Requirements for Teachers of General Studies
To become a certified teacher of General Studies in Ontario, you need to fulfil the following requirements:
1. Academic Qualifications
To teach General Studies, you must have a post-secondary degree that is the equivalent of three years of post-secondary study. Your degree (for example, a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science) must include the equivalent of at least three years of full-time study beyond the equivalent of the Ontario secondary school diploma (Grade 12). Your academic qualifications are in addition to a required teacher education program.
2. Teacher Education Program
Your teacher education program must include the equivalent of a year of full-time post-secondary study in education, including courses in education methodology, foundations, and practice teaching (a minimum of eight weeks).
Concurrent programs that combine academic and teacher education courses and that equal four years of full-time study beyond the equivalent of the Ontario secondary school diploma (Grade 12) are also considered. The term "concurrent" means that during your four-year bachelor's degree program you are also taking teacher education courses throughout.
3. Certification in Another Jurisdiction
You must have been certified/authorized to teach in the jurisdiction where you completed your teacher education program, even if you have never taught there. Many countries do not provide teaching certificates and the College will discuss other options with you after it has received your application package.
4. Proficiency in English or French
You must be able to teach effectively in one of Ontario's official languages, English or French. If you did your teacher education program in English or French in any of the countries listed below, you have satisfied the language requirement and do not need to provide proof of language proficiency.
Countries whose education program satisfies language requirements:
| English | French |
|---|---|
|
|
If your teacher education program was taught in English or French and the country you received your degree from is on the list, you meet the language proficiency requirements. However, if your teacher education program was taught in English or French and the country you received your degree from is not on the list, the College requires a letter sent directly from the institution where the teacher education program was completed. The letter must state that the langauge of instruction for the whole teacher education program was in English or French.
If your teacher education program was completed in a country other than the ones listed, you must provide proof of proficiency in English or French by one of the ways listed below:
- Complete one of the approved language proficiency tests and be sure to have the tests forwarded directly to the Ontario College of Teachers. The test must be completed within two years before the date the College receives your application. The Ontario College of Teachers accepts proof of proficiency from any of the following tests:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) [academic test only]
- TOEFL iBT
- Test pour étudiants et stagiaires au Canada (TEStCan)
You are responsible for the cost of the language proficiency test. Prices may vary. For more information on language proficiency and classes, see the Language Classes and Testing section.
or
- If your primary or secondary and post-secondary education were in French or English, but your teacher education program was in another language, please arrange to have letters sent to the College from the primary or secondary, and post-secondary institutions. The letters need to confirm that the language of instruction in the entire program was in English or French.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (academic test only)
The College requires proof of an overall score of at least 7 on the IELTS (academic test only), with scores of at least 6.5 in reading and listening and scores of at least 7 in writing and speaking.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) computer-based and Test of Spoken English (TSE) completed before Oct. 15, 2005
The College requires proof of a score of at least 250 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test and Test of Spoken English (TSE), with scores of at least 5.5 in writing, 24 in listening, 24 in reading and 60 on the TSE.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based and Test of Spoken English (TSE) completed before Oct. 15, 2005
On the paper-based test and TSE, the College requires a score of at least 600 on the paper test and scores of at least 58 in listening, 58 in reading, 5.5 on the Test of Written English and a score of 60 on the TSE.
Minimum Score Requirements for the Speaking and Writing Portions of the New TOEFL Test (TOEFL iBT) after Oct 15, 2005
After consulting with language experts, the Ontario College of Teachers has established new acceptable minimum test scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
In October 2005, the Education Testing Service (ETS) introduced a new TOEFL test referred to as the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based test) to measure four communication skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in one integrated test.
ETS provided appropriate score comparison charts for the reading and listening portions of the new test, but not for the speaking or writing sections.
Consequently, the College invited a representative panel of language specialists to recommend acceptable test score levels for the writing and speaking components of the new TOEFL test. The following scores were recommended:
| Communication Skill | Acceptable Test Scores: New TOEFL Test |
|---|---|
Reading |
24 |
Listening |
23 |
Writing |
28 |
Speaking |
28 |
Overall |
103 |
The scores would be considered on the higher end of the TOEFL scale and reflect the experts' desire to ensure that teachers certified in Ontario have a high standard of language proficiency.
As well the scores are consistent with College scores required previously using the TSE (test of spoken English) and the TWE (test of written English) and currently required under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
The scores for the speaking and writing portions are consistent with the College's required scores for the speaking and writing portions of IELTS.
The overall, slightly higher acceptable test score (103) reflects the high standards the College set previously for writing and speaking.
The College will continue to review the Education Testing Service's findings regarding the new TOEFL test to see whether further adjustments to College scores should be made.
French
Test pour étudiants et stagiaires au Canada (TEStCan)
The College requires proof of a minimum score of 5 in each of the following skills: writing, reading and listening, and evidence of a minimum score of 4.5 on speaking.
You must achieve minimum scores on each component.
You are responsible for the cost of the language proficiency test. Test costs may vary.
You will be marking students' assignments and developing their communication skills. It is essential that you have excellent communication skills in English or French.
Next Steps
Once you are familiar with the above requirements, please see the Path to Becoming a Certified Teacher section of this website for full details on how to apply to the Ontario College of Teachers to become certified. In addition to the requirements listed above, it will provide you with a detailed list of other documents to be submitted in addition to your application.
The Ontario College of Teachers encourages all those interested in becoming certified in Ontario to begin the certification process by submitting an application. It is impossible for the College to determine the outcome before it has received all your documents.
You will receive an individual assessment of the combination of all your qualifications. Each case is different. Do not be discouraged if the College requires some further upgrading before it certifies you as a teacher. Teaching is a rewarding career choice, and the investment in your career is worth it. There are many benefits to being a certified teacher in Ontario.