How to Become a Teacher in Alberta|3 Best Steps

Teaching jobs in Alberta are generally in high demand. They are one of the most rewarding careers one can choose also.

A typical teacher in Alberta receives about $116,000 a year on average in salary and compensation.

However, not just anyone can look for a job opening in Alberta and apply. There are minimum requirements for degrees, licensing, and certification that must be met before you can step into a classroom.

This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to become a teacher in Alberta, including whether it’s the right career for you and how to choose the best educational route. Take your first step in education today.

Check out: 30 Top Qualities of a good teacher; Become a Better Teacher

The Steps on How to Become a Teacher in Alberta

  • Apply for Interim Professional Certification (IPC)
  • After you apply, Wait for Your Application to be Approved
  • Start Practicing


As part of the requirements needed to apply as a teacher in Alberta, you are required to own a valid Alberta teaching certificate. The first on our list of how to become a teacher in Alberta is applying for IPC.

Apply for Interim Professional Certification (IPC).

This is the first on our list of how to become a teacher in Alberta. This step will enable Alberta Education to assess your educational and professional qualifications.

If you meet the requirements, the IPC allows you to teach anywhere within the province’s K to 12 system and this is temporary valid for only 3 years. When you meet all the requirements for Permanent Professional Certification (PPC), your school authority must recommend you for a permanent certificate. A PPC does not expire, even if you leave the profession.


Pay the Application Fees


Application fees for IPC are subject to location, depending on where you completed your teacher preparatory program.

Application fees are nonrefundable and must be paid at the time you submit your application for teacher certification.
Applicants’ fees are stated below:

  • Alberta: $200.00
  • United States and Canada (outside Alberta): $225.00
  • Other Countries: $250 .00


Fees are payable online through the Teacher Workforce Information System (TWINS) using VISA, VISA Debit, MasterCard, or American Express, or by mail.


To make payment by mail, you should send a money order or Canadian cheque, payable to “Government of Alberta” with your certificate or reference number to the Office of the Registrar using the address below:

  • The Registrar at Alberta Education
  • 2nd floor, 44 Capital Boulevard
  • 10044 108 Street
  • Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6


The only acceptable means of payment remains through money orders or Canadian cheque Cash, as international cheques, and international money orders are not accepted.


Get the Temporary teaching authority


A 90-days temporary teaching authority is available for graduates from an Alberta Bachelor of Education program with an employment offer.

In order to access this privilege, you are required to Submit your Interim Professional Certificate (IPC) application, including all required documentation, and submit your fee at least 8 weeks before the end of your degree program.

Application takes approximately 20 business days for a pre-certification letter to be offered.

Once the application process is on, request an offer letter from your prospective employing school authority.

Immediately the offer letter is received from your employee, alongside the pre-certification letter.

Take both documents to the Dean of your education faculty and request a letter stating you have successfully completed your program.


With these 3 letters, you are legally authorized to teach for a duration of 90 days, and when the Dean’s list arrives at Alberta Education’s Teacher Certification Branch, an IPC will be issued and equally mailed to you.

Cross-Canada Labor Mobility


Teachers who hold a valid teaching certificate from another Canadian jurisdiction are eligible for a certificate in Alberta without requiring additional training or examination under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement(CFTA).

This however comes with an exception of language proficiency, which may be required.


Using the same scope of practice, as authorized by your valid certificate from other Canadian jurisdictions, individuals must still apply for Alberta teacher certification and will be eligible for either an interim Professional Certificate or a Letter of Authority(LA).


Application for Initial Certification


Step 1: Check your credentials


As part of the application process for the interim professional Certificate, Alberta will have to access your credentials.

It is important to note that all teachers in Alberta require a minimum of 16 years of formal education, which includes 4 years of a university degree, with a pre-service teacher preparatory program from an approved institution.

The teacher preparatory program should be such that it leads to a teacher certification program in the jurisdiction where the program was completed.

This preparatory program must also include:

  • 48 semester hour credits of coursework in professional teacher education courses within a structured teacher preparation program
  • 10 weeks of supervised student teaching (practicum) at the elementary or secondary level

Application For Elementary School Teachers in Alberta


For individuals applying to become elementary school teachers, such individuals must have completed a minimum of 24-semester hour credits, which includes:

  • 3-semester hour credits in Canadian Studies
  • 3-semester hour credits in Mathematics
  • 3-semester hour credits in Science
  • 6-semester hour credits in Literature and Composition (English or French)
Application For Secondary School Teachers in Alberta


For individuals applying to become secondary school teachers, such individuals must have completed a minimum of 24-semester hour credits, and in addition 6-semester hour credits in Literature and Composition (English or French)


Application From International applicants


All international applicants for certification must meet the above-listed criteria. It is important to note that academic credentials will be assessed on a course by course basis.

If your program is not acceptable to the Ministry of Education, It may warrant you to take additional courses to qualify for an IPC.

You will receive a letter of assessment when your assessment has been completed.


When your assessment is complete, you will receive a letter of assessment.


Step 2: Create a Teacher Workforce Information System (TWINS) account


In continuation of the application process, applicants must complete an online application through Teacher Workforce Information System (TWINS).

1. Click “Sign up for an Alberta Education Account”. This opens up the Alberta Education Account “Sign In” page.

2. Sign up using your personal email account. A confirmation mail will be
sent to the email address you used to create the account to confirm
your enrolment.

3. Go to the TWINS Teacher Self-Service website and click the “Apply for Alberta Teacher Certification” this button can be located from the lefthand menu.


Step 3: Complete the application through TWINS

1. Complete all required sections of the application.

2. Carefully review your application to avoid errors and click on “Submit Application” on the last page.

3. On successful applications, you will be redirected to the “Application Submission Success” screen. Do not move out of this page until a PDF copy of your application is displayed.

4. Print the PDF copy for your reference purpose; this may take several minutes to generate.

5. Submit all supporting documents including fees.

6. Track the status of your application online.


If you find an error or omission in your application after submission, you are advised to email teacher.certification@gov.ab.ca. Once done, You will be contacted with further instructions if necessary.


After you apply, Wait for Your Application to be Approved


Applications without documents and fees received will not be processed.

It is also important to note that you have a duration of one year to complete your application, after which time your application will be closed.

Application processing time takes a few days depending on the date when the application was completed.

For Alberta graduates, it takes at least 14 working days, for North American(Canada and the United States)applicants, it takes at least 60 working days, while Out-of-Country application takes a minimum of 120 working days.


Supporting documents


Your application remains unprocessed until supporting documents and fees are received.


Photocopies of documents are not accepted where original documents are required. Original documents can be submitted in person or by mail.

Original documents are returned once the assessment is completed through registered mail.

Identity documents


Identity documents include the under listed documents, as Passports are not accepted as proof of identity or citizenship:


Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate (front and back)

  • Valid Permanent Resident Card (front and back)
  • Government-issued Birth Certificate
  • Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad (front)
  • Valid work permit that permits you to teach
  • Government-issued Name Change Certificate
  • Government-issued marriage certificate (marriage registration document is not acceptable)


Criminal record check


A criminal record check is required and must be obtained as deemed appropriate, this record must be current (within the last 6 months) and be :


if you have any record of criminal convictions, you will have to provide additional documentation, which will be determined after a thorough review of your file.

Upon review and evaluation of your details, the registrar may refuse to issue certification.


Evidence of language proficiency


English language proficiency or French language is a requirement to
teaching in Alberta. If you completed your teacher education program outside of Canada, it may be required of you to provide evidence of language proficiency by successfully completing an accepted test. It is important to note that scores older than one year are not accepted.


English:


The Test of English as a Foreign Language – internet based test
(TOEFL-iBT)

  • You must achieve minimum scores of 27 in speaking, 25 in
  • writing, 23 in listening and 23 in reading.
  • Alberta Education institution code number is 7357.


The International English Language Testing System – Academic
(IELTS – Academic)

  • You must achieve minimum scores of 7 in speaking, 7 in writing, 6.5 in listening and 6.5 in reading.

French:


For proof of French proficiency. you will need a recorded interview of at least 20 minutes of unrehearsed conversation between you and an appropriate interviewer. The recorded interview should be submitted directly to the registrar on a CD.


The interviewer must:

  • have French as a first language
  • be certificated to teach in Alberta
  • sign a statement which includes their name, address and Alberta


Teaching Certificate number confirming:

  • the voice in the recording is the voice of the applicant
  • the date and location of the recording


The interview conversation should include a variety of topics about the
applicant including:

 general interests
 educational background
 knowledge of teaching strategies and techniques
 teaching experience
 pedagogical beliefs


Statement of Standing


Statement of standing must be sent directly to the registrar and must be provided from every jurisdiction where you have held teacher certification, including that of where you completed your teacher preparatory program.


The Statement of Standing must show:

  • your certificate’s date of issue
  • whether your certificate has been suspended, cancelled or withdrawn
  • the type or level of the certificate
  • the scope of its authority


Official transcripts


These are comprehensive records of courses completed and individual
grades received. This record is required from all post-secondary and
transfer institutions you attended. This document must be mailed directly from the post-secondary institution to the registrar at Alberta Education in sealed envelopes.


Additional information such as the course curriculum of the program of study, with a practical report detailing the duration of time spent on supervised student teaching.


Secondary school leaving certificate.


Currency of teaching experience:


Currency of teaching experience is required if you completed your education program more than 10 years ago.

This must be provided in form of written verification from all employees detailing your teaching experience within the past 10 years.


This official written document must :

  • be written on official school authority letterhead
  • be dated and signed by the appropriate authority
  • contain the duration of employment (number of days)
  • detail the grade levels taught


10 years of current teaching experience must contain at least one of the following:

  • at least 75 days of teaching experience in one academic year
  • at least 100 days teaching over 2 consecutive academic years, or
  • 10 weeks of supervised student teaching within your teacher education program


An upgrade in form of completing 9-semester hour credits of education coursework and 9 weeks of supervised student teaching may be required if you are not currently in teaching practice.

Start practising

This is the last step on how to become a teacher in Alberta.


In conclusion, teaching jobs in Alberta are generally in high demand, and this job comes with juicy pay, however, these requirements and steps are very mandatory and must be taken if you ever want to land your dream teaching job in Albert.

What are your thoughts on these steps on how to become a teacher in Alberta?

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