Teacher Certification

Teaching is a regulated profession in Canada. The Office of Teacher Certification and Records, within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, upholds the public interest by ensuring that all registered teachers meet established standards of certification, professional conduct, and competence.

All teachers employed within Newfoundland and Labrador’s public and independent K-12 school system are legally required to hold a valid Newfoundland and Labrador Teaching Certificate. Individuals may not accept a teaching position in this province until they have been certified.

Certificates may be issued as Permanent, Interim, or Interim Provisional, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the regulatory requirements in place.

Permanent and Interim Teaching Certificates are issued at four distinct levels, IV, V, VI and VII with each level representing progressively higher levels of approved academic preparation and additional years of university study.

Interim Provisional Teaching Certificates are issued at Level IV and may be upgraded once all conditions applied by the Registrar have been satisfied.

Minimum Requirements for Teacher Certification – Level IV

Applicants requesting certification must hold one of the following:

  • An approved Bachelor’s degree in teacher education comprising a minimum of 120 credit hours of completed coursework; or
  • A combination of an approved 90 credit hour undergraduate degree and a 30 credit hour Bachelor of Education degree (or equivalent teacher preparation program)

Primary/Elementary Stream Requirements

  • 30 credit hours in general coursework including:
    • 3 credits hours in Literacy
    • 3 credits hours in Numeracy
  • 30 credit hours in professional education including:
    • 3 credits hours in Inclusive Education
    • 3 credits hours in Assessment and Evaluation
  • 12 credit hours in methodology courses including at least:
    • 3 credits hours in Literacy methods
    • 3 credits hours in Numeracy methods

Intermediate/Secondary Stream Requirements

  • 30 credit hours (10 courses) in one area of expertise related to NL K-12 education
  • 18 credit hours (6 courses) in second area of expertise related to NL K-12 education
  • 30 credit hours in Professional Teacher Education including:
    • 3 credit hours in Inclusive Education
    • 3 credit hours in Assessment and Evaluation
  • Two Methodology courses, each carrying 3 credit hours. At least one methods course must be aligned with primary area of expertise.

Student Teaching Practicum

Completion of a 60 day supervised student teaching practicum is required.

  • Alternate Eligibility
    • Applicants who have not completed a 60-day practicum may still be eligible for certification if they have completed two years of verified teaching experience, or a combination of practicum and teaching experience equivalent to 60 days

Teacher Certification Eligibility

Graduates of an approved Bachelor of Education program who meet all outlined requirements are eligible for teacher certification to teach in Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K–12).

Interim Provisional Teaching Certificate

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for a Permanent Teacher’s Certificate as noted above they may be eligible to receive an Interim Provisional Teaching Certificate.

An Interim Provisional Teachers’ Certificate, has an expiry but allows individuals to teach while completing final certification requirements. This certificate may be issued if an applicant meets the following conditions:

  • Must hold one of the following:
    • An approved Bachelor’s degree in teacher education comprising a minimum of 120 credit hours of completed coursework; or
    • A combination of an approved 90 credit hour undergraduate degree and a 30 credit hour Bachelor of Education degree (or equivalent teacher preparation program)
  • Must be certified or eligible for certification in the jurisdiction where their Bachelor of Education degree was awarded.

Academic Requirements for an Interim Provisional Teacher’s Certificate include:

Primary/Elementary Stream Requirements

  1. 30 credit hours general coursework related to K-12 education in NL
  2. 30 credit hours professional teacher education
  3. 3 credit hours in a methodology course

Intermediate/Secondary Stream Requirements

  1. 30 credit hours (10 courses) in one area of expertise related to NL K-12 education; or
    • 18 credit hours in one area with a total of 36 credit hours across 2 areas of expertise
  2. 30 credit hours in Professional Teacher Education
  3. 3 credit hours in a methodology course aligned with primary area of expertise

Student Teaching Practicum

Completion of a supervised student teaching practicum is required. If a practicum was not included in the teacher preparation program, 2 years of teaching experience as a certified teacher in an other country will meet the requirement.

^ Top of Page

How to Apply for Initial Teaching Certification

To evaluate your request for a teaching certificate, the following documents must be mailed to the Office of Teacher Certification unless otherwise advised by the Registrar.

Teachers trained in Newfoundland and Labrador

If you obtained your Bachelor of Education degree at Memorial University, please submit the following documents

  1. A completed application form (65 KB).
  2. Proof of authorization to work in Canada, either a photocopy of your Canadian birth certificate or for applicants born outside of Canada, provide evidence of Canadian citizenship, a permanent resident card, or a work permit.
  3. Official proof of name change for applicants that have changed their name, . E.g., a marriage certificate.
  4. The original copy of your completed Confidential Disclosure and Criminal Record Check form, with a Canadian Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks, dated within 6 months of application. You must provide the original document. Copies are not accepted. (188 KB)
  5. Official transcripts, sent directly from the academic institution(s) to this office either by email or mail. Transcripts should be sent from all institutions where you completed studies.
  6.  A completed payment schedule and payment of the appropriate fee. (195 KB)

Teachers who hold a valid teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory

If you hold a teaching certificate from another Canadian province or territory, please submit the following documents after you have applied:

  1. A completed application form (65 KB).
  2. Proof of authorization to work in Canada, either a photocopy of your Canadian birth certificate or for applicants born outside of Canada, provide evidence of Canadian citizenship, a permanent resident card, or a work permit.
  3. Official proof of name change for applicants that have changed their name, . E.g., a marriage certificate.
  4. The original copy of your completed Confidential Disclosure and Criminal Record Check form, with a Canadian Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check dated within 6 months of application. You must provide the original document. Copies are not accepted.(188 KB)
  5. Official Statement of Professional Standing from all provinces, territories, states or countries where you hold/held a teaching certificate, stating that you are in good standing and free to accept employment as a teacher. These statements  must be sent directly from the licensing body to this office either by email or by mail..
  6. Official transcripts, sent directly to this office from the academic institution(s,) either by email or mail. Transcripts are required from all institutions where you completed coursework. If any of your studies were completed outside of Canada, a WES evaluation is required.
  7.  A completed payment schedule and payment of the appropriate fee. (195 KB)

Teachers who hold a teaching certificate from another country

If you hold a teaching certificate from a country other than Canada please submit the following documents after you have applied to Pathways to Teach Canada :

  1. A completed application form (65 KB).
  2. Proof of identity, either birth certificate or passport
  3. Proof of authorization to work in Canada, such as a work permit
  4. Official proof of name change for applicants that have changed their name, . E.g., a marriage certificate.
  5. The original copy of your completed Confidential Disclosure and Criminal Record Check form, with a Canadian Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check dated within 6 months of application. You must provide the original document. Copies are not accepted.(188 KB)
  6.  A completed payment schedule and payment of the appropriate fee. (195 KB)

If you are applying from outside Canada a Statement of Eligibility (SOE) may be issued after your application has been received and an assessment of your teaching credentials is conducted. An SOE is not a teaching certificate, but it is proof an individual meets the necessary qualifications for a Newfoundland and Labrador Teaching Certificate. A police record check sent directly from your local police authority is required before an SOE can be issued. To finalize your certification application, you must provide proof of authorization to work in Canada.

School Psychologist Certification

School Psychologists in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) support student learning, behavior, and mental health within the K-12 school system, working with school-based service delivery teams to provide assessments, interventions, and crisis support. The Registrar may issue the following certificates to qualified applicants:

Certificate VI

To be eligible for a School Psychologist Certificate VI, an applicant must:

  • Hold a master’s or doctoral degree
  • Be a registered psychologist in good standing under Section 10.1 of the Psychologists Act, 2005

Certificate VII

To be eligible for a School Psychologist Certificate VII, an applicant must:

  • Meet all requirements for Certificate VI and
  • Satisfy one of the following additional criteria:
    • Complete 24 additional graduate-level credit hours acceptable to the Registrar or
    • Accumulate a minimum of 210 approved credit hours, including credits earned during undergraduate and graduate studies

 In accordance to Teacher Certification policy, if a Master’s degree program requires fewer than 45 credit hours, a default value of 45 credit hours will be assigned. For graduate degrees exceeding 45 credit hours, the total number of courses required for the degree will be used to determine the certificate level.

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Certification

In Newfoundland and Labrador schools, Speech‑Language Pathologists play a vital role in supporting students with communication needs. The Registrar may issue the following certificates to qualified applicants:

Certificate VI

To be eligible for a Speech-Language Pathologist Certificate VI, an applicant must:

  • Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology;
  • Be a registered speech-language pathologist in good standing under Section 19 of the Health Professions Act;

Certificate VII

To be eligible for a certification upgrade, applicants must complete a total of 210 credit hours of study. One of the following academic thresholds must be met:

  • Completion of 24 additional credit hours at the graduate level, beyond initial certification, OR
  • A combined total of not less than 210 approved credit hours, including credit hours completed during both undergraduate and graduate studies.

*Please Note*

Undergraduate courses surplus to degree must be at the 3000+ level

  • Only surplus courses that meet the following criteria will be considered eligible:
    • Education courses with a focus on K–12 education, or
    • Professional coursework in the field of Speech Language Pathology or School Psychology

In accordance to Teacher Certification policy, if a Master’s degree program requires fewer than 45 credit hours, a default value of 45 credit hours will be assigned. For graduate degrees exceeding 45 credit hours, the total number of courses required for the degree will be used to determine the certificate level.

How To Apply for a School Psychologist (SP) and Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Certificate

  1. A completed application form (65 KB).
  2. Proof of authorization to work in Canada, either a photocopy of your Canadian birth certificate or for applicants born outside of Canada, provide evidence of Canadian citizenship, a permanent resident card, or a work permit.
  3. Official proof of name change for applicants that have changed their name, . E.g., a marriage certificate.
  4. Proof of Registration (Psychologist Act or Health Professions Act)
  5. The original copy of your completed Confidential Disclosure and Criminal Record Check formOpens in new window, with a Canadian Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks, dated within 6 months of application. You must provide the original document. Copies are not accepted. (188 KB)
  6. Official transcripts, sent directly from the academic institution(s) to this office either by email or mail. Transcripts should be sent from all institutions where you completed studies. If you completed studies outside of Canada a WES ICAP Report is required. Report must be sent directly to our office from WES
  7.  A completed payment schedule and payment of the appropriate fee. (195 KB)

Must I be a Resident of Newfoundland and Labrador?

Canadian citizens holding teacher certification in another jurisdiction may apply to receive teacher certification in Newfoundland and Labrador. Residency is not required. Applicants who are not Canadian citizens must submit proof of a valid work permit for Canada and a valid Social Insurance Number before a teacher certificate can be issued.

^ Top of Page

Can I Apply for Teacher Certification as an Internationally Educated Teacher?

Absolutely! Internationally Educated Teachers can apply for certification in Newfoundland and Labrador.

NEW!

Newfoundland and Labrador is excited to announce the launch of Pathways To Teach Canada

This new service is the single entry point and the first step for internationally educated teachers interested in obtaining a teaching certificate in participating provinces and territories, including Newfoundland and Labrador.

Pathways to Teach Canada offers a streamlined process, enabling internationally educated teachers to have their credentials and language competency evaluated and sent to one or more participating provinces or territories where they want to apply for certification.

Here is the new simplified process for internationally educated teachers:

  1. Visit the Pathways to Teach Canada website to prepare your application and determine your eligibility.
  2. Submit your request to have your credentials assessed.
  3. If you did not complete your teacher education program entirely in English or French, please complete the Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP).
  4. Once your credentials and/or language competency assessment reports are available, Pathways will send them to our office.
  5. On your end, once your report(s) are available to you on the Pathways portal, you will need to start your Newfoundland and Labrador Teacher certification application Teacher Certification – Education and Early Childhood Development
  6. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they address the application requirements for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The certification decision will be made by the Office of Teacher Certification, who will inform you (i.e., the applicant) directly of their decision.

Pathways to Teach Canada is an independent organization and as such, inquiries about their services should be referred to Pathways. 

Candidates already holding a course-by-course report from WES

Effective October 31, 2025, WES ICAP reports will no longer be accepted. Applicants will be required to obtain a Credential Assessment Report through Pathways to Teach Canada.

Pathways to Teach Canada is not a certification process. Instead, it offers  a descriptive assessment of internationally educated teacher’s credentials and provides a report on their language proficiency for the teaching profession. Certification decisions remain under the authority of Newfoundland and Labrador and other participating jurisdictions. For more information, please refer to the section below on How to Apply for Initial Teaching Certification.

Visit the Pathways website to start your application today.

Pathways to Teach Canada is funded in part by the Government of Canada. 

^ Top of Page

Classification for Salaries

Salary classification is determined on a salary grid according to the certificate level awarded, level 4, 5, 6, or 7 and the years of teaching experience recognized under provisions of the teachers’ collective agreements.

^ Top of Page

Outside Teaching Service

Service completed outside of NL Schools or Conseil scholaire francophone de Terre-Neuve et Labrador (CSFP) may qualify for advancement on the salary scale in accordance with Section 21 of the NLTA Collective Agreement.

To apply please have your previous employer complete the appropriate Statement of Teaching Service form.  This form must be sent directly from the employer to Teacher Certification by postal mail within ninety (90) calendar days of your employment start date with NL Schools or CSFP. If eligible, your salary scale will be adjusted retroactively to your date of hire.

If the Statement of Teaching Service form is submitted after the 90 day period of becoming employed, any salary adjustment (if applicable) will take effect on the first day of the month in which the Teacher Certification received the required document.

Please Note: Proof of employment  is required before Teacher Certification can assess outside teaching service.

Statement of K-12 Teaching Service

Statement of Teaching Post Secondary

^ Top of Page

Upgrading your Teaching Certificate

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provides options for teachers to upgrade the level of their certificate. NL teaching certificates are structured into four levels, representing increasing amounts of university education. Upgrading involves completing more approved courses, degrees, or programs in education or related fields.

Upgrades allow a teacher to:

  • Expand professional qualifications
  • Move to a higher certificate level
  • Increase salary classification

Upgrading Requirements:

Teaching Certificate Level V (Two Options)
Option 1 Completed an approved Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program that includes:

  • Minimum credit of 150 hours
  • all required pedagogy courses, and
  • The additional requiremsnt outlined for Cert IV
Option 2 You already qualify for Level IV and have completed an additional 30 credit hours of study through:

  • An approved degree, or
  • An approved diploma, or
  • An approved integrated program of study that includes undergraduate or graduate level coursework

 

Teaching Certificate Level VI (Two Options)
Option 1 You already qualify for Level V and have completed an additional 30 credit hours of study through:

  • An approved degree, or
  • An approved diploma, or
  • An approved integrated program that includes 3000 level undergraduate  or graduate level course work
Option 2 You are certified in Ontario, and your Ontario teaching certificate includes a specialist qualification in a subject listed in Schedule D of Ontario’s Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation.

 

Teaching Certificate Level VII

You can apply for a Level VII Teaching Certificate if:

  • You already qualify for Level VI, and
  • You have completed an approved Master’s degree

All studies beyond those completed for your initial certification must have PRIOR written approval from the Registrar of Teacher Certification. Direct your inquiries to the registrar of teacher certification at least 3 months in advance of your plans to begin an additional program of study. Since the options and requirements may change over time it is essential that you consult with the registrar of teacher certification to have your plans for certification up-grading approved in advance of any course/program registration.

Please send email to Teacher Certification to request approval to use studies for upgrading purposes. Provide the following details:

  • Your Date of birth
  • Name Program of Studies
  • Weblink to Program of Studies
  • Expected Start Date of program

Upon completion of the approved studies you must submit an application to upgrade your teaching certificate. The following documents must be sent to the Office of Teacher Certification

  • A completed application form (56 KB)
  • A completed Payment Schedule and receipt of payment of the appropriate fee. (195 KB)
  • Official transcripts, sent directly from the institution to the office. Transcripts should be from all institutions where you completed studies since your last application.
  • Teachers who complete coursework outside of Canada for the purpose of upgrading their teaching certificate must submit a WES ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package) evaluation when applying to have those courses recognized toward a certificate upgrade. The cost of obtaining the evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant.
  • If you have completed all requirements of a program but have not yet received your degree a letter from the institution will be required stating that you have met the requirements for the degree. Include the date of which you have met the requirements and the date of conferral of degree.

Applications and payment schedules for upgrading requests can be accepted via email to teachercertification@gov.nl.ca

Please Note: Upon obtaining such higher qualifications, teachers are responsible for making application and providing all required documentation to the Registrar of Teacher Certification within ninety (90) calendar days of having obtained the higher qualifications. If the teacher fails to do so within this time limit the retroactive application of certificate change shall be to the first day of the month in which the teacher made application and provided all required documentation.

^ Top of Page

How to Apply for a School Psychologist (SPs) and Speech-Language Pathologist (SLPs) Certificate Upgrade

To be eligible for a certification upgrade, applicants must complete a total of 210 credit hours of study. Applicants must:

  • Completion of 24 additional credit hours at the graduate level, beyond initial certification, OR
  • A combined total of not less than 210 approved credit hours, including credit hours completed during both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Undergraduate courses at the 3000+ level and surplus to the completion requirements for the degree may be considered for upgrading a certificate level.

Only surplus courses that meet the following criteria will be considered eligible:

  • Education courses with a focus on K–12 education, or
  • Professional coursework in the field of Speech Language Pathology or School Psychology

If a Master’s degree program requires fewer than 45 credit hours, a default value of 45 credit hours will be assigned.  For graduate degrees exceeding 45 credit hours, the total number of courses required for the degree will be used to determine the certificate level.

^ Top of Page

Service Standards – Application Processing Timelines

Once all information deemed necessary by the regulatory body has been received in support of an application for registration, the following decision timelines apply:

  • Memorial University’s Faculty of Education graduate applicants
    • A registration decision will be issued within 50 days.
  • Internationally educated applicants
    • A registration decision will be issued within 50 business days.
  • Labour mobility applicants
    • A registration decision will be issued within 20 business days.

To avoid processing delays applicants are advised not to make follow-up inquiries until the applicable decision period has concluded.

^ Top of Page

How to Request a Statement of Professional Standing, a Statement of Teaching Experience or a Copy of my Teaching Certificate

How To Request Official Teaching Certification Documents (A fee is required for each request)

 Statement of Professional Standing

A Statement of Professional Standing (click for link) confirms that you are authorized to teach in this province. It shows:

  • Whether your certificate is in good standing
  • Whether it has ever been cancelled, suspended, or revoked

If you are applying for certification in another province or country, they will likely require this document.
If it must be sent directly to another office, please include their full mailing address.

Statement of Teaching Experience

A Statement of Teaching Experience (click for link) verifies how many days you taught in the public K–12 system each school year.
If it must be sent directly to another office, please include the complete mailing address.

Copy of Teaching Certificate

If you have misplaced your certificate and need a duplicate, you may request a copy of your Teaching Certificate (click for link).
Before submitting a request, check whether a simple photocopy will be accepted by the organization requesting it.

If the copy must be mailed directly to another office, please provide their complete mailing address.

How to Submit Your Request

You can send your completed request and confirmation of payment using any of the following:

Email: teachercertification@gov.nl.ca
Fax: 709‑729‑5026
Mail:
Teacher Certification
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6

For your convenience payment for your request can be made online at Teacher Certification Online Fee Payment (click for link).

^ Top of Page

Employment

There is no central employment agency for teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please refer to the contact information below:

^ Top of Page

Questions

You can view the Teacher Certification FAQ here – *Under Review*.

If you have any further questions regarding teacher certification in Newfoundland and Labrador, please contact:

Registrar of Teacher Certification
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Telephone: 1-709-729-3020
Fax: 1-709-729-5026

^ Top of Page

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software can be used for viewing PDF documents. Download Acrobat® Reader for free .

 

Forms

Under constuction