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The Transitional Certificate enables Ontario teacher candidates to gain experience as Ontario Certified Teacher while completing their initial teacher education program. Up to 20 days of this teaching experience may be used to satisfy practicum requirements.

Yes. After August 30, 2023, applicants who applied before the Transitional Certificates were available may request a Transitional Certificate through their online application.

Yes. Holders of the temporary certificate are members of the College and are eligible and encouraged to use the OCT designation if they are in good standing.

If you have successfully completed your program of professional education, you may take AQ courses through a faculty of education. You will not be admitted into an AQ course without first having completed your program of professional education.

Please note that if you successfully complete an AQ course, the AQ will not appear on your Temporary Certificate of Qualification and Registration. Instead, once you convert your Temporary Certificate to a Certificate of Qualification and Registration, the AQ will be reflected on your Certificate provided you meet all other requirements outlined in Part III of Regulation 176/10 to be awarded the qualification.

Should you complete the AQ course before your program of professional education is completed, the AQ will be considered by the College to have been taken for personal professional learning purposes and will not appear on your Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

Please ensure that you arrange to have an official transcript sent directly to the College, confirming completion of the program of professional education. The College will also require a report from your faculty confirming completion of the program.

In Canada, you can get a Canadian criminal record check through your local or regional police. Outside of Canada, you can get a Canadian criminal record through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The report must show that a search was done on all your current and former names. These include:

• name on your application
• name at birth as listed on your acceptable proof of identity document
• middle name(s)
• name listed on your acceptable document of name change
• maiden name
• former name(s)

The report:

• must state that a search was done using the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database;
• cannot be older than six months from the date we receive it.

All applicants must provide us with an original basic Canadian criminal record check. We will accept, but do not need a vulnerable sector check. We keep all originals. Please make a copy for your records.

Please review our registration guides.

You can also complete the Applicant Eligibility Assessment questionnaire to determine how likely you are to meet the regulatory requirements for teacher certification in Ontario.

If you need help understanding the application process, please watch our video tutorials.

You can get more information about immigration from a Canadian embassy, consulate or Immigration Canada.

To contact Ontario school boards and private schools, see the Ministry of Education website for more information.

By law, we cannot delete an AQ from your file. If you do not feel competent to teach the subject for which you hold a qualification, please speak with your school principal or the board representative assigning you to the position.

No. The AMF is the same for all our members.

The annual membership fee is due January 1 each year and payment must be received and processed by the due date in your invoice to maintain your good standing status.

We are unable to accept payments in-person. You can pay your fee via:

• Debit or credit card through E-Services at oct.ca;
• Web/telephone banking. Add the Ontario College of Teachers as a payee to your bill payment listing with your financial institution. The 7-digit payment number is listed under your College registration number on the invoice that was sent to you. Payment numbers are also accessible online through your member account on oct.ca by logging into your account. Please note it can take up to five business days for your financial institution to remit payment to the College.
• Mail, via cheque or money order, payable to the Ontario College of Teachers. Reference your registration number. Our address is: Ontario College of Teachers, 101 Bloor Street West, Attn: Finance Unit, Toronto ON M5S 0A1. We do not accept post-dated cheques.

You will need your College registration number for this transaction. You can find your registration number on the invoice that was sent to you, on your membership card or at Find a Teacher at www.oct.ca.

Click on “Members” in the top navigation bar on the website and then select “My Account”.

Please sign in with your current email on file with the College.

If you are unsure which email address and/or password you registered with, there are options at the member account sign-in screen to reset your account or create a new password.

If you’re having trouble, call us directly and we can help you through the process. Phone Client Services at 416.961.8800 or toll-free in Canada and U.S.A. at 1.888.534.2222.

You can order a Statement of Professional Standing on our website.