Depending on the type of certificate you have, you may be able to complete coursework or work experience to upgrade.
If your certificate expires, you are no longer authorized to teach in B.C. and you will not be able to upgrade – you will need to apply for certification.
Step 1: Complete the required courses
Get pre-approval for your courses before you register or pay tuition by emailing us with the institution name, course code and name, and course description.
Upgrade to a professional teaching certificate by completing the coursework outlined in your evaluation letter. Your courses must be completed before your certificate expires.
Step 2: Provide your transcript
Have the post-secondary institution where you completed your courses send an official copy of your transcript directly to us. You will be contacted once your transcript has been reviewed.
Request to have education coursework excused for a Conditional Certificate
If you have taught successfully in an acceptable B.C. school for at least 1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) while holding your valid Conditional Certificate, up to six credits of education coursework can be excused. Offshore school and teacher-on-call or substitute teaching experience is not accepted.
Other academic coursework requirements cannot be excused.
To request to have your education coursework excused, send a written request along with:
Proof of teaching experience. Ask your employer to provide an outline of your full- and part-time teaching experience – be sure not to include teacher-on-call or substitute teaching experience.
Request a teaching report from your superintendent, principal or vice principal. This comprehensive report should describe your overall competency as a teacher and include:
Upload the teaching report through Your Account.
Step 1: Complete the required teaching experience
Subject Restricted Certificate
To upgrade from an interim to a non-expiring Subject Restricted Certificate, you need to complete 1.5 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) teaching experience in a school authorized by the Ministry to teach the B.C. curriculum while holding a valid interim independent school teaching certificate. Teacher-on-call or substitute teaching experience is not accepted.
School and Subject Restricted Certificate
To upgrade from an interim to a non-expiring School and Subject Restricted Certificate, you need to complete 1.5 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) teaching experience in an acceptable B.C. independent school while holding a valid interim independent school teaching certificate. Offshore school and teacher-on-call or substitute teaching experience is not accepted.
Step 2: Email your certificate request
Send a written request to trb.certification@gov.bc.ca with your request for a non-expiring certificate.
Step 3: Provide verification of your successful teaching experience
Provide an outline of your full- and part-time teaching experience – be sure not to include teacher-on-call or substitute teaching experience.
Ask your superintendent, principal or vice principal to send a teaching report directly to us. This comprehensive report should describe your overall competency as a teacher and include:
Have your post-secondary institution(s) where you completed your courses and/or degree send an official copy of your transcript directly to us. You will be contacted once your transcript has been reviewed.
Contact us Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Pacific Time.