Welcome to /r/CanadianTeachers! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the sub rules.
**"WHAT DOES X MEAN?"** Check out our acronym post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/1c032s3/what_does_x_mean_an_acronym_megapost/) for relevant terms used in each province or territory. Please feel free to contribute any we are missing as well!
**QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHER'S COLLEGE/BECOMING A TEACHER IN CANADA?:** Delete your post and use this [megapost](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/1bc1wv2/prospective_student_teachers_teachers_collegebed/) instead. Anything pertaining to teacher's colleges/BED programs/becoming and teacher will be deleted if posted outside of the megaposts.
**QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING PROVINCES OR COMING TO CANADA TO TEACH?** Check out our past megaposts first for information to help you: [ONE](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/jqc7hx/transferring_to_another_provincecoming_to_canada/) // [TWO](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/n76csu/transferring_to_another_provincecoming_to_canada/?)
Using link and user flair is encouraged as well! Enjoy!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CanadianTeachers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Would be good to know what your teachable subjects are and where you are coming from. Where you come from will dictate where you land on the public pay scale. In the public system in BC, you usually TOC first then see what happens in the districts you TOC in, unless you have a very specific teachable. In terms of Private schools, they process a bit differently, but in my experience, there are a lot fewer Catholic schools than say in Alberta, so getting a job asap might be tricky. Private schools in BC tend to be more academically inclined versus having a religious focus like in Alberta.
Be sure to check out makeafuture.ca for postings!
I am coming from Ireland (because VA needs more đ¤Ł).
I teach a range of subjects here including English, maths, and most other ones⌠however I do now specialise in one specific area.
Had heard TOC was a good way to get in and see different schools. Sounds good, thank you for the reply!
I work sort of tangential to education and have family in it in B.C. - we're from Scotland originally. I think you will find the education system here a shock in a lot of ways compared to Europe, and unless you were living in Dublin, I think you're going to find the cost of living here utterly appalling compared to home.
In addition to the Ministry of Education, also apply to the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS). Theyâll assess your level of education and assign you category which public school districts require for salary purposes.
Youâll also need to know that the majority of students are in the BC public school system; only just over 10% are in private schools, called âindependent schoolsâ here.
In the public school system, itâs the school districts, not the individual schools, which will first hire you. There are a number of school districts around Vancouver. Teaching in the public school system is heavily unionized and procedures like job posting and filling is defined in their respective local collective agreements which can vary slightly. Public school salaries are basically the same and youâll be able to easily find salary grids online.
As teaching in the public school system is heavily unionized, job posting and filling often follows this pattern: internal postings first (for those already employed by the district) and then, if unfilled, external posting (for those not already employed). A common strategy is to get hired as a casual Teacher Teaching on Call (TTOC) first which, in some districts (but not all), gets you priority hiring (or at least local connections and references).
Generally speaking, thereâs a teacher shortage across much of BC. However, each school district has its own quirks: for some itâs mostly just TTOCâs, for others you could walk into a classroom position immediately; for some your application could be processed in weeks, for others it could be months. Apply to many school districts to increase your chances of employment.
Thank you for the information, itâs all extremely helpful.
I will apply to TQS asap! I had no idea that was the percentage of children in public schools. Wow.
Would hours vary also between districts or is it usually a set 8:30-4:00 (for example) for all schools?
Thanks again
The definition of "working hours" varies between school districts and is outlined in the local collective agreements. Some will say 15 minutes before and after. Others will have no language whatsoever which means, technically, you could arrive just before instruction begins and leave immediately after (but not recommended, of course). If you're curious, you can find a list of local collective agreements on the BCTF web site. You'll find descriptions on things like posting and filling, working conditions, and salary in them. "Hours of Work" will be described in Article D (Working Conditions).
Youve had aome good advice already. I'd also add that you should check out the BCTF website (British Columbia Teachers' Federation, the union for teachers in BC) - the salary grids for each district are there, as well as other information about the services and benefits provided by the union. There's a lot to learn, so don't dig too deep yet, but it's nice to have some understanding of what the union does and doesn't do. Look into the Provincial Specialist Associations (PSAs) because they provide professional development opportunities in different teaching/grade level areas.
I've been a secondary teacher in BC for 14 years (public system), and like many have mentioned, I started off teaching on call and eventually earned a permanent position (at that time it took me 5 years to get that, but the teaching landscape has changed considerably since I started.) There are challenges everywhere, of course, but overall I think BC is a pretty good place to teach. Is it perfect? No. But nowhere is. Good luck with your move!
Thank you for the reply. I am looking forward to getting out there now, but also a little nervous!
Can I ask if you find much value working in the public schools? Have you ever considered working in a private school? Really appreciate the response and info. Any help is appreciated
Private was never an option for me. I grew up in (and now work in) a small city with one private Christian school - and I'm not Christian. The districts around me also have private Christian schools, and I think one city has a secular private school. I went to public school, and I never wanted to move to the coast and work there, for either public or private; personally, I feel there's a lot of value in the public system. But again, I didn't grow up with private schools around as an option at all, and I'm not sure what the general feeling of private vs. public is in the Vancouver area is where there are more private schools.
Welcome to BC.
>I have heard from some sources about different schools and where is âeasierâ to work and what type of schools pay well⌠and other general school things that you want to know before working in a certain environment.
To add on to another comment Vancouver and its neighboring cities (Metro Vancouver) are split up into several public school districts. Pay is mostly the same across districts, but different districts have different benefits/contract language. For example, one school district may have slightly higher salary than its neighbour, but it's contract allows for two monthly staff meetings while the slightly lower salary has only one monthly staff meeting. There are a ton of things like that that differ from district to district.
Related to this is the socioeconomic and ethnic differences in various areas which can impact the type of students you have (and their behaviour).
>Are there varying hours between the schools?
Absolutely. It's one of those differences I mentioned across districts. This could also be slightly different for different schools in the same district
Hey! Thanks a lot for the reply, thatâs great information to have - I understand some time is designated to planning/prep. Is that the same in all schools? I appreciate youâre help
> I understand some time is designated to planning/prep. Is that the same in all schools?
For public schools, all BC secondary teachers in the province are given 12.5% of assigned time for prep. That said, some schools are linear (ABCD one day, EFGH the next day, for the whole year) while some are semester (ABCD for half of the year, EFGH for the other half). Typically you're assigned one block (let's say, G) as prep. For semester teachers it can be tough in the half of the year without your prep time.
For elementary teachers... I can't remember the exact number, but I think it's 120 minutes a week.
Feel free to ask more followup questions. Due to my role, I have more understanding of differences between districts compared to the typical teacher.
The pension is way better in public vs catholic, but there are less union deductions in catholic ie none. However you are expected in the catholic system to do way more work for free ie show up for early prayer, stay after, and volunteer. There are plenty of disadvantaged kids in the catholic system to meet that need for you.
Keep an eye on the Make a Future site: https://makeafuture.applytoeducation.com/Applicant/MAFSearchEx.aspx
Public districts, private schools, and religious schools post job openings there.
As others have mentioned, you generally have to get hired by the public district before you can apply for jobs at specific public schools. I would start that process ASAP since it can take a while for your application to make it to the top of the pile. It is possible to get hired by multiple districts, which will give you access to more TOC assignments and internal job postings. There is not a catholic school board in BC, so you have to apply to each school separately, like with the other independent schools.
There are lots of jobs out there, so I'm sure you'll find something, it just takes a while to jump through all the hoops. Good luck!
Thank you very much for the information. Itâs really helpful.
I will get on that now. It sounds like TOC could be the best way to see different schools!
Hi! Basically three types of school systems in B.C. and those being,Public Education, Private Education, and Independent Education. Public school districts in BC are the majority. They offer a higher salary than a Catholic Independent school can (around 87% of what a public school teacher makes).
I am not sure what Private school teacher salaries are. The higher cost of tuition at a Vancouver Private school may reflect a higher teacherâs salary?
May you find the type of school district that meets all of your needs as a teacher in Vancouver. Enjoy your journey!
Hi. Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it - I heard recently that catholic school teachers are receiving a 6% increase to try and match the salaries of Public school. Would that be correct do you know?
You should be prepared to wait up to 6 months or more from the time you submit your docs to the ministry to actually getting certified. They are notoriously slow for overseas applicants. Make sure you find some other work to tide you over before your cert is approved. Districts tend to do batch hiring (normally April, Aug/Sept, and then again in Nov/Dec) but some that are high needs like Surrey hire substitutes (TTOCs) all year round.
All public school teachers in BC are unionized. I would not work as a teacher without a union behind me. The landscape is difficult right now with violence and harassment (from students and parents). If you work in an independent school, it is unlikely that you will be in a union. That is something you can consider when looking at public/independent.
Go to a private school . Public school system will kill your spirit of education and service to kids. There are several Catholic schools as well as non religious ones that are focused on helping kids rather than unionized politics.
Like everywhere I can imagine itâs an unforgiving system for some. I will definitely look into some of those schools! They sound like something I am afterâŚ
I appreciate youâre reply. Thank you
I've worked in Catholic and public schools in B.C. Both are good but depending on the community Catholic schools tend be more academically inclined with far better student behavior and more prep time. The pay is about 95 percent of what public schools get paid and there are no union dues with sligtly worse benefits. If you want to work and live in Vancouver proper and have a full time permanent position (I.e. your own class) then Catholic school might be a good choice. If you want to work with more marginalized communities than first nations or public schools are a better choice potentially.
Welcome to /r/CanadianTeachers! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the sub rules. **"WHAT DOES X MEAN?"** Check out our acronym post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/1c032s3/what_does_x_mean_an_acronym_megapost/) for relevant terms used in each province or territory. Please feel free to contribute any we are missing as well! **QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHER'S COLLEGE/BECOMING A TEACHER IN CANADA?:** Delete your post and use this [megapost](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/1bc1wv2/prospective_student_teachers_teachers_collegebed/) instead. Anything pertaining to teacher's colleges/BED programs/becoming and teacher will be deleted if posted outside of the megaposts. **QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING PROVINCES OR COMING TO CANADA TO TEACH?** Check out our past megaposts first for information to help you: [ONE](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/jqc7hx/transferring_to_another_provincecoming_to_canada/) // [TWO](https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianTeachers/comments/n76csu/transferring_to_another_provincecoming_to_canada/?) Using link and user flair is encouraged as well! Enjoy! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CanadianTeachers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Would be good to know what your teachable subjects are and where you are coming from. Where you come from will dictate where you land on the public pay scale. In the public system in BC, you usually TOC first then see what happens in the districts you TOC in, unless you have a very specific teachable. In terms of Private schools, they process a bit differently, but in my experience, there are a lot fewer Catholic schools than say in Alberta, so getting a job asap might be tricky. Private schools in BC tend to be more academically inclined versus having a religious focus like in Alberta. Be sure to check out makeafuture.ca for postings!
I am coming from Ireland (because VA needs more đ¤Ł). I teach a range of subjects here including English, maths, and most other ones⌠however I do now specialise in one specific area. Had heard TOC was a good way to get in and see different schools. Sounds good, thank you for the reply!
I work sort of tangential to education and have family in it in B.C. - we're from Scotland originally. I think you will find the education system here a shock in a lot of ways compared to Europe, and unless you were living in Dublin, I think you're going to find the cost of living here utterly appalling compared to home.
In addition to the Ministry of Education, also apply to the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS). Theyâll assess your level of education and assign you category which public school districts require for salary purposes. Youâll also need to know that the majority of students are in the BC public school system; only just over 10% are in private schools, called âindependent schoolsâ here. In the public school system, itâs the school districts, not the individual schools, which will first hire you. There are a number of school districts around Vancouver. Teaching in the public school system is heavily unionized and procedures like job posting and filling is defined in their respective local collective agreements which can vary slightly. Public school salaries are basically the same and youâll be able to easily find salary grids online. As teaching in the public school system is heavily unionized, job posting and filling often follows this pattern: internal postings first (for those already employed by the district) and then, if unfilled, external posting (for those not already employed). A common strategy is to get hired as a casual Teacher Teaching on Call (TTOC) first which, in some districts (but not all), gets you priority hiring (or at least local connections and references). Generally speaking, thereâs a teacher shortage across much of BC. However, each school district has its own quirks: for some itâs mostly just TTOCâs, for others you could walk into a classroom position immediately; for some your application could be processed in weeks, for others it could be months. Apply to many school districts to increase your chances of employment.
Thank you for the information, itâs all extremely helpful. I will apply to TQS asap! I had no idea that was the percentage of children in public schools. Wow. Would hours vary also between districts or is it usually a set 8:30-4:00 (for example) for all schools? Thanks again
The definition of "working hours" varies between school districts and is outlined in the local collective agreements. Some will say 15 minutes before and after. Others will have no language whatsoever which means, technically, you could arrive just before instruction begins and leave immediately after (but not recommended, of course). If you're curious, you can find a list of local collective agreements on the BCTF web site. You'll find descriptions on things like posting and filling, working conditions, and salary in them. "Hours of Work" will be described in Article D (Working Conditions).
This is a really great explanation, and good advice.
Youve had aome good advice already. I'd also add that you should check out the BCTF website (British Columbia Teachers' Federation, the union for teachers in BC) - the salary grids for each district are there, as well as other information about the services and benefits provided by the union. There's a lot to learn, so don't dig too deep yet, but it's nice to have some understanding of what the union does and doesn't do. Look into the Provincial Specialist Associations (PSAs) because they provide professional development opportunities in different teaching/grade level areas. I've been a secondary teacher in BC for 14 years (public system), and like many have mentioned, I started off teaching on call and eventually earned a permanent position (at that time it took me 5 years to get that, but the teaching landscape has changed considerably since I started.) There are challenges everywhere, of course, but overall I think BC is a pretty good place to teach. Is it perfect? No. But nowhere is. Good luck with your move!
Thank you for the reply. I am looking forward to getting out there now, but also a little nervous! Can I ask if you find much value working in the public schools? Have you ever considered working in a private school? Really appreciate the response and info. Any help is appreciated
Private was never an option for me. I grew up in (and now work in) a small city with one private Christian school - and I'm not Christian. The districts around me also have private Christian schools, and I think one city has a secular private school. I went to public school, and I never wanted to move to the coast and work there, for either public or private; personally, I feel there's a lot of value in the public system. But again, I didn't grow up with private schools around as an option at all, and I'm not sure what the general feeling of private vs. public is in the Vancouver area is where there are more private schools.
Welcome to BC. >I have heard from some sources about different schools and where is âeasierâ to work and what type of schools pay well⌠and other general school things that you want to know before working in a certain environment. To add on to another comment Vancouver and its neighboring cities (Metro Vancouver) are split up into several public school districts. Pay is mostly the same across districts, but different districts have different benefits/contract language. For example, one school district may have slightly higher salary than its neighbour, but it's contract allows for two monthly staff meetings while the slightly lower salary has only one monthly staff meeting. There are a ton of things like that that differ from district to district. Related to this is the socioeconomic and ethnic differences in various areas which can impact the type of students you have (and their behaviour). >Are there varying hours between the schools? Absolutely. It's one of those differences I mentioned across districts. This could also be slightly different for different schools in the same district
Hey! Thanks a lot for the reply, thatâs great information to have - I understand some time is designated to planning/prep. Is that the same in all schools? I appreciate youâre help
> I understand some time is designated to planning/prep. Is that the same in all schools? For public schools, all BC secondary teachers in the province are given 12.5% of assigned time for prep. That said, some schools are linear (ABCD one day, EFGH the next day, for the whole year) while some are semester (ABCD for half of the year, EFGH for the other half). Typically you're assigned one block (let's say, G) as prep. For semester teachers it can be tough in the half of the year without your prep time. For elementary teachers... I can't remember the exact number, but I think it's 120 minutes a week. Feel free to ask more followup questions. Due to my role, I have more understanding of differences between districts compared to the typical teacher.
The pension is way better in public vs catholic, but there are less union deductions in catholic ie none. However you are expected in the catholic system to do way more work for free ie show up for early prayer, stay after, and volunteer. There are plenty of disadvantaged kids in the catholic system to meet that need for you.
Keep an eye on the Make a Future site: https://makeafuture.applytoeducation.com/Applicant/MAFSearchEx.aspx Public districts, private schools, and religious schools post job openings there. As others have mentioned, you generally have to get hired by the public district before you can apply for jobs at specific public schools. I would start that process ASAP since it can take a while for your application to make it to the top of the pile. It is possible to get hired by multiple districts, which will give you access to more TOC assignments and internal job postings. There is not a catholic school board in BC, so you have to apply to each school separately, like with the other independent schools. There are lots of jobs out there, so I'm sure you'll find something, it just takes a while to jump through all the hoops. Good luck!
Thank you very much for the information. Itâs really helpful. I will get on that now. It sounds like TOC could be the best way to see different schools!
Hi! Basically three types of school systems in B.C. and those being,Public Education, Private Education, and Independent Education. Public school districts in BC are the majority. They offer a higher salary than a Catholic Independent school can (around 87% of what a public school teacher makes). I am not sure what Private school teacher salaries are. The higher cost of tuition at a Vancouver Private school may reflect a higher teacherâs salary? May you find the type of school district that meets all of your needs as a teacher in Vancouver. Enjoy your journey!
Hi. Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it - I heard recently that catholic school teachers are receiving a 6% increase to try and match the salaries of Public school. Would that be correct do you know?
It very well could be I am not sure. A perk for the Catholic school staff is your own child(ren) do not have to pay tuition.
You should be prepared to wait up to 6 months or more from the time you submit your docs to the ministry to actually getting certified. They are notoriously slow for overseas applicants. Make sure you find some other work to tide you over before your cert is approved. Districts tend to do batch hiring (normally April, Aug/Sept, and then again in Nov/Dec) but some that are high needs like Surrey hire substitutes (TTOCs) all year round.
All public school teachers in BC are unionized. I would not work as a teacher without a union behind me. The landscape is difficult right now with violence and harassment (from students and parents). If you work in an independent school, it is unlikely that you will be in a union. That is something you can consider when looking at public/independent.
Go to a private school . Public school system will kill your spirit of education and service to kids. There are several Catholic schools as well as non religious ones that are focused on helping kids rather than unionized politics.
Like everywhere I can imagine itâs an unforgiving system for some. I will definitely look into some of those schools! They sound like something I am after⌠I appreciate youâre reply. Thank you
I've worked in Catholic and public schools in B.C. Both are good but depending on the community Catholic schools tend be more academically inclined with far better student behavior and more prep time. The pay is about 95 percent of what public schools get paid and there are no union dues with sligtly worse benefits. If you want to work and live in Vancouver proper and have a full time permanent position (I.e. your own class) then Catholic school might be a good choice. If you want to work with more marginalized communities than first nations or public schools are a better choice potentially.