How to Become a Secondary School Teacher in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification required
Secondary school teacher is a compulsory trade in British Columbia. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“To teach in the public and independent school systems in B.C., educators need a B.C. teaching certificate.”
From www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Certification required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $245
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $245
- 3 steps without a listed fee
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Before applying, review the requirements for the certificate and make sure you meet the standards.
Source
“Before you apply for a teaching Certificate of Qualification in British Columbia: - Review the requirements and make sure you meet the standards”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
Create a Basic BCeID account for secure access to Your Account, where you can submit an application, check its status and pay fees.
Source
“If you do not have a Basic BCeID you will need to create one for secure access to Your Account.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
Submit your application in your account and pay the application fee, since applications cannot be processed until the fee is paid.
- Application fee for a Certificate of Qualification: $245
Source
“The application fee for a Certificate of Qualification is $245.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Source
“Applications cannot be processed until the fee is paid”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... - Application fee for a Certificate of Qualification: $245
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After an evaluator reviews your application form, submit the customized list of supporting documents you are emailed.
Source
“After you submit your application form, an evaluator will review it. After the review, we will email you to tell you about the customized list of supporting documents that you'll need to submit.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/your-appli...
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $245
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $245 | 100% |
| One-time total | $245 | 100% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Complete and submit an application along with the required documentation.
Source
“Complete and submit an application and submit required documentation”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
The regulator evaluates your application and submitted documents after you apply for a teaching certificate.
Source
“We will evaluate your application and submitted documents after you apply for a teaching certificate.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Submit an application form and all required documents so your credentials can be evaluated.
Source
“If you hold teaching credentials from another country, submit an application form and all required documents so that we can evaluate them.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
If you completed your teacher education outside Canada, you may need to have your credentials assessed by Pathways to Teach Canada, and the regulator will tell you if this applies after you submit your application form.
Source
“If you completed your teacher education program outside of Canada and you plan to apply for a B.C. teaching certificate on or after November 1, 2024, you may need to have your credentials assessed by Pathways to Teach Canada.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
The regulator cannot advise whether you are eligible for a certificate until it completes the evaluation of your documents.
Source
“We cannot advise if you are eligible for a certificate until we complete the evaluation.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Application fee for an Independent School Teaching Certificate: $245
Source
“The application fee for an Independent School Teaching Certificate is $245.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Requirements
Education
Applicants who completed teacher education outside B.C. must have completed an acceptable teacher education program at an accredited post-secondary institute that included at least 18 credits of professional education coursework and an acceptable practicum.
Source
“Applicants who completed their teacher education outside of B.C. must have completed an acceptable teacher education program that: - Was completed at an accredited post-secondary institute - Included at least 18 credits of professional education coursework”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...Teachers from other Canadian provinces and territories must hold a current, valid, unrestricted teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory.
Source
“- Hold a current, valid, unrestricted teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Police check
Applicants must submit criminal record check results as part of the documents used to determine fitness to teach.
Source
“- Criminal record check results”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Good character
Applicants must be of good and moral character and fit and proper to teach.
Source
“Applicants must be of good and moral character and fit and proper to teach.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Other
All applicants are required to demonstrate language proficiency in line with the Certification Standards.
Source
“All applicants are required to demonstrate language proficiency in line with the Certification Standards.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Teachers holding a valid, unrestricted teaching certificate in another Canadian jurisdiction are eligible for the equivalent certificate of qualification in B.C. without having to complete additional coursework. Source
“Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), a person holding a valid, unrestricted professional teaching certificate in another Canadian jurisdiction will be eligible for the equivalent professional certificate of qualification in B.C. without having to complete additional coursework.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
Exams
-
Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP)
Source
“a passing score on the Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF)
Source
“A minimum score of C1 on the Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF)
Source
“A minimum score of B1 on the Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
l’Évaluation des compétences linguistiques pour la profession enseignante (ECLPE)
Source
“an overall pass on l’Évaluation des compétences linguistiques pour la profession enseignante (ECLPE)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Language tests
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | CLB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | — | Source“Results on IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5 with no band below 6 and with a minimum of 6.5 on the speaking band.”www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... |
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Teacher Regulation Branch
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $44.33 | $60.18 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $28.85 | $45.67 | $59.76 | — |
Secondary school teachers in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Become a British Columbia certified teacher - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply for a teaching Certificate of Qualification in British Columbia - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Submit documents for teacher certification - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/your-appli... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Requirements to apply for a Certificate of Qualification (COQ) - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply for a B.C. teaching certificate from another province or country - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Teaching certificates in British Columbia - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Independent School Teaching Certificate requirements to apply - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply for an Independent School Teaching Certificate - Subject Restricted Certificate (SR) - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a secondary school teacher in British Columbia?
Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by the Teacher Regulation Branch.
Which exams are required?
Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP), Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF), Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF), l’Évaluation des compétences linguistiques pour la profession enseignante (ECLPE).
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