Teacher Certification/Employment – Frequently Asked Questions

1.  I received my certificate and it says “INTERIM”. What does this mean?

All certificates are interim certificates when first issued to you. In order to receive a permanent certificate, teacher certification must receive a recommendation from an acceptable employer that you have successfully taught for a minimum of two years in the Newfoundland and Labrador K-12 school system.

2.  Can I apply for a job if I do not hold a Newfoundland and Labrador teaching certificate?

You are free to apply for teaching positions at any time; however, the employer cannot hire you unless you hold a certificate from this province.

3.  I have a teaching certificate from another province. What do I need to teach in Newfoundland and Labrador?

You need to obtain a teaching certificate, issued by the Department of Education. Please visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/k12/teaching/certification/#apply to learn more about the process of applying for certification in Newfoundland and Labrador

4.  How do I obtain a copy of my teaching certificate?

A copy can be obtained by completing the form located at PaymentSchedule_FINAL2023-07-31.pdf 

If you have been asked to provide a copy of your certificate to another organization, a photocopy may be sufficient and you may want to confirm their requirements before making your request to our office as there is a fee associated with the request. Please ensure that you provide a complete mailing address if the certificate must be sent directly from our office to another office.

5.  How do I obtain a record of employment?

Teachers should contact the school board they are/were employed with for their record of employment.

6.  Do I need pre-approval of my studies in order to upgrade my certificate level?

The requirements to upgrade to higher certification levels are set out under the same regulations you met when you were initially certified. Pre-approval from the Registrar of Teachers is required for any studies you wish to complete for upgrading purposes. Not all programs are eligible for upgrading and it is better to know before you begin studies than to find this out later. Policy also changes over time, so what was approved for one teacher in the past may no longer be approved. Likewise, programs that were not approved in the past may have changed in structure and are approved now. The requirements for a particular teacher will also depend on the prior studies completed by that teacher. Pre-approval helps you assess your best option and confirm for you whether a program will or will not result in a certificate level upgrade. Pre-approval also protects you if a program is not approved in the future.

7.  How do I determine what I need to upgrade my certificate level? How do I make a request for pre-approval of a particular program I’m interested in doing?

To ensure that your program will meet the requirements for a higher certificate level, you will need to send a request to teachercertification@gov.nl.ca requesting a review of your file. You should include your name, previous name(s) and date of birth and indicate that you would like to have your upgrading requirements confirmed for you. If you also know the program that you wish to complete, include the name of the university, the name of the program, a weblink and any applicable specialization area in your request.

8.  Does my certificate ever expire?

Under the current regulations, your certificate does not expire. It can be canceled or suspended if there are disciplinary or competency issues regarding your capacity as a teacher.

9.  How do I find out what teaching positions are available?

School boards are responsible for filling teaching positions in their districts. The employer is also responsible for all inquiries related to payroll and placement on salary scale.