New program supports foreign-trained teachers in Canada. Teachers now have an advantage in immigrating to Canada, but internationally trained teachers can face barriers in becoming certified to teach. 

Teaching is a regulated profession and the certification process varies by province and territory, with foreign credentials often needing to be assessed for Canadian equivalency. 

That’s where the new initiative, launched by Pathways to Teach Canada in partnership with World Education Services (WES), could prove beneficial. 

What Is Pathways To Teach Canada? 

Launched in november 2024, Pathways to Teach Canada is a single entry point for internationally educated teachers interested to teach in participating provinces and territories in Canada. 

It helps them become certified by offering a streamlined process for credential and language assessments in participating provinces and territories Canada: 

  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • The Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Prince Edward Island (PEI)
  • Saskatchewan

In Ontario, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) conducts its own credential assessment. 

That said, Pathways to Teach Canada can help by providing the Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP). This is one of the approved language proficiency tests by Ontario College of Teachers. 

Those interested in teaching in Alberta, Quebec, or the Yukon must complete their certification process directly with that province or territory’s regulatory body. 

How Are Pathways To Teach Canada And WES Supporting Internationally-Educated Teachers? 

Pathways to Teach Canada and WES are committed to supporting internationally educated teachers. 

Through their partnership, applicants can initiate both their credential and language assessments using a single portal. 

Who Is Eligible? 

New program supports foreign-trained teachers in Canada. Pathways to Teach Canada specifically helps those who have already completed a teacher education program. Those who do not have a teacher education qualification cannot use this service. 

Applicants must also: 

  • Be a teacher in one or more academic disciplines (for example, mathematics, English, biology)
  • Not have been previously certified in a province or territory in Canada

The Process 

Eligible applicants can request: 

  • A credential assessment 
  • A Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP)

The specific assessments required depend on the applicant’s qualifications and the province or territory to which they are applying. 

Different fees apply based on the services requested. 

To begin the process, applicants must schedule the LCATP test directly through their Pathways to Teach Canada account. This step is crucial, as it helps assess an applicant’s readiness and eligibility to teach in a Canadian classroom. 

For the credential assessment phase, Pathways to Teach Canada has partnered with WES. When an applicant creates their Pathways to Teach Canada account, they’re redirected to the WES website to complete a credential evaluation application. Here, they’ll be asked to submit supporting documents.

Some documents can be uploaded directly by the applicant, while others must be sent by educational institutions or licensing bodies. The exact list of required documents varies depending on the country of education and the specific institution.

Once WES evaluates the submitted documents, applicants receive a Credential Assessment Report. This report is essential for the next step of the certification process.

Next Steps After Assessment

New program supports foreign-trained teachers in Canada. Becoming certified to teach in Canada through Pathways to Teach Canada involves two steps. Once an applicant receives their Credential Assessment Report, they must submit it through the Pathways portal to the relevant regulatory body in the province or territory where they wish to teach. 

After this, they must formally apply for teacher certification through that province or territory’s regulatory website. 

Applicants may choose to apply to multiple jurisdictions, but they should be aware that doing so incurs additional fees. It’s important to note that Pathways to Teach Canada itself does not issue teaching certifications. The final authority lies with the provincial or territorial regulatory bodies.

Additional Requirements For Teacher Certification

In addition to educational credentials and language proficiency, there are other requirements that aspiring teachers must meet.

Many provinces and territories require proof of good moral character. This is usually demonstrated through academic records, police background checks, or character reference letters.

Some regions may also require internationally educated teachers to complete additional coursework. For example, in British Columbia, individuals who completed their teacher education outside of Canada must take a familiarization course approved by the BC Teachers’ Council.

In provinces with Catholic school boards, those wishing to teach in Catholic schools will need to meet specific religious requirements. These often include submitting a reference letter from a Catholic priest and showing proof of baptism and confirmation.

Though the process may seem complicated at first, the partnership between Pathways to Teach Canada and WES helps simplify many of the steps and brings internationally educated teachers closer to achieving their goals in Canada.

New Express Entry Opportunities For Educators

In 2025, the federal government made a significant move by adding education as a category under Canada’s Express Entry system. This is great news for teachers and education professionals looking to immigrate to Canada.

With education now being an in-demand category, teachers have a better chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence (PR). Compared to other skilled workers who don’t qualify under any priority occupation, those in the education sector enjoy more targeted immigration opportunities.

To be eligible under the new Education category, applicants must:

  • Have at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience (or the part-time equivalent) in one eligible occupation within the last three years
  • Meet all the criteria outlined in the instructions for the particular Express Entry round

The work experience must be in one single occupation. For instance, combining two months of experience as an elementary school teacher with four months as a secondary school teacher does not meet the requirement.

The first category-based draw under the Education category took place on May 1, 2025. During this draw, IRCC invited 1,000 applicants to apply for PR.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was 479—significantly lower than the CRS cut-off scores for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws in 2025, which have ranged from 521 to 547.

This new development underlines how important educators are to Canada’s immigration goals and workforce development. It also offers a fresh and exciting pathway for internationally trained teachers who want to build a meaningful career and life in Canada.

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].