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Alberta provincial teaching certification is a two stage process and it requires separate evaluations by separate bodies. Alberta Education issues teaching certificates. The Alberta Teachers Association (ATA), through the Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS), determines salary. Both evaluations are required in order to be eligible to teach in Alberta public schools.

After the successful completion of the BEd, a student may be recommended for an Alberta Interim Professional Certificate by the Werklund School of Education.

For certification, students must successfully complete a BEd degree. In addition, students must meet the following requirements within their overall post-secondary studies:

a) Prior to certification, elementary teachers are required to present a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents in academic coursework including:

• 0.5 full-course equivalent in Canadian Studies
• 0.5 full-course equivalent in Mathematics
• 0.5 full-course equivalent in Science
• 1.0 full-course equivalent in English/French Literature and Composition

With the exception of 0.5 full-course equivalent in English/French literature, the other elementary certification requirements are completed within the BEd program.

b) Secondary teachers are required to present a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents in a teachable subject area, and 1.0 full-course equivalents in English/French Literature and Composition. Secondary students must complete an additional 0.5 full-course equivalent in English/French literature to meet Alberta certification requirements, in addition to the BEd program.

Teachers who have been certified to teach in other jurisdictions (other provinces and other countries) and who wish to teach in Alberta must contact Alberta Education, Teacher Development and Certification Branch to have their credentials evaluated.

All enquiries concerning certification should be directed to Alberta Education:

Email: teacher.certification@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 780.427.2045 (for toll-free access anywhere in Alberta, first dial 310.0000)
Website: http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/teaching/Certification/

Evaluations for salary purposes are determined by the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS), Alberta Teachers Association, and not by Alberta Education or the University of Calgary.

For more information, please contact the Teacher Qualifications Service http://www.teachers.ab.ca/For%20Members/Salary%20Benefits%20and%20Pension/TeacherQualificationsService/Pages/Index.aspx.

Teacher Qualifications Service
The Alberta Teachers' Association
Barnett House, 11010 - 142 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5N 2R1

The majority of teacher education graduates can expect to work as kindergarten/elementary and/or secondary teachers. Indeed, the role of classroom teacher is one that permits graduates to work most closely with young people and allows for the greatest direct service to educational communities. The modern context of education demands that graduates be prepared to go beyond the traditional role of classroom teacher. To teach successfully, graduates must be prepared to work closely and effectively with students, colleagues, parents, and the community in virtually every aspect of educational decision-making. Furthermore, graduates must understand and embrace the fact that it is imperative that they extend their formal education throughout their careers. The successful completion of a BEd program is only the beginning of a teacher's academic and professional learning.

Increasingly, education students are finding employment in community and workplace settings. Teachers develop numerous skills that are highly valued in community, government, and business organizations.

Many graduates will choose from one or more additional careers in education, nearly all of which require successful experience as a school-based practitioner, permanent professional certification, and a master's or doctoral degree in education:

• curriculum developer
• assessment designer
• administrator
• staff developer
• staff officer for a teachers' professional association
• author of instructional resources
• college instructor
• university professor