The only teaching positions for which certification with the Ontario College of Teachers is mandatory are those in publicly funded schools. This includes full-time, part-time and occasional (supply) positions.

You may decide to explore alternative teaching possibilities outside of Ontario’s publicly funded school system.

HERITAGE LANGUAGE TEACHING
ADULT CONTINUING EDUCATION
WORKING AS AN EDUCATION ASSISTANT
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DAYCARE
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Working as an Education Assistant

Education Assistants or Teaching Assistants work alongside teachers in elementary, secondary and adult education classrooms. There are different types of Education Assistants, but they all support students. The duties of an Education Assistant may include such things as helping special needs students with individualized programming or assisting the teacher with classroom setup.

The minimum qualifications to become an Education Assistant are an Ontario High School Diploma or equivalent, proficiency in English or French, and enthusiasm for the job.

Each school board has different requirements for Education Assistant positions. In many boards, Education Assistants have specialized training and/or education.

Visit the school board website for job postings and more information about the required qualifications.