How to Become a Teacher in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with Teacher Regulation Branch to work as a teacher in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- 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
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 6 steps (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- 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 6 done
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 5 steps without a listed fee
-
Source
“Learn about the types and requirements for each teaching certificate”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... -
Register for a Basic BCeID to create a teacher certification account for secure access.
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... -
Log in to your teacher certification account and submit your application form.
- Application fee: $245 (for an Independent School Teaching Certificate)
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...
Source
“Inside Your Account you can Submit an application”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t... - Application fee: $245 (for an Independent School Teaching Certificate)
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After an evaluator reviews your application form, you will be emailed a customized list of supporting documents to submit.
Source
“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... -
Submit all the supporting documents on your customized list, such as transcripts, criminal record check, and identification documents.
Source
“We cannot assess your eligibility for teacher certification until we have received and accepted all the supporting documents on your customized list.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/your-appli... -
Once certified, search for teaching jobs in B.C. schools through the Make a Future job site.
Source
“Make a Future is one site to find hundreds of jobs in British Columbia's schools.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Listed fees for this route
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
5 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 for a B.C. teaching certificate 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.
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 program outside Canada, you may need to have your credentials assessed by Pathways to Teach Canada after submitting your application.
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.
Requirements
Education
Applicants for an Independent School Teaching Certificate need a degree and 120 or more credit/semester hours of relevant post-secondary education from a recognized institution.
Source
“A degree and 120 or more credit/semester hours of relevant post-secondary education from a recognized institution”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...Applicants need 18 credits of upper level academic course work or 30 credits of any level academic course work in at least one valid teachable area.
Source
“18 credits of upper level (third and fourth year) academic course work or 30 credits of any level academic course work in at least one valid teachable area with the applicable subject category”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...Certificate of Qualification applicants must have completed an acceptable teacher education program.
Source
“The completion of an acceptable teacher education program”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...
Experience
Trades Certificate applicants need a minimum of five years of journeyperson work and/or teaching experience in the trade area.
Source
“A minimum of five years of journeyperson work and/or teaching experience in the trade area”
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 demonstrating 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
Teachers moving from another Canadian province or territory must hold a current, valid, unrestricted teaching certificate from that province or territory to qualify under labour mobility agreements.
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...Applicants may need to demonstrate English or French language proficiency through one of the listed proofs, such as education in English or an acceptable test score.
Source
“Applicants who are required to provide evidence of an acceptable score on a language proficiency test will be notified.”
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 from another Canadian province or territory may qualify for a B.C. Certificate of Qualification under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement without completing further 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...
Apply for certification
Source
“Complete and submit an application and submit required documentation”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/become-a-t...Meet fitness to teach
Source
“Meet B.C.'s standards for fitness to teach”
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
Pathways to Teach Canada
Assessment of credentials for applicants who completed their teacher education program outside of Canada.
Source
“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...
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...
Language tests
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | CLB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | — | — | — | 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 | $43.27 | $57.69 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $26.67 | $43.27 | $56.59 | — |
Teachers in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- 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 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a teacher in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the Teacher Regulation Branch is required to practise in British Columbia.
Which exams are required?
Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP).
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