Temporary Teaching Certificate allows student teachers to fill vacancies across Ontario

BY PAUL JUNOR

On February 4^th, 2021 the Ontario government announced that it will make it possible for current teacher candidates to work as substitute teachers. This is good news for many school boards across Ontario, which has had to deal with teacher shortages brought on by challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many boards have had to struggle to find teachers to fill their virtual (online), in-person and hybrid learning positions. Teachers are currently in high demand.

In order to ensure that this Temporary Certificate of Qualification and Registration was possible, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) which, “Licenses, governs and regulates the teaching in the public interest” got approval from its Council as reported on December 11^th, 2020 at oct.ca. This new certificate will enable these prospective teachers to start teaching before they complete their teaching degree.

The OCT reported in its monthly publication, “Professionally Speaking” for February 2021

details about this temporary certificate (oct.ca). The certificate, “Would be a limited-time, emergency measure designed to address severe teacher shortages in Ontario’s public school system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Teacher candidates who are enrolled in Ontario’s faculty of education can apply if they:

• Are expected to successfully complete their Ontario program of professional education by December 31^st, 2021
• Have as of the date of their application, successfully completed a portion of their practicum and have made satisfactory progress in their program
• Have made satisfactory progress in their programs

Applicants should ensure that they have paid up all their fees and fulfil all certificate requirements. This applies to Labour Mobility applicants.

The advantage of this certificate is that it ensures that these prospective teachers could be hired as occasional teachers. In addition, they can use this teaching stint towards their practicum obligations. It will be in place on or after January 30^th, 2021 and will run out on December 31^st, 2021. No extensions are allowed.

Those who obtained this certificate are able to convert it to a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration if these requirements are met:

• Practicum and program requirements are completed before January 1^st, 2022
• Any conditions on the certificate are satisfied, including completion of the Mathematics Proficiency Test by August 31^st, 2021

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will develop this test and will focus on, “Content knowledge and math pedagogy drawn from concepts taught in both the elementary and secondary grades.” (oct.ca).

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario teacher candidates who sent in their application on or after March 31^st, 2020 had to pass this test, even if they had sent their application before that date. Now, teacher candidates who obtained this temporary certificate must pass this test by August 31^st,

2021. If they fail it, their certificate will not be extended, and they must obtain a satisfactory pass before they can be re-certified. Once they pass the test by August 31^st, 2021, their temporary certificate will expire by December 31^st, 2021 and can be converted to a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration if:

• Practicum and program requirement are completed before January 1^st, 2022
• Any conditions on the certification are satisfied, including successful completion of the Mathematics Proficiency Test by August 31^st, 2021

Graduates of Ontario teachers’ programs who are certified between September 1^st, 2021 and December 31^st, 3021 have to pass the Math Proficiency Test before they are granted the temporary certificate. They will not be allowed to be an occasional teacher without fulfilling this requirement.

According to the OCT’s website, there have been over 1,500 applications  processed within  the first five days after it started on February 1^st, 2021.