How to Get Teaching Jobs in Canada

Teaching jobs in Canada are available for immigrants. But, with Canada being a large, diverse country, opportunities differ in various cities and regions of Canada.

Provincial and territorial governments operate their own school systems and are responsible for setting out the regulations for teaching jobs in Canada. The rules are broadly similar across the country but with some local differences.

Canadian Education Overview

Kindergarten education is available for children in all provinces around the age of four or five.

Then, students complete their primary and secondary education in grades 1–12. Students move from primary to secondary school between grades six and eight, depending on the provincial arrangements. The schooling process from kindergarten to grade 12 is often referred to as ‘K-12’ or ‘K to 12’.

The school year begins in late August and continues until late June. English-language and French-language schools are provided across the country.

While curricula are set by provincial governments, local school boards have responsibility for things like administration, human resources, and student enrollment. The boards are run by trustees elected by the public.

At the end of grade 12, students receive a high school diploma. Universities, colleges, and institutes offer post-secondary education to those who wish to continue their studies.

Immigration programs for internationally-qualified teachers

Canada welcomes newcomers with the skills and education needed to bridge critical skill gaps by allowing them to apply for permanent residence. There are several immigration programs you can choose from to immigrate to Canada permanently as a teacher.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Express Entry program is one of the most popular immigration programs for skilled professionals in Canada. Under Express Entry, applicants are selected for PR based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score rather than their occupation.

Your CRS score will depend on factors such as your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and more. You can also qualify for additional points if you have a valid Canadian job offer, a provincial nomination, or prior Canadian education or work experience. While you won’t get any bonus points under the FSW program for being a teacher, getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under this category will give you the flexibility of living in the province or territory of your choice.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Many Canadian provinces have their own PNP programs that allow them to nominate applicants who best meet their labour market needs. Depending on the province you want to move to, you may be able to apply for PNP directly or through the federal Express Entry program.

Some provinces account for the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code/s of your past work experience, and you will have a better chance of qualifying for PR if the province is looking for teachers at your level.

It’s important to note provincial labour requirements change over time. As a teacher, here are some PNP streams and draws you should track.

Province	PNP streams for teachers
Alberta	Alberta Express Entry Stream: For qualified candidates from the Express Entry pool.
British Columbia	Skilled Worker: For professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled workers.
Manitoba	Skilled Workers Overseas: For experienced foreign workers who have the skills needed in the local labour market.
Nova Scotia	Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: For foreign workers in the Express Entry system who meet Nova Scotia’s labour market needs.
New Brunswick	NB Express Entry: For qualified candidates from the Express Entry system. NB Strategic Initiative Stream: For French-speaking foreign workers with the skills, education, and experience to contribute to the province’s economy.
Ontario	Human Capital Priorities stream: For skilled workers with relevant work experience, education and language proficiency in French or English. French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream: For French-speaking skilled workers with relevant work experience, education, and language proficiency in both French and English.
Saskatchewan	Occupation In-demand: For foreign workers who are skilled in an in-demand occupation, but don’t have a job offer in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Express Entry: For qualified candidates from the Express Entry pool.
Newfoundland and Labrador	NL Express Entry Skilled Worker: For skilled workers who have a job offer and an Express Entry profile.
Prince Edward Island	Skilled Workers Outside Canada: For foreign workers who have skills needed in the local labour market and a valid job offer. PEI Express Entry: For skilled workers in the Express Entry pool.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal program that allows skilled foreign workers and international students who studied in Canada to settle permanently in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (NB), Prince Edward Island (PEI), or Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

Although the AIP doesn’t prioritize teachers over other professionals, you may qualify for the program if you have at least 1,560 hours of paid employment in the last five years (around 30 hours per week for one year) and meet the language requirements.

One of the main requirements of the Atlantic Immigration Program is a job offer from an Atlantic Canada employer. After receiving a province-issued license, you can only apply for teaching positions. This means you will need to get a provincial teaching certificate before applying for PR through the AIP.

Teaching jobs in Canada

A bachelor’s degree in Education and a provincial certificate is typically required for teaching jobs in Canada. Obtaining certification can be a slow process, so it’s best to start before your arrival in Canada, if possible.

Other factors are considered to assess eligibility for teaching jobs in Canada. For instance, the applicant may need:

Recent teaching experience.
Proficiency in English or French.
Familiarity with the culture and curriculum of the Canadian education system.
Fitness to teach, including character reference and successful criminal record checks.

Supervised student teaching may also be required. For secondary teaching jobs in Canada, it is recommended to complete a major in one teachable subject, and a minor in another teachable subject. These include languages, sciences, social studies, and business.

How much does a teacher make a year in Canada?

The average salary of a teacher in Canada is not fixed, given the size and economy of the country. However, according to reports, major cities like Winnipeg pay teachers approximately $102,000 per year (usually for teachers with about 10 years of experience). Cities like Montreal pay teachers about $82,500 per year with about 10 years of experience.

How can I become a teacher in Canada?

Again, like many aspects of life in Canada, the qualifications needed to become a teacher in Canada depend on the province that you intend to teach in. So, for instance, the requirements in Ontario are going to be slightly different than if you wish to teach in Nova Scotia. That said, all teaching jobs in Canada require prospective applicants to have two of the following three requirements as standard:

A bachelor’s degree in education.
A provincial teacher’s certificate.
A bachelor’s of education in French.

Is teaching in demand in Canada?

You may be detecting a trend here but this again is a very province-specific question. Nonetheless, a recent report from Department of Employment and Social Development Canada has found that career opportunities for teaching posts in Canada range from good to limited depending on the province that you wish to teach in.

For example, if you wish to teach in Quebec, B.C.,. or the Northwest Territories, you have a good chance of finding work; this is less likely if Ontario is your chosen destination. However, teaching in Canada is a great career and worth the effort if it is what you want to do.