Thousands of people move to Canada every year. Like other professionals, any educationist can also migrate to Canada as a teacher. Canada has been an ideal destination for people wishing for a bright future. Many teachers seek opportunities, too.
Thus, you can become a permanent resident of Canada and continue your teaching profession. A good deal of immigration programs gives easy pathways. However, teachers need to understand their occupational requirements in Canada.
Hence, this blog will better understand the best options for residency programs in Canada. As a result, you will find the most suitable option to apply for Canadian immigration as a teacher. So, let’s scope out the details.

Best Programs for Teachers
Teachers can apply for Canadian residency through express entry or any provisional nominee program (PNPs). The express entry is the best & fastest option for teachers because it does not require a job offer.
Quebec RSW, Alberta nominee program and the Atlantic immigration pilot program are also good to apply as teachers. Remember, teaching is a regulated occupation in Canada. Therefore, all the aspirant teachers will have to get a teaching license or certification in Canada.
They need to write an exam to get a certificate of qualification. Besides a federal or provincial educational accreditation, the body of Canada issues a teaching license.
In reality, if you are staying in a country like India, the Philippines, or Pakistan. Then, getting a Canadian teaching certificate is almost impossible. But don’t worry, there are some alternative ways you can go through easily. You may like to know that some teaching categories do not require licensing in Canada. So, let’s move forward.
Occupational code NOC for Teachers in Canada
Teaching is a vast field. Hence, several categories of teaching professions fall under the Canadian national occupational classification.
So, identifying the correct occupation is very easy with the help of NOC. Each category represents a four-digit number that is NOC. Besides, 0, A, B, C, and D. show the skill types. See the chart below;
NOC | Occupation | Skill level |
4031 | Secondary school teachers | A |
4032 | Elementary and kindergarten teachers | A |
4413 | Assistant teacher in secondary and elementary schools | C |
4214 | Early childhood educators and assistants | B |
4021 | College and other vocational instructors | A |
4011 | University professors and lecturers | A |
Thus, many other teaching occupations lying under sub-categories. If you want to know what exactly your NOC is. You can visit the Canadian immigration website.

Eligibility & Requirements to Migrate to Canada as a Teacher
Once you find out your right occupational code, you need to go through the eligibility criteria accordingly. So, for your ease, some teaching categories & their requirements can see in the further paragraphs.
Secondary School Teachers Eligibility & Criteria
The occupation of secondary school teachers in Canada comes under skill level ‘A,’ and the NOC group is 4031. So, teachers with bachelor’s degrees in arts or science can apply for Canadian residence under that.
Besides, technical & vocational courses teachers may require specific degrees, training certificates, and experience in the same field. Trade teachers in Quebec will need certification. Also, the Head of the department requires experience in that field.
Likewise, for special education teachers. Such as teachers of English or French as a second language need to provide additional training. In conclusion, teachers’ NOCs in this group need provincial certification in Canada. It could also require provincial & territorial membership.
Eligibility for Elementary school and kindergarten Teachers
This group of teachers includes skill level A with NOC 4032. They need a bachelor’s degree. Also, a special certificate in child development training may require. Similarly, language teachers need to furnish evidence of special training. In short, those NOCs in Canada require qualification certification to migrate to Canada as a teacher.
Requirements for Elementary & Secondary School Teacher Assistants
This group of teachers’ occupations is NOC 4413 under skill level C. To apply for a Canadian immigration program. They require eligibility such as;
- A secondary school degree.
- Ten months of college training for social sciences programs and education.
- Training and experience in special education.
Eligibility for Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
These types of teaching professions are very common and important. You can identify those occupations at skill level A with NOC 4214. Also, the requirements are below:
Early Childhood Educators
The eligibility is the completion of a two-year to a four-year college program in early childhood education. Otherwise, it requires a bachelor’s degree in child development.
Moreover, you will need to get a teaching license to apply for the Ontario nominee program. Also, to apply for British Columbia PNP, get a license from the province. Usually, early childhood educators need to get certification in all other Canadian regions to migrate to Canada as a teacher.
Assistants Early Childhood Educators
They need a secondary school education to apply for Canadian immigration. Experience in child care is compulsory. Also, a certificate program or post-secondary course could require.
Although licensing from a Canadian region may or may not require. Thus, you need to go through the program requirements that you will apply for under NOC 4214.
Criteria for College & Vocational Instructors
These professionals fall under skill level A with NOC 4021. Thus, any vocational & college instructor can also migrate to Canada as a teacher. So, the requirements are;
- A bachelor’s degree or a college diploma
- Expertise proofs
- A master’s degree in the same field
- A certificate, diploma, or degree in adult education
- Trades apprenticeship & training proofs
- Industrial or trade certification
Eligibility for University Professors and Lecturers
The skill level A and NOC group 4011 represent lecturers and professors of the universities. Thus, eligibility for them find below;
- A doctoral degree is mandatory for university professors
- A master’s degree is compulsory for lecturers
- License or professional certification
None Regulated Teaching Occupations in Canada
Educationists who are outside Canada. They are not comfortable with the licensing process about, migrate to Canada as a teacher. In that case, you can choose an alternative occupational code. That is not in the regulated category and does not require qualification certification in Canada. For example;
- Day-care teachers
- Private school teachers
- Educational assistants
- Private teachers
- Tutors
- Music teachers
- Montessori teachers
- Full-time community teachers
- Adult education teachers
- International languages teachers
- University lecturers
- English or French second language teacher
How to search for teaching jobs in Canada as foreigners?
To find a teaching job in Canada, you have three most famous options.
First, explore online job portals featuring Canada’s teaching vacancies such as Job-Bank Canada, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed-com, and provincial job boards in Canada.
Second, you can search online for Canadian schools and educational institutes. After that, tender your Canadian style resume to their affiliated sites.
Third, you can get the service of any job placement company in Canada that is usually called recruitment agencies. For example, withyouwithme, twrecruitment, or canajobs.
Can teachers apply to Canadian PR programs?
Yes, the teacher can apply for Canadian permanent residence programs through:
- Federal skilled workers program (Express Entry Canada).
- Saskatchewan PNP.
- Quebec Regular skilled worker program.
- Also, you can apply for the Atlantic immigration pilot program (AIP).
- Alberta PNP.
Thus, many immigration programs accept teachers as a candidate. However, you must meet essential qualification requirements to apply for Canada’s PR as a teacher.
Is B Ed degree mandatory for teaching in Canada?
It depends on your occupational category (NOC) what degree or qualification you may require for a teaching job in Canada. Hence, a 3-year B. Ed (Bachelors in Education) degree is compulsory for secondary school teachers in Canada.
Conversely, if you are a dance teacher, you don’t need a B. Ed degree. Because for a dance teaching job in Canada, you may require a diploma or degree in a dancing subject.
Also Read: Canada Express Entry Types & FSW Program – How to apply?
FAQs
No doubt teaching is a high in-demand occupation in Canada. However, you may need to get a teaching license from the respective authority in some Canadian regions.
First, secondary school teachers are hot-cake in Canada because of rising demand. Second, teachers from various fields may also have opportunities in Canada as:
Kindergarten Teachers,
Language Teacher,
Mathematics Teacher,
Teacher’s Assistants,
Dance Teachers, also
Day-care Teachers.
Yes, foreign teachers can move to Canada through some specific pathways. Like other experts, teachers can also relocate to Canada through the Express Entry system.
Otherwise, you can opt for any provincial nominee program in Canada, such as the Quebec RSW program. To sum up, if your teaching occupation is non-regulated in Canada, then you can try to get a job there.
Of course, Indian teachers have equal chances to move to Canada like other countries’ nationals. Aside from your citizenship, as a teacher, you will need to meet eligibility criteria for the pathway to migrate to Canada. For instance, if yours teaching NOC is regulated:
You must have a degree, or training related to the teaching field.
Get a teaching certificate in Canada.
Get a teachers’ association membership in Canada.
If your Indian teaching occupation falls under non-regulated jobs in Canada, then moving to Canada is easier for you.
Salaries or wages in Canada for teachers varies from their category, for example:
Teacher Preschool, salary CAD 18.00/hour.
Assistant Teacher’s salary CAD 22.50/hour.
Kindergarten Teacher salary CAD 25.00/hour.
Elementary School Teacher salary CAD 37.28/hour.
Primary School Teacher CAD 33.63/$ hour.
Conclusion
So, if you are working in the education sector and aspiring to migrate to Canada as a teacher, then decide either to go through the Canadian certification procedure or without it.
For that purpose, you need to check whether your occupation requires licensing in Canada. Once you completely understand your teaching NOC, you will apply for the Canadian permanent residence program.
Hello sir,
I need a help from licensed agency or reputed consultancy in Chennai, India to assist me in correct pathway to help me out.
Thank you
Hello sir,
Above information is very helpful and informative, but I need correct consultancy to help me out.
Thank you
Thank you for appreciation.
Sir write an article about the teachers who don’t require license and write the step by step process
Hi Zahoor,
Read this article it is about Teachers. You can read in Urdu language, just click on menu and change the language.