Deemed Certification
Effective January 1, 2026, amendments to the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 enable teachers certified in other Canadian jurisdictions to apply “As of Right” for deemed certification that is valid for up to six months.
Teachers who are deemed certified are members of the College and are certified to teach in Ontario’s publicly funded education system as long as their certificate is valid and their membership is in good standing.
Teachers who are deemed certified must complete their application by submitting all required documents and information to the satisfaction of the Registrar before the deemed certification's six-month expiry date.
Deemed certification is not eligible for extension beyond the initial six-month period.
Instructions for requesting deemed certification and submitting an application can be found below.
How do I request deemed certification?
If you are a teacher who is currently certified or authorized to teach in another Canadian jurisdiction, you can request deemed certification while you are completing your online application for College certification.
The College will respond within 10 business days of receiving your request.
Please note that you are not eligible for deemed certification if you submitted an application to the College before January 1, 2026.
What fees do I have to pay when I apply for deemed certification?
All applicants who are applying for deemed certification must pay a one-time registration fee. You will also have to pay the Annual Membership Fee (AMF) prior to receiving your deemed certification. The AMF pays only for the current calendar year, and it cannot be prorated.
Both fees are non-refundable.
Learn more about College fees.
What documents are required to apply for deemed certification?
You must provide the College with the following documents when applying for deemed certification:
- Proof of identity, including documentation for any name changes
- Teaching certificates or other authorizations to teach from other Canadian jurisdictions. You must also provide any certificates or authorizations that you were granted in jurisdictions outside Canada
- Criminal record check
- Proof of language proficiency (if applicable).
You will also be required to sign an attestation that confirms you:
- Have teaching certificates that are in good standing and issued in a Canadian jurisdiction
- Are not currently subject to any professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity investigations or proceedings OR have not been subject to any in the past
- Have not been denied teaching certification in any Canadian jurisdiction in the past two years
- Are able to satisfy the College’s English or French language proficiency requirements.
Please note that these document requirements are sufficient only for the deemed certification application. You will need to submit additional required documents to complete your application for a Certificate of Qualification and Registration before your deemed certification expires.
After I am deemed certified how do I complete my application?
You can complete your application by submitting all required documents and information to the satisfaction of the Registrar before your deemed certification’s six-month expiry date.
You will be provided with a certification decision within 30 calendar days of the College receiving this information.
It is your responsibility to provide all required documents before your deemed certification expires. You are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible. If your deemed certification expires before we provide you with your certification decision, you will need to reapply to the College and meet any certification requirements that are in place at the time you reapply.
Please note that your CQR may be subject to terms, conditions, or limitations based on our assessment of your complete application.
Learn more about applying for a Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
Learn more about fulfilling certificate conditions.
What am I qualified to teach with deemed certification?
Employers will determine the appropriate teaching assignments for OCTs with deemed certification. The College will not be able to assess qualifications for applicants in this pathway until they have provided us with all documents and information required to complete their application.
Are deemed certified OCTs subject to the College’s disciplinary processes?
Yes. Deemed certified OCTs will be members of the College and required to uphold our professional standards. If a deemed certified OCT is the subject of a concern reported to the College, the concern will be screened and investigated in accordance with our typical investigation and disciplinary processes.
