completing specific requirements. Conditional Certificate This is an expiring certificate valid for up to 60 months. This certificate is issued to applicants who meet most of BC s standards for certification and do not have a current, valid, unrestricted teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory. Teachers must complete specific coursework requirements before the Conditional Certificate expires to upgrade to a Professional Certificate. 4

5 Requirements for a Certificate To apply for a certificate of qualification for teaching in BC s public school system, you must have completed pedagogical training that enables you to teach in the kindergarten to grade 12 school system in the country, state or province where you completed the training. We will not accept your application if you have not completed a teacher education program. If you would like information about where to complete a teacher education program in BC, please visit our website and refer to the Teacher Education tab. Below is a description of some of the basic requirements. Please note that this is a general introduction. We will not be able to tell you what you may need to do to obtain a BC teaching certificate until we evaluate your complete application. Fitness to teach You must be a person of a good and moral character to qualify for a certificate. We use the following to evaluate your suitability or "fitness" to teach: the confidential character reference forms the assessment form the criminal record check results in some cases, the results of a fingerprint search Proficiency in English or French BC s languages of instruction are English and, in French immersion schools, French. To teach in BC, you need to be able to read, write and speak English or French at an advanced level. If you have completed any part of your education in a country where English or French is not the only official language, you will need to take a language proficiency test. See the section on Language Proficiency on page 11 for more information. Recent teaching experience Within the last 10 years, you need to have at least: 75 days of acceptable teaching experience in one academic year, 100 days of acceptable teaching experience in two consecutive academic years, or 10 weeks of practice teaching within your teacher education program. If you do not meet the minimum teaching experience requirements, we will ask you to update your practice by completing some teacher education courses and a practicum before granting you a certificate. We will advise you of the details of this updating coursework once we complete the evaluation. If you have not had acceptable teaching experience within the last 20 years, we will ask you to complete a full teacher education program. Post-secondary studies You need to have a minimum of four years (120 credits) of post-secondary studies and a degree, or equivalent. BC students complete 12 years of schooling before starting post-secondary level education. If you have completed less than grade 12, we may use your years of post-secondary study to meet the grade 12 requirement. For example, if you have a grade 10 education and a four-year degree, we may consider this to be grade 12 plus two years of post-secondary study. 5

6 Requirements for a Certificate Within your post-secondary studies, you must meet specific coursework requirements. Academic coursework is about developing content knowledge in your teaching areas. Teacher education coursework is about developing your skills as an educator. 1. Academic coursework Secondary school teachers must have at least 24 credits of coursework in one of the following acceptable subject areas: Art Biology Business Education Chemistry Computer Science Dance Drama Earth Science English First Nations Studies French General Science Geography German History Home Economics Italian Japanese Korean Mandarin Mathematics Music Physical Education Physics Punjabi Russian Social Studies Spanish Special Education Technology Education Elementary school teachers must have at least 30 credits of general coursework in areas related to the BC elementary curriculum. These 30 credits must include 3 credits in Canadian studies, 3 credits in mathematics and 3 credits in science. The science course must be in the fields of astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology (earth science/ocean science), physics or physical geography. Trades teachers can qualify for a restricted Trades Certificate if they hold a trades qualification issued or recognized by the BC Industry Training Authority in a trade that has a minimum of three levels of technical training and a minimum of 5 years of journeyperson work and/or trades teaching experience. Trades teachers must also meet the English and teacher education coursework requirements below. English literature and composition All public school teachers in BC, regardless of subject area or level, are required to have 6 credits of coursework in English literature and composition. If you have completed all of your postsecondary studies in French, or if French is your first language, we will accept 6 credits of coursework in French literature and composition. 6

7 Requirements for a Certificate 2. Teacher education coursework BC teacher education programs include at least 48 credits of pedagogical coursework and teaching practice. This is equivalent to approximately one and a half to two years of full-time study. The programs have studies in: curriculum and instruction in the teaching subject areas, diagnosing and providing for students with special needs, evaluation and testing, human development and learning, and educational foundations (history, philosophy, sociology). Familiarity with the Canadian education system If you have studied and/or taught in an education system that is significantly different from the education system in Canada, we may ask you to complete a familiarization program to learn about the culture and curriculum of the Canadian education system before we grant you a certificate. The familiarization program adds to the knowledge and experience you already have and prepares you for a successful career in education in BC. As part of the familiarization program, you will need to complete 12 credits of teacher education courses related to your subject area(s) and a practicum through a BC university. Regardless of the university you choose to attend, familiarization programs usually take approximately one year to complete. Many applicants who are asked to complete a familiarization program choose to complete Simon Fraser University's Professional Qualification Program or the University of British Columbia's Teacher Updating Program. We will tell you in our evaluation letter if you must complete a familiarization program. You will need this letter to enroll in a university's courses or education program. Country-Specific Information If you have completed your teacher training in one of the countries on the list below, please visit our website at for more details about your required documents and potential results. Refer to the country-specific information for international graduates under the Becoming a Teacher tab. Australia Bulgaria China England France Germany India Iran Ireland Japan Mexico New Zealand Northern Ireland Philippines Romania Russia Scotland South Africa Switzerland USA Wales 7

8 Required Forms and Documents The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and the Teachers Act The information we collect as part of the application is in compliance with FOIPPA. The Teachers Act authorizes our collection of the personal information we request. Please contact our office if you have questions about the information we request. Regarding your documents All documents we receive as part of your application become the property of the Ministry of Education. We will not return any documents to you, nor will we send them to other individuals and organizations. If you applied more than one year ago, most of the documents in your file have expired. You must resubmit all of the items listed in the Checklist of Application Items below except for identification documents and transcripts that were previously sent directly to us. Checklist of Application Items Application form Application fee Consent to a Criminal Record Check form Statement(s) of Professional Standing Teaching qualification Secondary school diploma Official post-secondary transcripts Distance Teacher Education Details Degree verification Verification of teaching experience Assessment Form Two Character Reference forms Language proficiency results Identification document(s) Additional Documents required for Trades Teachers Journeyperson experience verification Trades Qualification Verification Notarized copy: If we have indicated that we require a notarized copy of an item listed below, you will need to contact a notary public or lawyer to have true copies made from your original document. We will also accept photocopies that have been notarized by any person who has current, valid certification with the BC Ministry of Education. On the photocopy, s/he must write her/his full name, certificate number and signature. 1. Application for Teacher s Certificate of Qualification form Please complete all four pages of this form and mail it to us. You must answer all of the questions on the form, and you must sign and date the Declaration of Professional Commitment on page 4. If you have a criminal record, this does not automatically make you ineligible for a certificate. However, you may not qualify if you make false statements or do not tell us about a criminal record. 2. Application fee You must include the non-refundable application fee with your application. We will not open a file for you or review any of your documents until you have paid the application fee. Please see the section on Fee Information on page 16 for fee amounts and payment options. 8

9 Required Forms and Documents 3. Consent to a Criminal Record Check form Please complete the Consent to a Criminal Record Check form and submit it to us with your application form. We will forward your information to the Criminal Records Review Program of the Ministry of Justice. In turn, they will send the results directly to us. Once you become certified, you will need to undergo a criminal record check every five years. Criminal record check results are confidential. We cannot accept previous criminal record checks you have completed, and we cannot provide you with a copy of the results of this criminal record check. 4. Statement(s) of Professional Standing A Statement of Professional Standing is a letter that states you are a teacher in good standing and that your teaching license has never been revoked, cancelled or suspended for any disciplinary reasons. Statement(s) of Professional Standing must be mailed* directly to the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch from the following: * If you hold a teaching certificate from Ontario (Canada), we will obtain the information we require regarding your certificate directly from the website of the Ontario College of Teachers. 1. The certification body in the jurisdiction where you completed your teacher training. This is required even if you have never taught in that jurisdiction as it confirms that your training is recognized as an acceptable route to becoming a teacher there. For contact information for certification bodies outside of Canada, please visit our website. Under the Becoming a Teacher tab, refer to the country-specific information for international graduates. Select the country where you completed your teacher education program and refer to the section about Statements of Professional Standing. If your jurisdiction is not listed, please us at trb.certification@gov.bc.ca to ask if we have any contact information available. 2. All other certification bodies where you hold or have held a teaching certificate. This is required even if you have never taught in the jurisdiction and even if the certificate has expired. 3. From all employers in jurisdictions where you have taught without registering with a government certification body. You need to ask the employer to send us a brief letter answering the following questions: a. What was the basis of your employment, for example, your degree or other teaching certificate? b. Were there any concerns about your conduct or competence? c. What were the details of your employment, including subjects and levels taught, dates of employment and teaching load (full-time, part-time, and teacher-on-call)? The letter must be dated, printed on letterhead and signed by the employer. 9

10 Required Forms and Documents 5. Teaching qualification If the jurisdiction where you completed your teacher education program does not issue Statements of Professional Standing, we require the document that shows you are qualified or authorized to teach. Please submit a notarized copy of your teaching certificate, degree or diploma. 6. Secondary school graduation diploma If you graduated from a secondary school outside of North America, you need to submit a notarized copy of your final secondary school diploma or certificate. If this is not available, we will accept a letter from the secondary school stating when you completed your studies. O-level and A-level certificates meet this requirement. 7. Official transcripts of all post-secondary studies Please ask each of the post-secondary institutions you have attended to mail an official transcript directly to us. We do not accept transcripts by fax or . We do not accept transcripts sent by applicants even if the transcripts are sealed or notarized. It is important that every college and university you have attended mails us a transcript. Each course is relevant to our evaluation and we will recognize only courses for which we have an official transcript. Transcripts should show: the dates you were enrolled, the name of each course you took at that institution, the grades you received, and the number of credits granted or lecture hours completed for each course. If the official transcripts do not include all of the information we require, we may ask you to have the institution send us additional details, such as an outline or program syllabus. If transcripts arrive in languages other than English or French, we will send a copy to you for translation. See the section on Translations on page 13 for more information. 8. Distance teacher education program details If you completed any part of your teacher education program by distance or online education, please ask your Faculty of Education to send details about your program directly to us. The details must state what courses you completed face-to-face and what courses you completed by distance or online. They must also provide the number of lecture hours you attended for each on-campus course and indicate how many days of practicum you completed in a classroom. This information is required only for the studies you completed within your teacher education program. We do not require this information for academic courses you took outside the Faculty of Education. 10

11 Required Forms and Documents 9. Degree verification Most transcripts show the degree or qualification you completed. If your transcripts do not provide this information, please send us a notarized copy of your degree or qualification. You can also ask the post-secondary institution to send us a letter confirming the qualification awarded. 10. Verification of teaching experience We require verification of your teaching experience for each year of the last 10 years. If you have not taught within the last 10 years, please provide verification for the last 20 years. The verification must indicate when you were employed, what you taught and whether you worked full time, part time, and/or as a teacher-on-call. For part-time and teacher-on-call experience, we require the percentage of full-time or number of days you taught each year. Employers can use their own template for the verification or they can complete our Verification of Employment Form (available on our website under Forms & Publications). We will also accept copies of letters that you already have. We will not accept contract documents or pay stubs. If you only have practice teaching experience and you completed your teacher training at a postsecondary institution outside of Canada, ask the institution to send us a letter stating the number of days of practice teaching you completed. 11. Assessment form Please ask the principal, vice principal or supervisor of your most recent teaching experience to complete our Assessment Form (available with editable fields on our website under Forms & Publications). If you only have practice teaching experience, please send us a copy of all of your final practicum reports (from the faculty and school associates) instead of the Assessment Form. If you have not taught in the last 10 years, please send us a copy of your last teaching report. If you are unable to provide the Assessment Form, please send us a written explanation. We will review the information and tell you of an acceptable alternative if possible. 12. Confidential Character Reference for Authorization to Teach in British Columbia forms Please complete page 1 of each reference form. You will need to ask two referees who have known you for at least two years to complete page 2 and submit the forms directly to us. Your referees do not need to have observed you in any teaching capacity. However, we will not accept forms completed by referees that are too closely related to you, such as relatives, partners, spouses or equivalents. We will not accept letters of reference as a substitute for the reference forms. 13. Language proficiency BC s languages of instruction are English and, in French immersion schools, French. To teach in BC, you need to be able to read, write and speak English or French at an advanced level. Applicants whose first language is not English or French and who have completed any part of their education in countries where the official language is not English or French must meet our language proficiency requirements. 11

12 Required Forms and Documents Test results must be mailed directly to us from the testing agency. We need these results before we can evaluate your application or tell you of any coursework you may need to complete. It is highly recommended that applicants obtain an acceptable score on the IELTS Academic, TOEFL ibt or the French Proficiency test before submitting an application to the Teacher Regulation Branch. Applicants who do not meet our minimum language proficiency requirements will not be issued any certificate until this requirement has been met. English language proficiency We accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language ( BC Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch institution code: 8693) and the International English Language Testing System ( We will accept results from tests taken within the last two years. The minimum scores we require to issue a certificate are as follows: IELTS Academic TOEFL ibt TOEFL CBT and TSE-P Listening 6 Reading 23 TOEFL CBT 237 Reading 6 Listening 23 TSE-P 50 Writing 7 Speaking 27 Speaking 7 Writing 25 Overall 6.5 Total 98 French language proficiency If you teach in French, you will need to submit proof of French proficiency. We will accept French proficiency results from the following: for those employed by le Conseil scolaire francophone, a letter indicating acceptable proficiency in the French language, the French Language Appraisal for Placement of Teacher Candidates offered by the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia (A minimum score of B1 is required to issue a certificate.), a written assessment from a Faculty of the French Department of a Canadian university approved by the Ministry of Education. 14. Identification document(s) We require a notarized copy of your birth certificate, as well as proof of any other names appearing on your documents (notarized copy of your marriage certificate, divorce certificate or change of name certificate). If you do not have your birth certificate and you were born: in Canada, you need to obtain a replacement from the Vital Statistics department in the province or territory where you were born. outside of Canada, you must have a notary public or lawyer prepare a statutory declaration in which you swear to your date of birth, your full name at birth, your birthplace and the fact that you do not have a birth certificate. You must attach a notarized copy of your passport, permanent resident papers or a Canadian citizenship card to the statutory declaration. 12

13 Required Forms and Documents Sample Statutory Declaration To Whom It May Concern I, Johanna Alexandria Doe of Main Street, Anytown, British Columbia, hereby declare the following statements to be true and correct: 1. That I do not have a birth or baptismal certificate. 2. That the name given to me at birth was Johanna Alexandria Doe. 3. That I was born on the 30th day of September That my place of birth was Sometown, Anycountry. 5. That I am a citizen and attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is a true copy of my passport, which expires on the 19 th day of April And I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath. Declared and signed before me at Anytown in the province of British Columbia this day of AD 20. Signature of Declarant Signature and Seal of Notary Public Additional Documents for Trades Teachers If you completed a teacher education program with a teachable subject in a trades area you will be required to submit the following documents. 15. Journeyperson Experience Verification We require verification of your journeyperson and/or trades teaching experience since obtaining your trades qualification (Red Seal, Certificate of Qualification, Journeyman Certificate, etc.). Submit a copy of a signed letter on company letterhead indicating: Your years of employment as a journeyperson/trades teacher and whether you were fulltime or part-time. If you have taught part-time, we need the percentage of full-time or number of days you were employed each year. The nature of your employment such as trades teacher, journeyperson, etc. 16. Trades Qualification Verification You must send a notarized copy of your trades qualification (Red Seal, Certificate of Qualification, Journeyman Certificate, etc.). You can also ask the awarding institution (BCITA, Ontario College of Trades, etc.) to send us a letter stating the qualification and the date they awarded it to you. 13

14 Required Forms and Documents Translations Please ensure that your name is in alphabetized form so that we can match the documents to your file. Documents sent to the Ministry of Education must be in English, French or the official language. If we require a translation, we will keep the original and send you a copy. You must have the documents translated by one of the sources below and returned to us: Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC: A translator licensed through a federal or provincial government in Canada (phone for more information) a document translation service pre-approved by the Teacher Regulation Branch the consulate, high commission or embassy in Canada of the country that issued the documents the Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission in the country from which you emigrated Translations must include a statement from the translator that states all of the following: that the translation is accurate and authentic, that the translator is one of the sources listed above (the translator should include his/her identification number and/or seal, name, address and telephone number), and the full name in uppercase letters and signature of the translator. If you already have a translation of the document, you can provide the translation to us. We will determine whether or not the translation is acceptable. 14

15 Application Process Please follow these steps to apply for your certificate: 1. Mail us the following: the Application for a Teacher s Certification of Qualification form the Consent to a Criminal Record Check form the application fee any other documents you can, except for those that must be sent directly to us 2. Contact the institutions and individuals who must send documents directly to us. If we receive these documents before your application form, we will keep them until we receive your application. When we receive your application form, we will: 1. create a file for you and you within five to seven business days to tell you your file number, and 2. add your file to the evaluation queue and append additional documents as they arrive. Once an evaluator has reviewed your file, we will send you a letter listing any documents that are still missing. When we have received all of the required documents, an evaluator will complete the evaluation of your file. This takes approximately five to seven weeks. We will notify you of your evaluation results by mail. Tips about the application process To ensure that your application is processed as smoothly and quickly as possible: Make sure all of the documents you submit are complete and clear. Contact the institutions and individuals that need to send documents directly to us as soon as possible. This is the most time-consuming part of the application process. Follow up to make sure your documents have been sent. Do not attempt to take courses before you receive your results. We will not know what courses you may need to take until we have completed the evaluation. Apply to us six months to one year before you arrive in BC. If you must meet some additional requirements, it will be to your advantage to know about these in advance. Do not have the transcript for your teacher education program sent to us until it shows that you have completed your program and received your qualification. Please be patient and prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes documents fail to arrive or more information is needed. How to find out the status of your application We cannot tell you what documents are missing from your application until you receive a letter which will list these items for you. You may contact us to ask whether or not we have received specific documents. We will respond to you within one to two business days. us at trb.certification@gov.bc.ca. Please quote your file number in the subject line. Phone us at or toll-free within Canada and the United States at

16 Application Results Possible results of your application The four possible outcomes of your application are listed below. For a more complete description of the certificate types, please see the section on Certificates Issued on page 4. Eligible for a Professional Certificate: You have met all of BC s standards for public school teacher certification and qualify for a non-expiring Professional Certificate. Eligible for a Basic Certificate: You do not meet BC s requirements for a Professional Certificate, but you qualify for a non-expiring Basic Certificate because you hold a valid teaching certificate in another Canadian province or territory. Eligible for a Trades Certificate: You do not meet BC s requirements for a Professional or Basic Certificate but qualify for a non-expiring Trades Certificate because you have a recognized trades qualification and journeyperson experience. Eligible for a Conditional Certificate: You have met BC s minimum requirements for public school teacher certification and qualify for a Conditional Certificate, which is valid up to five years. You have coursework to complete before the certificate expires to upgrade to a Professional Certificate. Ineligible for certification: You do not meet our minimum requirements for public school certification, but we will explain what you need to do to qualify. Our evaluation results letter will describe what requirements must be met before we can issue you a certificate. This letter will be valid for five years. Keep your BC certificate valid Once you receive your BC teaching certificate, it is important to pay your annual fee and keep your certificate valid, even if you are not teaching in BC. The annual fee is due by May 31 each year. If you do not pay this fee, we will cancel your certificate and you will need to reapply. We will complete a new evaluation based on the requirements at that time. Programs that do not qualify for public school certification Teacher education programs are often very different from one country to another. If you have completed a program that does not qualify for public school certification in BC, our evaluation results letter will explain what courses or program you need to complete to qualify for a certificate. The following types of programs do not qualify for public school certification in BC: programs that are shorter than one year of full-time study programs completed entirely by distance education programs that are not designed for the kindergarten to grade 12 school system programs that are not awarded university credit programs that are employment-based To obtain your salary category The Teacher Qualification Service ( is the organization that determines the salary level for all BC public school teachers. If you qualify for a certificate, you will need to contact them directly to apply for your salary category. When we issue your BC teaching certificate, we will automatically forward a copy to TQS on your behalf. You must complete the remainder of that process on your own. 16

17 Fee Information You must pay a non-refundable application fee to begin the application process. If you are eligible for a certificate, you will also need to pay your annual fee to receive your certificate. Non-refundable application fee Send us the application fee with your application form. We require this fee to create a file for you and issue you a file number. The fee amount depends on where you completed your teacher education program: Completed your teacher education program in Canada: $ 245 Completed your teacher education program outside of Canada: 395 Annual fee Along with the certificate fee, you will need to pay for the first year of your annual fee. This amount is pro-rated based on the date we issue your certificate. Certificates issued June 1 November 30 $ 80 Certificates issued December 1 March Certificates issued April 1 May * * Includes $40 pro-rated fee for the remainder of the current school year plus the full $80 annual fee for the following school year. Payment options You can pay by money order or bank draft payable to the Minister of Finance and send it to the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch. You can also pay by Visa, MasterCard or American Express by completing the credit card authorization portion on page 1 of the Application for Teacher's Certificate of Qualification Form. 17

18 Standards for the Education, Competence & Professional Conduct of Educators in British Columbia FOURTH EDITION JANUARY 2012

19 Introduction The Teachers Act establishes a BC Teachers Council and further provides that the Council create standards for those who hold certificates of qualification issued by the Ministry of Education. Section 10 (1) and (2) of the Act set out the objects of the Teachers Council. The mandate of the council is to establish standards for the education of applicants for certificates of qualification, and also establish standards for the conduct and competence of both certificate holders and applicants for certificates of qualification. Specifically, it establishes standards that a person must meet in order to be issued and to maintain a certificate of qualification. These include standards relating to:» Training & qualifications requirements for applicants & certificate holders» Competence» Conduct In carrying out its objects, the council must exercise its powers and perform its duties under this Act in the public interest. The intent of the Act is that, in making standards, the Teachers Council must consider the needs of the public, especially of the students who are the clients of teachers, ahead of the interests of certificate holders. This means that the standards for teachers are to be established for the benefit of students, their parents and the society as a whole. The Purpose and Meaning of the Standards in Practice Standards are not detailed descriptors of teaching competency or conduct. They are statements of principle upon which the detail can be built. Standards should be succinct and convey to the reader an overall sense of the work that teachers do (competencies) and the ways in which they behave (conduct). The Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in British Columbia (Standards) were adopted in 2008 by the BC College of Teachers and, through the Teachers Act, have been continued as the standards for certificate holders until such time as they might be revised by the Teachers Council. The Standards are intended to honour and advance the work of educators by highlighting the complex and varied nature of educators work. They articulate the knowledge, skills and attitudes that educators shall possess as well as the responsibilities that accrue to them as certified educators who hold the public trust. In doing so, the Standards contribute to a safe and high-quality learning environment for students and provide a basis for attaining and assessing both competency and conduct. Taken together, the Standards define the attributes and expertise that educators bring to bear for the benefit of children and society. As a tool for the public good, the Standards are intended to support the goals of our society by helping to support the education of citizens to live productive and fulfilled lives. Educators who embody these Standards must be able Definitions aboriginal includes all Aboriginal peoples, especially First Nations, Inuit & Métis authority a society incorporated under the Society Act, or a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act or a private Act, or a person designated, by regulation, as an authority that operates or intends to operate an independent school

20 to relate intellectually, pedagogically and ethically with children as they teach the specific subjects and curriculum of BC. Standards are a way of communicating to certificate holders and the public the description of the work of educators what they know, what they are able to do, and how they comport themselves as they serve the public. The Standards provide the foundation and stability on which educators can grow, articulating both the values and characteristics that distinguish the work of educators. Certificate holders enter into a contract with the public that provides them with a level of autonomy in return for an agreement that the educator will place the interests of the public above individual interests. Educators agree to be accountable to the public, and the Standards serve as a touchstone for this responsibility. Even the most eminent and competent educators will continue throughout their careers to learn about and build their repertoires in pedagogy and subject area knowledge. Indeed, standards serve both as ideals to which educators aspire and expectations that can be reasonably held. One critical consideration that often accompanies the development of standards is the question of how they will be used in practice. The practice of education is an ongoing journey of growing understanding and developing skills. The notion that an educator can attain perfection in practice flies in the face of the notion of continual learning and suggests that meeting a standard can be relative. The question should not be Has the Standard been met? but To what extent has the Standard been met for the particular context in which the educator is preparing or working? A deficit in a single standard is not necessarily a fatal flaw that destroys professional competence, though in certain substantive circumstances it may be. A demonstration of competence will, by necessity, be different for a beginning teacher than for a seasoned veteran. Commitment to the Standards The Standards should be a positive force for educators that will honour their work and benefit the children and people of BC through supporting student academic success and social development and by developing an informed citizenry. As new educators become certified to teach in BC, they will be required to sign a commitment that their practice will be governed by the ethics and principles as outlined in the Standards. By agreeing to abide by the Standards, an educator makes a commitment to the public in which parents can confidently send their children into an educator s care. The Standards have the following applications: Establish commonly held standards of practice and conduct that guide teacher education, teaching practice and ongoing professional growth Communicate to the public the standards that educators hold and Establish a framework that guides the Teachers Council and the Ministry of Education in setting requirements and making decisions related to teacher education programs, certification of applicants, fitness to practice and discipline. board a board of school trustees constituted under the School Act community all those who live in an area served by a school or school district competence having the knowledge & skills to carry out the duties of an educator conduct the actions or omissions of an educator including such actions or omissions both within and outside of an educator s professional role educator a person who holds, has held, or is an applicant for a certificate of qualification from the Ministry of Education minor child or youth under the age of 19 parent (in respect of a student or of a child): the guardian of the person of the student or child the person legally entitled to custody of the student or child the person who usually has the care and control of the student or child student a person enrolled in a K-12 educational program provided by a board of education, authority or First Nations School and for whom an educator has responsibility.

21 Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch W. Broadway Vancouver, BC V6J 1Z6 Canada t toll free f bcteacherregulation.ca 1. Educators value and care for all students and act in their best interests. Educators are responsible for fostering the emotional, esthetic, intellectual, physical, social and vocational development of students. They are responsible for the emotional and physical safety of students. Educators treat students with respect and dignity. Educators respect the diversity in their classrooms, schools and communities. Educators have a privileged position of power and trust. They respect confidentiality unless disclosure is required by law. Educators do not abuse or exploit students or minors for personal, sexual, ideological, material or other advantage. 2. Educators are role models who act ethically and honestly. Educators act with integrity, maintaining the dignity and credibility of the profession. They understand that their individual conduct contributes to the perception of the profession as a whole. Educators are accountable for their conduct while on duty, as well as off duty, where that conduct has an effect on the education system. Educators have an understanding of the education system in BC and the law as it relates to their duties. 3. Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development. Educators are knowledgeable about how children develop as learners and as social beings, and demonstrate an understanding of individual learning differences and special needs. This knowledge is used to assist educators in making decisions about curriculum, instruction, assessment and classroom management. 4. Educators value the involvement and support of parents, guardians, families and communities in schools. Educators understand, respect and support the role of parents and the community in the education of students. Educators communicate effectively and in a timely manner with parents and consider their advice on matters pertaining to their children. 5. Educators implement effective practices in areas of classroom management, planning, instruction, assessment, evaluation and reporting. Educators have the knowledge and skills to facilitate learning for all students and know when to seek additional support for their practice. Educators thoughtfully consider all aspects of teaching, from planning through reporting, and understand the relationships among them. Educators employ a variety of instructional and assessment strategies. 6. Educators have a broad knowledge base and understand the subject areas they teach. Educators understand the curricular, conceptual and methodological foundations of education and of the subject areas they teach. Educators must be able to communicate effectively in English or French. Educators teach students to understand relevant curricula in a Canadian, Aboriginal, and global context. Educators convey the values, beliefs and knowledge of our democratic society. 7. Educators engage in career-long learning. Educators engage in professional development and reflective practice, understanding that a hallmark of professionalism is the concept of professional growth over time. Educators develop and refine personal philosophies of education, teaching and learning that are informed by theory and practice. Educators identify their professional needs and work to meet those needs individually and collaboratively. 8. Educators contribute to the profession. Educators support, mentor or encourage other educators and those preparing to enter the profession. Educators contribute their expertise to activities offered by their schools, districts, professional organizations, post-secondary institutions or contribute in other ways. p r i n t e d i n c a n a da

22 Application for Teacher s Certificate of Qualification PLEASE MAIL THIS FORM (ORIGINAL SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED) File # (if assigned): M F Title (Mr., Ms., etc.) Date of Birth (YYYYMMDD) Gender Given Names Surname Used Given Name Birth Surname Other Previous Surname Street Address/P.O. Box City/Town Province/State Country Postal Code/Zip Code Primary Address Home Phone Number Mobile Phone Number (include area code) Secondary Address Work Phone Number (include area code) Please indicate how you would like to receive updates about the status of your application. Note that if you do not specify, we will updates to you using your primary address. Mail If you have been newly hired in BC, please indicate whether in: Public School District Number Independent (non-public) School School District or Independent School Name City / Town Fulltime Parttime On Call Start Date (YYYYMMDD) FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Fee Enclosed: Yes No

23 Application for Teacher s Certificate of Qualification Page 2 ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS Secondary Education: Name of Diploma or Certificate Location Year Completed Y E A R Undergraduate Degree: Name of Degree Year Completed Y E A R Name of Institution Location Teacher Education: Name of Degree Year and Month Completed Y E A R M M Name of Institution and Location Grade Level/Teaching Subject Areas Was any part of your Teacher training completed by distance education or online education? Yes No Graduate Degree: Name of Degree Year Name of Institution and Location Trades Qualifications: 1. Name of Qualification Year Name of Awarding Institution and Location 2. Name of Qualification Year Name of Awarding Institution and Location All other Post-Secondary Institutions attended, including Trades training: 1. Name of Institution and Location Year 2. Name of Institution and Location Year 3. Name of Institution and Location Year 4. Name of Institution and Location Year Please ensure that the above institution(s) will mail an official transcript to the Teacher Regulation Branch. Official transcripts are also required from all other post-secondary institutions attended even if the credit has been transferred to another institution. We do not accept transcripts from applicants. Please list all jurisdictions where you hold, or have held, valid teaching certification

24 Application for Teacher s Certificate of Qualification Page 3 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE For this section, begin with the most recent; label T for teaching experience, E for other educational work, P for practica, J for journeyperson experience, and N for not related to teaching. L a b e l Dates Location (School or Employer, City, Country) Grades and Subject(s) Taught (or description of employment)

25 Application for Teacher s Certificate of Qualification Page 4 PERSONAL INFORMATION All questions in this section must be answered. For every affirmative answer (yes), please attach a detailed written explanation, including dates and locations, and supporting documents if applicable. Yes No 1. Have you ever applied anywhere for authorization and/or certification to teach and had your application rejected? Yes No 2. Have you ever for any reason other than failure to pay fees voluntarily surrendered your authorization and/or certification to teach? Yes No 3. Have you ever, in advance of an investigation or disciplinary proceeding, either voluntarily or involuntarily restricted your teaching practice? Yes No 4. Have you ever been disciplined by an employing school district or independent authority, a university (as a student), or other educational organization? Yes No 5. Have you ever been found guilty of professional misconduct or been found to be incompetent or incapacitated as a member of the teaching or other profession? Yes No 6. Have you ever agreed to a settlement or a resignation to avoid any proceeding or disciplinary action with respect to your professional conduct, competence or capacity? Yes No 7. Has there ever been, or is there now, an investigation or proceeding in regards to your professional conduct, competence or capacity as an educator in another jurisdiction, or as a member of another profession? Yes No 8. Have you ever failed or voluntarily withdrawn from a teacher education program or from a practicum? Yes No 9. Have you ever been asked by a Faculty of Education to withdraw from a teacher education program or practicum? Yes No 10. Do you have any medical (physical or mental) condition that could affect your fitness to teach? Yes No 11. Have you ever been charged (including stays of proceeding), convicted of or given an absolute or conditional discharge or received a pardon or a record suspension on a criminal offence? Yes No 12. Are there any outstanding criminal charges against you? Yes No 13. Has there ever been a peace bond or restraining order issued against you? Yes No 14. Are you currently the subject of a criminal investigation? Yes No