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Professional Certification
Teaching Certificate – Becoming a Teacher
Certification Requirement
To work as a teacher in the Manitoba public school system, you must hold a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate or a Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate (valid for three [3] years). Once certified, a teacher is able to teach all grade levels from Kindergarten to Grade 12, except otherwise indicated on the certificate.
Academic Requirements for Certification
The academic requirements for a teaching certificate are set out in the Teaching Certificates and Qualifications Regulation 115/2015.
If you do not have a Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent, please contact a Manitoba University to discuss entry into a Bachelor of Education program. Below is a list of Manitoba universities offering a Bachelor of Education Program:
- Brandon University
- University College of the North
- University of Manitoba
- University of Winnipeg
- Université de Saint-Boniface
Any past teaching experience cannot be used to substitute academic requirements. Professional Certification Unit collect experience so that Manitoba employers may use the accumulated years of teaching experience for salary purposes.
Teaching Certificates
An applicant may qualify for either a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate or a Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate (valid for three [3] years).
| Certificate | Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate | Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Permanent | Valid for three (3) years Certificate holder is expected to complete specific requirements for a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate. An extension will only be considered where the applicant can demonstrate extenuating circumstances preventing the completion of the requirements. |
| Status | Canadian citizen or landed immigrant (permanent resident) Meet the academic requirements for a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate |
Canadian citizen or landed immigrant (permanent resident) or a valid work visa Meet the academic requirements for a Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate |
| Academic Requirements | In Manitoba, a Bachelor of Education degree is offered in a 150 credit hours integrated five (5) year program or in an after degree two (2) year program. Where the undergraduate university degree is completed prior to entry into the Bachelor of Education Program, the undergraduate university degree must be equivalent to a minimum of 90 credit hours (three year program) in a Bachelor of Arts, Science, Human Ecology, Music, Physical Education or another approved degree. Your coursework must be equivalent to a minimum of 150 credit hours:
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Your coursework must be equivalent to a minimum of:
Additional requirement: A certificate issued by the jurisdiction that authorizes the person to be a teacher, in the case where the person is from a jurisdiction that certifies teachers. |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
A Statement of Eligibility (SOE) may be issued to an applicant from outside Canada after an assessment of her/his teaching credentials. An SOE is not a teaching certificate but it is proof of the applicant's eligibility for a Manitoba Teaching Certificate. Once the applicant obtains a Work Visa, becomes a Canadian Citizen or achieves landed immigrant status, she/he presents the SOE to Professional Certification Unit (PCU). An original current background check will be required at that time before issuing the certificate cited on the SOE: permanent or provisional professional teaching certificate.
Credit hours
Credit hours means the basic unit used by a Manitoba university or other approved post-secondary institution for recognition of academic work that applies towards a degree, a diploma or a certificate. In Manitoba, university courses are usually three (3) or six (6) credit hours and are based on the course length and classroom hours:
| Credit Hours | Course Length and Classroom Hours |
|---|---|
| 3 | Approximately 13 weeks at 3 hours per week |
| 6 | Approximately 26 weeks at 3 hours per week |
Teachable Subjects
One of the academic requirements for teacher certification is that you must have one (1) major and one (1) minor teachable subject. Your major teachable subject must be different from your minor teachable subject.
| Major or Minor | Minor Only |
|---|---|
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Teaching Streams
A teaching stream refers to a group of grade levels within the Manitoba public school system. Manitoba groups public school grade levels into two streams for the purpose of certifying teachers:
- Early/Middle Years (Kindergarten - Grade 8)
- Senior Years (Grades 9 - 12)
Each teaching stream requires a teachable major and teachable minor subject area with the number of credit hours identified below.
| Stream | Early/Middle Years | Senior Years |
|---|---|---|
| Grade Level | Kindergarten - Grade 8 | Grade 9 - 12 |
| Duties | Teach all subjects to a class of students | Teach one or more subjects to several classes |
| Credit Hour Requirements |
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The Professional Certification Unit will analyze your credit hours to ensure you meet the requirements for a specific teaching stream.
What is student teaching (practicum)?
Student teaching (practicum) is the experience of observing regular classroom teachers as well as teaching classes under the supervision of a classroom teacher and a university advisor.
All applicants must have completed a practicum to be certified in Manitoba.
Language Requirements
There are no English or French language requirements for teacher certification in Manitoba. However, to teach or find other work in the Manitoba public school system, you must be proficient in either English or French.
Other Languages
A limited number of schools in Manitoba operate in languages other than English or French; therefore, employment opportunities may exist at these schools.
Please visit the Schools in Manitoba website for a list of schools operating in languages other than English or French.
Translation of Documents and Notarized Translations
Documents submitted to the Professional Certification Unit (PCU) that are in any language other than English or French must be accompanied by a notarized translation to English or French. The notarization must verify the qualification of the translator and the veracity of the translation.
You may contact the Immigrant Centre regarding translation services. The Immigrant Centre also provides free notary public services for permanent residents in Manitoba.
Immigrant Centre
100 Adelaide Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
R3A 0W2
Phone: 204-943-9158
Website: www.icmanitoba.com
Birth Certificates, Official Name Change Documents and Teaching Certificates
A photocopy of Birth Certificates, Official Name Change Documents and Teaching Certificates are to be submitted to PCU by you. If they are in a language other than English or French you must submit an original notarized English or French translation along with a copy in the original language.
Statement of Professional Standing
A Statement of Professional Standing must be sent DIRECTLY by mail to the Professional Certification Unit from a licencing body or education ministry. Statements of Professional Standing in a language other than English or French must include an English or French coversheet indicating your name and date of birth.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Professional Certification Unit reserves the right to request further documentation, to assist in the evaluation of your credentials.
