How to become a teacher in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a high school teacher in British Columbia takes about five years after high school. First you finish a four-year university degree in a subject you want to teach, such as English, math, science, history or French. Your degree needs enough courses in two teachable subjects: about 30 credits in the main one and 18 in the second. Then you take a teacher education program of 11 to 16 months, either a Bachelor of Education or SFU's Professional Development Program, which includes supervised practice teaching in real classrooms.

After the program you apply to the Teacher Regulation Branch of the Ministry of Education and Child Care for a teaching certificate. That includes a criminal record check and references. With the certificate you can apply to any of British Columbia's public school districts and to independent schools.

Getting in

Teacher education programs in our directory are at UBC, SFU, the University of Victoria, the University of Northern British Columbia and Vancouver Island University. UBC's secondary program asks for at least 65 percent on the prerequisite courses for your teachable subject, and about 80 percent is competitive. It also asks for at least 75 hours of volunteer or paid experience with young people, and 100 hours with groups of 10 or more is preferred. The other schools set their own rules, linked from this page.

Marks alone do not get you in. Every program wants proof that you have spent real time with youth in classrooms, sports, camps or community programs, plus references and a written statement.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, tuition for the teacher education programs we list is Not published. Budget as well for the criminal record check and the Teacher Regulation Branch application fee.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for secondary school teachers. The median wage is $44.33 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $28.85 per hour and experienced teachers earn around $60.18 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $82,612. Public school salaries follow a grid that rises with years of experience and level of education.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Finishing a degree without the teachable credits. Many graduates find they are short of the 30 and 18 credits and must take extra courses before they can apply. Plan the degree around two teachable subjects from year one. (Source: UBC Faculty of Education)
• Applying with no experience with youth. Missing volunteer hours is a common reason strong students are turned down. Start volunteering in Grade 12 or first year. (Source: UBC Faculty of Education)
• Ignoring the salary grid. In public schools your pay category is set by the Teacher Qualification Service based on your years of post-secondary education. A fifth year or a master's degree moves you up the grid. (Source: Teacher Qualification Service)
• Re-training when you move. Teachers certified in another province apply to the Teacher Regulation Branch under labour mobility rules instead of repeating a teacher education program. (Source: Teacher Regulation Branch)