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Commissioner for Teacher Regulation

Last updated on May 16, 2025

British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation

The Commissioner for Teacher Regulation is an independent statutory decision maker who is appointed for a five-year term under the Teachers Act.

It's the Commissioner's responsibility to oversee the discipline process for certified educators in B.C.  The Commissioner reviews the conduct and competence of certified educators in B.C. (teachers) and helps enforce the standards for educators.

Addressing concerns about teacher competence and conduct in a way that's transparent, fair, and in the public interest.

Under the Teachers Act, the Commissioner can carry out the following:

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Receive complaints or reports about teacher conduct and competence

The Commissioner reviews all complaints from the public and any reports from teachers, schools and school districts about teacher conduct or competence. The Commissioner does not decide if a person is guilty. The Commissioner can: 

  • Investigate
  • Close a matter by not taking further action
  • Offer a consent resolution agreement
  • Order a hearing and appoint a hearing panel if the teacher declines the offer for a consent resolution agreement   

The Commissioner cannot ask a teacher to apologize, fire a teacher, or change the teacher in your child’s classroom.

Anyone can make a complaint about the conduct or competence of a teacher. You can be a parent, student, staff or other member of the public. If you have concerns that a teacher has breached the standards for educators, you can send your concerns to us.

School boards, independent schools, and teachers who hold a British Columbia teaching certificate have a duty to report misconduct or incompetence.

Learn more about what happens during the discipline process. Read about the outcomes of a discipline processes and related statistics.

 

Make rules and procedures

The Commissioner makes rules and processes for resolving reports or complaints, investigations and hearings. Rules are based on procedural fairness and help ensure the balance of public interest and a certificate holder’s right to due process.

 

Review appeals related to evaluations for teaching certificates

If you applied for teacher certification, you asked the Director of Certification to reconsider the outcome of the evaluation, and you are not satisfied with the reconsideration decision, you can make an appeal to the Commissioner. You must make your appeal within 30 days of the date of the reconsideration decision. The Commissioner can review reconsideration decisions made by the Director of Certification related to:

  • Being denied a teaching certificate
  • Being given a type of teaching certificate that is different than the one you applied for
  • Limitations or conditions on a teaching certificate
  • Having a teaching certificate rescinded

Make an appeal by submitting the Appeal of a Reconsideration Decision Form (PDF). The Commissioner will review the form and may decide to:

  • Consider more information, if you choose to submit it within a certain timeframe  
  • Dismiss the certification appeal
  • Refer the certification appeal to a panel for a hearing

The decisions made by the certification appeal hearing are posted publicly. See the decisions made by a certification appeal hearing panel. 

 

Make annual reports

 

See if an educator has a teaching certificate or a letter of permission to teach in B.C.

Contact information

Ask questions or get information. Do you have questions about the discipline process or making a complaint? Contact us from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Office
604-775-4870 (Vancouver)
Fax
604-775-4858
Email
trb.intake@gov.bc.ca