A country actively seeking new people, teaching in Canada could offer you a chance to settle in a new country with the vast amount of opportunities the country has to offer. Choosing teaching jobs in Canada at school provides similarities to other western countries.
Work visa and permission eligibility to stay permanently are granted fairly easily to teachers through a points system depending on factors including, age, qualifications, language and of teacher job offer in Canada.
Canada teaching jobs for foreigners are available for teachers from USA, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, UK, France and other countries.
See Teaching in Canada from UK
School teacher salary Canada
Canada minimum & maximum category 5 school teacher qualifications salary 2023 annually.
Minimum to maximum Canada school teacher salary for 2021–2022
| Province | Minimum Teacher Salary | Maximum Teacher Salary |
| Quebec | C$46,115 | C$127,282 |
| British Columbia | C$ 53,260 | C$85,761 |
| Nova Scotia | C$55,160 | C$78,728 |
| New Brunswick | C$53,372 | C$82,296 |
| Yukon | C$80,766 | C$116,672 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$53,755 | C$70,391 |
| Manitoba | C$60,469 | C$92,614 |
| Northwest Territories | C$86,516 | C$127,282 |
| Saskatchewan | C$60,338 | C$92,797 |
| Alberta | C$63,210 | C$97,734 |
| Prince Edward Island | C$56,644 | C$81,861 |
| Nunavut | C$82,147 | C$118,142 |
| Ontario (Elementary – ETFO) | C$ $55,745 | C$96,557 |
Each of the 13 provinces & territories has they’re own salary scale in Canada and teacher benefits according to school district.
Teaching jobs in Canada salary is according to qualifications, experience and additional school responsibilities. Income tax is deducted, although educators receive pension contributions towards retirement.
Requirements for school teachers in Canada
- Police background clearance certificate issue date 6 months or less (ACRO UK nationals).
- Work visa issued by Canada immigration department and residency, if required.
- Fluent command of English or French language for Quebec province.
- 3-4 year bachelor degree in the specialist teaching subject or major.
- 2 good school teaching references from present or former employers.
- Teaching certification (K12) such as PGDE, PGCE, BA or bachelor of education undergraduate degree for school pupils age, elementary 5 to 12 or 11 to 18-year-old high school students.
- Teacher registration for the Canada province you’ll be teaching.
- Medical fitness check for work visa requirements.
State schools have they’re own recruitment teaching requirements depending on province, although all have similar qualification and qualified teacher license standards.
International applicant work and residence permit to stay and work in Canada you’ll require all documentation authenticated and a possible medical check.
Canada teacher registration boards
| Province/Territory | Teacher Registration boards |
| Alberta | Alberta Education, Professional Standard |
| British Columbia | Ministry of Education |
| Manitoba | Department of Education and Literacy |
| New Brunswick | Department of Education |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Department of Education |
| Northwest Territory | Department of Education |
| Nova Scotia | Department of Education |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Educators’ Certification |
| Yukon | Yukon Education Teacher Certification Unit |
| Ontario | Ontario College of Teachers |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Department of Education |
| Prince Edward Island | Department of Education |
| Québec | Ministère de l’Éducation and here |
Each province recognises certain qualifications as a certified teacher for state school in Canada. Generally teaching certification requires to be completed through a university/college course with formal academic learning combined with teaching classroom practice.
For teaching in Quebec, you should also be competent and fluent in the French language.
Teacher assessment boards Canada for qualifications & experience
All foreign teachers and people working in education require having they’re qualifications checked and assessed for the appropriate age of learner. The following are the assessment boards for Canada:
World Education Services (WES) – Ontario.
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) – Alberta.
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) – British Columbia.
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).
The Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada.
Each province recognises certain qualifications as a certified teacher for state school in Canada.
For teaching in Quebec, you should also be competent and fluent in the French language.
Opportunities for teachers
State Schools: Teaching in public schools in Canada from cities, towns, and rural areas from nursery, primary, 5-11 years, to sixth form (K12).
Fee Paying School: As like the UK there are an abundance of private schools from nursery level to pupils of school leaving age.
International Schools: Schools have opened for 5-year old’s to sixth form pupils in cities across Canada.
Education departments advertise jobs for teachers in Canada where they employ experienced people at adviser and management level, as well as teachers in city and rural locations.
Which subject teachers are in demand in Canadian Schools?
Specific high school subject teachers in demand for Canada schools 2023:
- Special education teachers.
- Science, physics, chemistry, biology.
- Mathematics.
- Computing/IT.
- French language immersion.
Canada is looking for many teachers, although in some towns & cities in Canada there is less jobs for school teachers in some subjects, and you’ll face competition from local teachers for job vacancies.
Subject teachers such as physical education & history will find it more difficult to find and secure a full time teacher position in 2022, though possible.
Qualities required entering Canada teaching profession
- Well organised with punctual time management.
- Knowledgeable and full understanding of the teaching subject for ages taught.
- Adaptable and flexible in you’re new living and school work environment.
- Very good communicator at all levels with students and school employees.
- Unlimited patience and clam under pressure.
- Complete work & all tasks on time to tight schedules.
- Excellent teaching & learning classroom educator.
- Dependable to complete set work to required teaching standards.
- Large range of teaching strategies, learning methods and resource ideas.
How to become a school teacher Canada steps
All paperwork required for a Canada work visa and teacher registration should be gathered. Teaching certification, degree qualification & transcripts and translated, authenticated and legalised if not in English or French.
- Apply and secure a criminal background check for a teaching job, registration and visa.
- Start the registration at one of the boards in Canada, as it takes weeks to complete.
- Medical check up for the work visa application.
- Get hold of a permanent or temporary work visa through Canada immigration department.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for living in Canada. (Work visa requirement)
Can I immigrate to Canada as a foreign teacher in 2022?
You can immigrate to Canada in 2023 as a secondary school teacher for example even without a teaching job offer. One of 4 visa types:
Rural & northern immigration pilot.
Visa requirement is that you gain a good CRS score for the express entry visa application for school teachers and be awarded at least 67 points threshold by Canadian immigration for a Federal Skilled Worker Visa.
Provinces & territories in Canada
| British Columbia | Alberta |
| New Brunswick | Manitoba |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Quebec |
| Prince Edward Island | Saskatchewan |
| Nova Scotia | Ontario |
Ten provinces making up Canada and three territories: Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
Canada country facts
Population: 33.1 million approximately
Area size: 9976140 SQ km (3851809 SQ miles) approximately
Currency: Dollar (Can)
Language: English and French
Time: -6 hours GMT + More
International dialing code: 00 + 1
Climate: October to May cold and snow. June to September warm with some rain fall.
Moving around
You can lease a car or buy and drive a car, with the proper local driving licence.
For many countries driving licenses can be exchanged for a Canadian license, although restrictions apply.
Good idea to check this information out before relocating.
Health care system
A few employers provide health care, although you should obtain your own cover before moving abroad to Canada.