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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Applicants with teaching experience: 1. Letter from last school taught. And 2. Letter from their teacher education program indicating that the program completed by the applicant is recognized by the educational authorities to prepare teachers for the publicly-funded elementary and/or secondary school system. Applicants without teaching experience: 1. Statement of Good Conduct from the Teacher Education program institution. The letter should also indicate that the program completed by the applicant is recognized by the educational authorities to prepare teachers for the publicly-funded elementary and/or secondary school system.
A Statement of Professional Standing is a letter from a licensing body or an education ministry that says your right to teach has never been suspended, revoked or cancelled.
The Statement of Professional Standing provides the Ontario College of Teachers with information regarding your past professional practice as a teacher. For example, it tells the College whether your authorization to teach has ever been taken away for disciplinary reasons or whether you would still be welcome to teach in that country, province or state.
You must arrange to have this statement sent to the College from the jurisdiction where you completed your teacher education and from every jurisdiction in which you have been certified to teach.
The statement must:
The College recognizes some jurisdictions have no central authority governing the teaching profession. In these instances the College will accept other documents.
