Ako si Teacher Dave. Dati akong teacher sa Pilipinas at nagtuturo ngayon sa Ontario schools dito sa Canada. Ginawa ko itong article na ito dahil maraming mga nagtatanong sa akin, paano ba ako teacher dito sa Canada, specifically sa Ontario where we currently live (from being a Night Audit Manager sa isang hotel sa Niagara Falls).
This article is for you kung isa ka sa mga nagtatanong, o kung may kakilala kang teacher na nasa Canada na at gustong i-practice ang kaniyang profession dito sa Canada. Just a disclaimer, this is only based sa mga naalala kong steps na ginagawa ko, almost two years ago, dahil talagang nagpursigi akong kunin ang certificate ko as a teacher dito sa Canada.
It all started when I watched an OMNI Filipino report featuring a secondary school principal here in Canada na Pinoy. Shout out pala kay Mr. Richard Llanera, sir, thanks for being an inspiration at sa pagbibigay rin ng guidance throughout the process ng certification.
First step is to go to the Ontatio College of Teachers website, which is oct.ca. Actually, lahat ng mga requirements na kailangan mong malaman ay nasa website na iyan, kung sakaling kulang itong ipo-provide kong information. Meron ding FAQ section and, if my memory serves me right, meron ding assessment tool sa website kung saan malalaman mo kung eligible ka to apply o register o hindi.
Of course, basic requirements that you completed a Bachelor's degree and that you have completed a teacher education program in the Philippines. Hindi ko lang matandaan exactly kung ipinasa ko ang World Education Services assessment sa OCT para ma-prove ang Canadian equivalency ng aking degree o yung mga transcripts lang ang ipinasa ko. In any case, just have your Educational Credentials assessment ready, just in case i-require. Kung nasa Canada ka naman na at may balak kang mag-apply for PR, this is one of the requirements so you should have it with you already.
Anyway, ang ginawa ko, nagrequest ako sa schools ko sa Pinas, isa sa UP Diliman at isa sa college kung saan ako kumuha ng teacher education program ko ng transcripts. Pati yung transcript ko nung High School, nirequest ko rin. Lahat ng mga ito, submitted to Ontario College of Teachers. At ang magsesend nun sa OCT ay yung mismong school hindi mula sa iyo o sa kapamilya mo. Check mo kung paano mo i-arrange. May schools na sila na mismo ang magpapa-courier at bayaran mo na lang ang fee -- kumbaga kasama na sa requesting ng transcript mo yung bayad for the courier at ibigay mo na lang yung address ng OCT dito sa Canada. O kung may kakilala ka sa Pinas mismo na mag-pipickup at siya na lang magsesend sa courier, as long as yung sender ay yung school.
Another requirement, criminal background check. Nagprovide ako ng criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening from local police services. Nagprovide din ata ako, not so sure pero nasa list na ibibigay sa iyo ng OCT, ng NBI clearance.
Another one, proof of English language proficiency — nag-submit din ako. In my case, IELTS results. Nagrequest din ako from schools kung saan ako nag-aral ng English as a medium of instruction certification para sure.
Service records and Certificates of Employment from schools kung saan ako nagturo, sinubmit ko rin. Pero kung hindi ka nagturo, pwede kang magsubmit ng certification ng practice teaching mo sa Pilipinas o kung saang lugar ka man nagturo, complete with number of hours per week ka nagturo. 'Pag full time ka, for example, that should be 40 hours per week.
Upon registering, meron ka ring kailangang tapusin na Sexual Abuse Prevention Program from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Once na na-certify ka na ng college, may notation sa teaching certificate mo na Sexual Abuse Prevention Program completed.
You also have to provide your PRC license as a professional teacher sa Pilipinas, and another certification galing sa PRC mismo (just forgot the name of the certification, proof na certified ka to teach in the Philippines), again, PRC dapat ang sender kapag ipapa-courier na sa OCT. Check mo paano i-arrange ang sending nito.
At siyempre, upon registering, may babayaran ka na agad. Nasa oct.ca kung magkano dahil nagbabago siya periodically, just visit the OCT website for the updated amount.
I started my application around October 2023, I got my approval April 2024. But again, it depends kung gaano kabilis mong masecure ang kailangang requirements sa Pilipinas o kung saan ka man nagturo. Dapat may willing tumulong sa iyo sa Pinas, ang I appreciate those who helped me out.
May ilang conditions lang license mo, take note of that. You have to, for example, four full courses in complementary education and must complete an Additional Basic Qualification course pero you can teach na sa publicly funded schools sa Canada habang hindi mo pa naco-complete ang additional courses na ito. In any case, pwede ka nang mag-start magturo.
At kung nakuha mo na, pwede ka nang mag-apply through Apply to Education website. Maraming needs every now and then, especially sa rural areas kaya marami ka namang options. Galingan mo na lang siyempre sa interview, but I know, knowing Pinoy teachers, hindi papatalo.
Good luck and God bless sa application mo!
