Northern B.C. Return of Service Award Program

Launch your career in Northern British Columbia and make a meaningful impact.

Program overview

Start your teaching career and gain valuable experience while living in one of B.C.’s amazing northern communities. Many northern schools and districts offer close-knit teaching environments, unique local perspectives, and meaningful ways to grow as a new teacher.

The Northern B.C. Return of Service Award Program provides financial incentives to teacher candidates who commit to working in a participating northern school post-graduation.

Award details

Teacher candidates who commit to working for three years in one of the participating northern schools listed below will be eligible to receive an award of up to $18,000 during the final year of their teacher education program. This funding will be applied directly toward their tuition costs.

Upon graduation, students who receive the award must successfully secure employment as a teacher in one of the participating schools to fulfill the return of service requirement. Recipients who do not fulfill the return of service requirement will be required to repay the award.

Eligibility requirements

You may be eligible for a Northern B.C. Return of Service Award if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
• Are enrolled full-time in an approved teacher education program in British Columbia
• Are in the final year of your teacher education program

The list of approved teacher education programs in British Columbia is available online.

Application timeline

Teacher candidates will be able to apply for this opportunity through the ministry and will be required to outline how they meet the requirements for this program through an application form. The application timeline is as follows:

• Application opens September 25, 2025
• Application closes October 17, 2025
• Review period October 17 - 31, 2025
• Notification to applicants November 3 - 14, 2025

How to apply

Complete the application (PDF, 9.7MB) and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Child Care at Workforce.Development@gov.bc.ca by October 17, 2025.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

An information session on this program will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, October 8 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. To learn more about the program and participating districts, register here.

Required documentation

As part of the application process, you will be required to provide:

• The filled application form
• An unofficial transcript
• Written responses to questions
• A reference letter from your teacher education program professor, or an individual who has observed you in a classroom setting

Selection process

A selection committee will choose recipients based on applicants':

• Interest in working in northern British Columbia
• Academic record
• Answers to written questions
• Reference letters

Participating school districts