How to Become a Teacher
Table of Contents
So you want to be a Teacher?
Are you interested in becoming an elementary or high school teacher? To teach in Ontario’s publicly funded schools, a teacher must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers. 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.
Carleton University’s comprehensive list of programs provide aspiring students with the necessary “Teaching Subjects” and education to be eligible to apply to a school’s Faculty of Education (teacher’s college).
Faculty of Education (Teacher’s College)
Students interested in applying to a school’s Faculty of Education need to start preparing early! Application to these teaching programs are done through the Teaching Education Application Service (TEAS) – a non-profit centralized application service operated by the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) for applicants to the Faculty of Education (teacher’s college) for the accredited institutions. List of accredited teaching programs in Ontario available here.
Application Process
Teacher Education Applications through the TEAS on-line application service are generally made available in the Fall of the year before you wish to attend. Since teaching is a highly competitive field, it is important for candidates to be aware of all important dates and deadlines! Check out the TEAS website for the most up to date information regarding deadlines.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible to apply for admission to a school’s Faculty of Education you must be close to graduating with at least a 70% (B -) average. Most universities also require that students have completed several courses in a certain area of study, referred to as “Teaching Subjects” or “Teachables.”
What students need to know:
- Undergraduate degree
- a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree in Arts, Fine Arts, Science or Commerce
- GPA requirements
- Most institutions require a minimum GPA of 70% (B-). You can calculate your CGPA by looking at your audit or emailing your program’s administrator. Be sure to check the website of the institution to which you are applying to confirm the GPA requirement.
- Teaching subjects or Teachables
- Teachables, or teaching subjects, refer to the subject you would be interested in teaching. They vary by institution, but tend to be general subjects such as math, history, English, music, etc. Some institutions have specialized teachables such as Native languages, French as a second language, and computer science.
- For those interested in the Junior/Intermediate or Intermediate/Senior track, you will need to declare a teaching subject when submitting your application. While not required for the Primary/Junior division, it is recommended that you have sufficient credits in a teachable subject.
- Teachable subjects and their equivalencies vary depending on the institution you are applying to. Be sure to check each institution’s admission requirements for up to date information.
- Teaching programs/divisions
- Teaching programs are divided into categories based on grade-level:
- Primary/Junior (Junior kindergarten – Grade 6)
- Junior/Intermediate (Grade 4 – Grade 10) – require a single subject.
- Intermediate/Senior (Grade 7 – grade 12) – require two subject specialties.
- Teaching programs are divided into categories based on grade-level:
- Required experience
- Volunteer or work experience is a requirement for most Teacher’s Education programs. The longer and more involved the experience, the better. If you do not have experience, our Practicum Course, CHST 3905, is a great opportunity for students who are new to the field.
- CHST 3905 is currently open for applications for the Winter 2025 semester. Applications are due by midnight on June 20th, 2024. More info on the practicum course.
- Required documentation
- A copy of your official transcript with your application.
- At least two professional or academic references. Your referees cannot be related to you.
- A Statement of Experience/Personal Statement. The requirements for these statements will vary depending on the school you are applying to. They are often in essay or short answer format. Statement of Experience is an important piece of your application, and should be professional and well written, and should illustrate your professional goals and work, volunteer, and educational experiences. Career Services is available to help you go over personal statement checklists and review your drafts.
For more general admission requirement, please refer to the TEAS website. For specific admission information, please consult individual Institutions directly.
Ontario College of Teachers
The Ontario College of Teachers licenses, governs and regulates Ontario’s teaching profession in the public interest. It was created by the Ontario College of Teachers Act to: issue, suspend and revoke teaching certificates. set ethical standards and standards of practice.
For more information, visit Ontario College of Teachers
Helpful Links
Tips If Considering Becoming a Teacher – Carleton Career Services