Alert:OCTs must pay their annual membership fee by April 15, 2026 to maintain good standing status. Pay your AMF.
The Ontario College of Teachers licenses, governs and regulates the province’s teaching profession in the public interest and to protect students. All publicly funded school teachers and administrators in Ontario must be licensed by us and be Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT).
The College regulates the teaching profession to protect students. Teachers in Ontario’s publicly funded elementary and secondary schools must be certified by the College, keep their membership in good standing, and follow the profession’s ethical and practice standards.
Explore everything related to your Ontario College of Teachers certification, including how to pay your annual fees, keep up to date with the College, and stay informed about ongoing professional learning.
You must apply to be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers and remain in good standing to teach in Ontario’s publicly funded elementary and secondary schools.
The College provides information and resources to support Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs), applicants and education system partners to strengthen the teaching profession and promote student safety.
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The Ontario College of Teachers serves the public interest by regulating the teaching profession to protect students. We do this through three primary responsibilities:
Our mandate includes 11 objects, and we are accountable and transparent to the public.
All teachers in Ontario’s publicly funded school system must be certified by the College and keep their membership in good standing. Members can and should use the professional designation OCT (Ontario Certified Teacher) after their name. The designation shows the public that a teacher has met the standards required by Ontario’s teaching profession. Learn more about becoming a teacher in Ontario.
The College is responsible for accrediting all teacher education programs in Ontario, including more than 50 full- and part-time programs in 18 faculties. We also review and approve hundreds of Additional Qualification (AQ) courses that help teachers stay up to date with their practice, expand their skills and meet the challenges of today’s classrooms. Learn more about teacher education programs or Additional Qualifications.
The College investigates and resolves complaints about OCTs to promote public confidence and protect the interests and well-being of students. A three-member panel reviews investigation reports, and a disciplinary panel rules on allegations of misconduct. There are two types of hearings:
Learn more about the complaints and discipline processes.
