“Canada Needs Teachers: New Pathway for Foreign Educators”
How Internationally Educated Teachers Can Get Certified to Teach in Canada
Canada is currently facing a growing demand for qualified teachers across the country. If you’re an internationally educated teacher hoping to build a teaching career here, now could be your golden opportunity. But while the demand is high, the path to certification isn’t always straightforward—each province and territory has its own rules and processes.
Thankfully, a new initiative called Pathways to Teach Canada, launched in partnership with World Education Services (WES), is making it easier for internationally trained educators to get their credentials recognized and start teaching in Canadian classrooms.
Key Highlights
- Pathways to Teach Canada simplifies the certification process for internationally educated teachers.
- The program offers access to credential and language assessments through a single online portal.
- Teachers can apply to multiple provinces and territories across Canada, including Manitoba.
- WES partnership ensures foreign credentials are evaluated for Canadian equivalency.
- Eligible applicants must have completed a teacher education program and not be certified in Canada already.
- Teachers in the education sector may also benefit from Canada’s new Express Entry Education category.
Why Certification Matters for International Teachers
Teaching in Canada is a regulated profession, which means that every teacher must be certified by the province or territory where they want to work. Unfortunately, the certification process can be complex for internationally trained teachers. Each region has its own requirements, and your foreign qualifications typically need to be evaluated to ensure they meet Canadian standards.
This is where Pathways to Teach Canada steps in—a centralized platform that helps simplify this process so you can focus on what matters most: getting into the classroom.
Introducing Pathways to Teach Canada
Launched in November 2024, Pathways to Teach Canada serves as a helpful starting point for internationally trained teachers looking to become certified in select provinces and territories. Through this initiative, educators can complete both their credential evaluation and language proficiency assessments in one convenient location.
Participating provinces and territories include:
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Prince Edward Island (PEI)
- Saskatchewan
While Ontario uses its own system through the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), Pathways still supports applicants by offering the Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP), one of the OCT’s approved language tests.
For teachers looking to work in Alberta, Quebec, or the Yukon, certification must be arranged directly with those provinces’ regulatory bodies.
How the WES Partnership Helps
World Education Services (WES) is a trusted name when it comes to evaluating international academic credentials. Through its partnership with Pathways to Teach Canada, WES helps streamline the evaluation of teaching credentials so international teachers can get a clear understanding of how their education compares to Canadian standards.
Applicants can initiate both the language and credential assessments through one online account. Once registered, you’ll be redirected to WES to submit the necessary documents for your credential assessment. After review, WES will issue a Credential Assessment Report, which you’ll need when applying for certification in your chosen province or territory.
Who Can Apply Through Pathways to Teach Canada?
This initiative is designed specifically for individuals who:
- Have completed a formal teacher education program.
- Are teachers in academic subjects such as English, math, or science.
- Have not yet been certified to teach in any Canadian province or territory.
If you meet these criteria, you can request one or both of the following assessments:
- Credential Assessment via WES
- Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP)
Fees will vary depending on the service(s) you choose, and some additional documentation may be needed depending on your country of education and the school that issued your credentials.
Step-by-Step: The Certification Process
Here’s how it all works once you’ve registered:
- Complete your credential and/or language assessments through your Pathways account.
- Receive your Credential Assessment Report from WES and your language test results.
- Submit your results via the Pathways portal to the regulatory body in your chosen province or territory.
- Apply directly to the provincial or territorial regulatory body for certification.
You can apply to multiple regions if you wish, but keep in mind that additional fees may apply. It’s also important to note that Pathways itself does not issue teaching certifications—it simply helps you prepare and submit your assessments.
Other Requirements for Certification
In addition to language proficiency and credential equivalency, you may need to meet other requirements such as:
- Providing character references or police records to prove you’re of good moral character.
- Completing additional courses. For example, in British Columbia, a familiarization course approved by the BC Teachers’ Council is required for internationally trained teachers.
- Meeting faith-based criteria if applying to teach in Catholic school boards. This may include a priest’s reference and proof of baptism and confirmation.
Canada’s New Education Category in Express Entry
If your long-term goal is to become a permanent resident, there’s even more good news. In 2025, the federal government introduced a new Express Entry category specifically for education professionals. This means that qualified teachers may have a better shot at permanent residency compared to other skilled workers who don’t fall under an in-demand category.
To qualify for this new Education category under Express Entry, you must:
- Have at least six months of full-time, continuous experience in a single eligible teaching occupation within the last three years.
- Meet all other criteria specified for the particular draw.
In May 2025, the first round of invitations under this category issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 479—significantly lower than recent scores for other categories like the Canadian Experience Class.
Final Thoughts: A Brighter Future for International Teachers in Canada
Yes, there are a few hurdles to becoming certified and working as a teacher in Canada, but with the launch of Pathways to Teach Canada and its partnership with WES, the process is more manageable than ever before. Whether you’re eyeing a school in Manitoba or B.C., this new initiative brings you one step closer to turning your dream into reality.
If you’re an internationally educated teacher, now’s the time to explore your options and take action. With growing demand across the country and new immigration pathways opening up, there’s never been a better moment to build your teaching career in Canada.
Ready to take the next step? Learn how to start your credential evaluation process today and get on the path to becoming a certified teacher in Canada.
