Becoming a teacher

Several career and academic paths lead to the teaching profession and job prospects for teachers in Québec are excellent.

You can become a teacher in Québec if you are currently:

• contemplating your career choice
• on the job market and thinking about a career change
• a teacher from another Canadian province or territory
• a teacher who wishes to immigrate to Québec

You must complete this form to obtain or renew a teaching licence, whether you are working while studying or have received teacher training outside Québec or Canada.

Apply for or renew a teaching licence

Teaching is a rewarding career that will allow you to build meaningful relationships with students of all ages and spark their curiosity.

Certified teacher training

The standard method of obtaining a teaching diploma  is to take the four-year certified Bachelor of Education program leading to a teaching diploma for preschool, elementary school, secondary school and vocational training.

Teacher training involves a number of periods of field experience. During these periods, you will further develop your competencies and gain familiarity with the workplace. Field experiences are a good way to make a name for yourself in an educational institution.

You will obtain your diploma once you complete your training.

List of universities offering a teacher training program (in French only)

Whether you are currently in school or on the job market, you may want to consider a career in teaching.

Throughout your education career, you have the possibility of working while you study. You can become a substitute teacher (teachers paid by the lesson or by the hour and casual supply teachers) even before taking steps to qualify as a teacher. You do not need a teaching licence to substitute in a subject related to your education. However, to obtain a teaching contract while you are in school, you must obtain a provisional teaching licence.

You will be issued a teaching diploma once you have successfully completed your teacher training program, subject to certain conditions.

If you have training in a school subject

If you have completed a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in a subject taught in Québec’s elementary and secondary schools, you can become a teacher in Québec by completing a qualifying master’s degree.

You must first contact the university of your choice to find the qualifying master’s degree that corresponds to your career aspirations and your university training. The university will also be able to tell you about any required gap training or credits that can be recognized.

If you have completed a training program and have experience related to preschool education services

Do you have a diploma in early childhood education or preschool education? Are you working in your field? You can pivot to a teaching career in preschool or elementary school and if you have training and experience related to preschool education.  

You must first contact the university of your choice. The university can provide you with full details on the teacher training programs in preschool education and elementary school education that are available. It can also inform you about the courses you are lacking or the credits you can be granted based on your studies and professional experience, if applicable.

Throughout your training, you have the possibility of blending work and study. You could become a substitute teacher (teachers paid by the lesson or by the hour and casual supply teachers) even before taking steps to qualify as a teacher. You do not need a teaching licence to substitute teach a school subject related to your education. However, to obtain a teaching contract while you are pursuing your studies, you must obtain a provisional teaching licence.

You may obtain this provisional teaching licence if you meet the following conditions, among others:

• You have earned 9 credits in an accredited preschool and elementary school teacher education program.
• You have accumulated 3000 hours of experience as a preschool services educator or teacher.
• You have a promise of employment from an employer confirming its intention to hire you as a preschool teacher during the current school year.

To request a provisional teaching licence to provide preschool education services, you must complete the Application for the issue of a provisional teaching licence .

Students who hold a Diploma of College Studies (DCS) in Early Childhood Education or an equivalent qualification and who are working toward a bachelor’s degree in preschool and elementary school education can also obtain a provisional teaching licence to teach in elementary education, subject to certain conditions. The teaching licence application must be submitted before June 30, 2025 (under section 63.6 of the Regulation respecting teaching licences).

If you have completed vocational training

If you work in your field, you can become a vocational training teacher.

To become a vocational training teacher, you must meet the following additional conditions:

• hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS), a technical Diploma of College Studies, a university certificate of at least 30 credits or a university degree related to a vocational training program
• have 3000 hours of practical or teaching experience directly related to the trade or occupation to be taught
• complete a bachelor’s degree in vocational training while continuing to work

Some university programs will recognize your vocational training and workplace experience. As a result, you may be granted some university credits.

You must first contact the university of your choice to find the bachelor’s degree that best meets your needs. The university will also be able to confirm the number of credits recognized for your vocational training and workplace experience.

Throughout your education, you have the possibility of working while you study. You can become a substitute teacher (teachers paid by the lesson or by the hour and casual supply teachers) even before taking steps to qualify as a teacher. You do not need a teaching licence to substitute in a subject related to your education. However, to obtain a teaching contract while you are in school, you must obtain a provisional teaching licence.

Once you have completed your training, you will be issued a teaching diploma.

List of universities offering a bachelor’s degree in vocational training (in French only)

If you have completed training in teaching or another field in another Canadian province or territory, you can teach in Québec.

If you have completed teacher training

It is easy to become a teacher in Québec if you have a teaching licence issued by another Canadian province or territory. Thanks to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, you can obtain an equivalent teaching licence in Québec.

You must first fill out an application for a teaching licence and submit all of the documents indicated on the form. If you have a teaching licence without conditions issued in another Canadian province or territory, you will be issued a teaching diploma.

If you have a teaching licence with conditions issued in another Canadian province or territory, you will be issued a probationary teaching permit subject to equivalent training conditions. You will be issued a teaching diploma once you have demonstrated that you meet these conditions.

Apply for or renew a teaching licence

If you have training in a school subject

Whether you are currently in school or on the job market, you can opt for a teaching career. If you have completed a university program in a subject taught in Québec’s elementary and secondary schools, you can become a teacher in Québec by completing a qualifying master’s degree.

You must first contact the university of your choice to find the qualifying master’s degree that corresponds to your career aspirations and your university training. The university will also be able to tell you about any required gap training or credits that can be recognized.

Throughout your education, you have the possibility of working while you study. You can become a substitute teacher (teachers paid by the lesson or by the hour and casual supply teachers) even before taking steps to qualify as a teacher. You do not need a teaching licence to substitute in a subject related to your education. However, to obtain a teaching contract while you are in school, you must obtain a provisional teaching licence. 

Once you have completed your master’s degree, you will be issued a teaching diploma.

List of universities offering a teacher training program (in French only)

If you have completed a training program and have experience related to preschool education services

You can pivot to a teaching career in preschool and elementary school education and if you have training and experience related to preschool education. 

To teach in preschool, you must:

• have a diploma in the field of preschool or early childhood education or preschool education services
• have accumulated 3000 hours of experience as a preschool services educator or teacher
• have completed an accredited preschool and elementary school teacher education program that enables you to work and study at the same time

Some university programs recognize your education and professional experience and may award you university course credits.

You must first contact the university of your choice. It will then be able to confirm the number of credits that can be awarded based on your education and professional experience.

Throughout your training, you have the possibility of blending work and study. You could become a substitute teacher (teachers paid by the lesson or by the hour and casual supply teachers) even before taking steps to qualify as a teacher. You do not need a teaching licence to substitute teach a school subject related to your education. However, to obtain a teaching contract while you are pursuing your studies, you must apply for a provisional teaching licence. Once you have completed your training, you will be issued a teaching diploma in preschool and elementary school education.

You could also pivot to preschool and elementary school education if you hold a diploma equivalent to a diploma of college studies in early childhood education or one of the following equivalencies:

• attestation of college studies in early childhood education of at least 1200 hours
• attestation of college studies for Indigenous early childhood educators
• diploma of college studies in specialized education techniques or in social work techniques
• university certificate with a specialty in early childhood
• bachelor’s degree including at least 30 credits in early childhood, preschool education, special education and social adaptation (remedial education), psychoeducation or psychology

If you have a diploma related to preschool education services that is mentioned in the above non-exhaustive list, you could be issued a teaching licence to provide preschool education, after an analysis of your file. For more information, please refer to Schedule VII of the Regulation respecting teaching licences . 

Students who hold a Diploma of College Studies (DCS) in Early Childhood Education or an equivalent qualification and who are working toward a bachelor’s degree in preschool and elementary school education can also obtain a provisional teaching licence to teach in elementary education, subject to certain conditions. The teaching licence application must be submitted before June 30, 2025.

If you have completed vocational training

If you have a Diploma of Vocational Studies and work in your field, you can become a vocational training teacher.

You must first complete a bachelor’s degree in vocational training, which you can do while working if you apply for a provisional teaching licence.

You must first contact the university of your choice (In French only) to find the bachelor’s degree that suits you best.

Some university programs will recognize your vocational training and workplace experience. As a result, you may be granted some university credits. The university will also be able to confirm the number of credits recognized for your vocational training and workplace experience.

Once you complete your training, you will be issued a teaching diploma.

You can also become a vocational training teacher if you hold a diploma or degree equivalent to:

• a technical Diploma of College Studies (DCS)
• a university certificate of at least 30 credits
• a university degree related to a vocational training program or sector of activity

List of universities offering a bachelor’s degree in vocational training (in French only)