Pathways to Teach Canada: A New Opportunity for Internationally Educated Teachers

Canada’s education sector is opening doors for qualified teachers across the globe. With increasing demand for educators, the Canadian government and partner organizations are streamlining the process for internationally trained teachers to become certified and start teaching across provinces and territories.

A promising new initiative — Pathways to Teach Canada, in collaboration with World Education Services (WES) — is playing a vital role in simplifying the journey for globally trained teachers. If you are an aspiring teacher looking to work in Canada, this guide is your complete roadmap.

Why Is Teaching in Canada a Regulated Profession?

Canada values high educational standards. Teaching is a regulated occupation, and each province and territory has its own certification authority, requiring foreign-trained teachers to undergo:

• Credential assessments

• Language proficiency testing

• Moral character evaluations

These steps often vary depending on location, making the process complex. However, Pathways to Teach Canada is now simplifying this through a centralized portal.

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What Is Pathways to Teach Canada?

Launched in November 2024, Pathways to Teach Canada is a one-stop gateway for internationally educated teachers (IETs) who aim to teach in various Canadian provinces and territories.

Participating Regions:

• British Columbia

• Manitoba

• New Brunswick

• Newfoundland and Labrador

• Northwest Territories

• Nova Scotia

• Nunavut

• Prince Edward Island

• Saskatchewan

Note: Ontario handles credential assessments through its Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), though Pathways still supports applicants via language testing.

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Pathways Canada + WES: How the Partnership Works

Pathways to Teach Canada has teamed up with WES Canada to streamline both credential evaluations and language proficiency testing via a single platform.

✅ Key Features:

• Apply for credential and language assessment in one place.

• Schedule Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP) directly.

• Automatically redirect to WES to complete required documentation for credential evaluation.

Real-time Example:

Priya, a high school biology teacher from India, used the Pathways portal to initiate both her credential evaluation and LCATP test. Within 3 months, she submitted her results to British Columbia’s regulatory body and began her certification process — all from abroad, without needing to navigate different systems separately.

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Who Is Eligible?

To apply via Pathways to Teach Canada, you must:

• Have completed a recognized teacher education program.

• Be trained to teach in one or more academic subjects like English, Science, Math, etc.

• Not already be certified by any Canadian province or territory.

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Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Register on Pathways to Teach Canada

Choose whether you need:

• Credential Assessment

• LCATP (language test)

Step 2: Credential Assessment (via WES)

• Create an account

• Submit required academic or licensing documents

• Wait for your Credential Assessment Report

Step 3: Language Testing

• Schedule and complete LCATP via the Pathways portal.

Step 4: Submit Results to Regulatory Body

• Submit all assessments directly to the provincial or territorial certification board.

• Apply for certification on the respective provincial portal.

Tip: Teachers can apply to more than one participating region — but expect extra fees.

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Additional Certification Requirements in Canada

Apart from credentials and language, most provinces also require:

• Proof of good moral character – through academic records, police checks, and references.

• Mandatory courses – for example, in British Columbia, foreign-trained teachers must complete a familiarization course.

✝️ Catholic School Teaching:

If applying to a Catholic school board, you’ll likely need:

• A reference letter from a Catholic priest

• Proof of baptism and confirmation

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Express Entry: Canada’s Education Category in 2025

In 2025, Canada added “Education” as a priority category under Express Entry, recognizing the increasing demand for teachers nationwide.

Key Eligibility Criteria:

• At least 6 months of full-time, continuous experience in a single education-related occupation within the last 3 years.

• Meet all standard Express Entry criteria.

Recent Draw Stats (May 1, 2025):

• 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued

• CRS cut-off: 479

• Much lower than Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws (range: 521–547)

Example Use Case:

Ahmed, a teacher from Egypt with two years of experience as a secondary school teacher, received an ITA under the Education category in May 2025 with a CRS score of 482. He used Pathways to complete his credential evaluation while his Express Entry application was being processed.

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How This Initiative Helps Canada and Teachers Globally

 Benefits for Teachers:

• Clear, centralized entry point

• Faster processing of teaching credentials

• Eligibility for federal immigration through Express Entry

• Better access to in-demand jobs

Benefits for Canada:

• Addresses teacher shortages in rural and urban schools

• Encourages diversity and inclusion in the education system

• Supports immigrant integration and professional growth

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Conclusion: Start Your Journey to Teach in Canada Today

Whether you're from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, the UK, or anywhere else, Pathways to Teach Canada offers a simplified route to begin your teaching career in Canada. Combine it with the Express Entry Education category, and you could be on your way to Permanent Residency and meaningful employment in one of Canada’s most respected professions.