Teaching licences

To work as a teacher in Québec, you must have a teaching licence issued in accordance with the Regulation respecting teaching licences.

Apply for or renew a teaching licence

Various paths lead to a teaching diploma and can be used as a means of obtaining other types of teaching licences as well. To learn more about which path is better suited to your situation, please consult the appropriate information booklet:

• Students enrolled in a recognized Bachelor of Education program (PDF 255 Kb) (in French only)
• Students who hold a bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in a recognized teacher training program (PDF 254 Kb) (in French only)
• Students and graduates of a recognized qualifying Specialized Graduate Studies Diploma program in teacher training (PDF 274 Kb) (in French only)
• Students who hold a Diploma of College Studies (DCS) in Early Childhood Education and who are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in preschool and elementary school education (PDF 256 Kb) (in French only)
• Persons who have undertaken a teacher training program in vocational training (PDF 281 Kb) (in French only)
• Holders of a teaching licence issued in another Canadian province or territory (PDF 259 Kb) (in French only)
• Holders of a teaching licence issued outside Canada (PDF 261 Kb) (in French only)

There are temporary teaching licences as well as a permanent teaching licence. One of these is required in order to teach. Some of these licences are renewable under certain conditions. Teachers must have their licences renewed before they expire. The successful completion of the recognized language examination is compulsory to obtain a teaching licence, with the exception of a provisional teaching licence.

Once you have completed your teacher training in a recognized bachelor’s or master’s degree program, the university will send a recommendation to the Ministère de l’Éducation so that you can be issued a teaching diploma. This is a permanent licence.

It is possible to work while you study if you obtain a provisional teaching licence. This temporary licence is issued to students who are enrolled in a recognized teacher training program and who have a promise of employment from an educational institution directly related to the training program. Certain additional conditions apply.

For more information on the provisional teaching licence, see the following documents:

• Terms and Conditions for the Issuance of a Provisional General Education Teaching Licence – Guide for students enrolled in a recognized teacher training program in general education (PDF 594 Kb) (in French only);
• Terms and Conditions for the Issuance of a Provisional Vocational Training Teaching Licence and a Teaching Authorization in Vocational Training – Guide for students enrolled in a recognized teacher training program in vocational training (PDF 738 Kb) (in French only).

Renewing a provisional teaching licence

You can renew a provisional teaching licence up to three times, subject to certain conditions and depending on its duration. There are, however, certain licences that are not renewable.

The probationary teaching permit is a temporary teaching licence. It is issued, among others, to:

• persons who have successfully completed a recognized specialized graduate studies program of 30 credits recognized (the university must send a recommendation to the Ministère de l’Éducation so that it may issue this teaching licence)
• holders of a teaching licence issued with conditions in another Canadian province or territory
• persons who have completed a teacher training program outside Canada equivalent to a teacher training program in Québec.

To obtain a teaching diploma, holders of a probationary teaching permit must then meet the conditions listed on this permit.

For more information on the probationary teaching permit, please read the terms and conditions for obtaining a Québec probationary teaching permit (PDF 699 Kb) (inFrench only).

Renewing a probationary teaching permit

You may renew your probationary teaching permit once you have met all the conditions listed on the permit, with the exception of the successful completion of the probationary period.

After meeting all the conditions listed on the probationary permit, including the probationary period, you can apply for a teaching diploma.

Individuals who have successfully completed 90 credits of the bachelor’s degree program in vocational training education, including 45 credits in education, can obtain a teaching authorization that allows them to be legally qualified. The university must send a recommendation to the Ministère de l’Éducation so that it may issue this teaching licence, which is valid for a maximum of six years.

Renewing a teaching authorization

You may renew your teaching authorization for periods of five school years when you have met the conditions listed on your authorization.

Once you have completed your recognized bachelor’s degree program in vocational training, the Ministère de l’Éducation will issue you a teaching diploma.

Under the Regulation respecting teaching licences, which came into force on June 29, 2021, all teaching licences that were valid on that date had their validity extended by one year. This includes provisional licences, teaching authorizations and probationary teaching permits.

The extension is automatic, and candidates do not have to take any steps.

Employers have been informed of the change. As such, new teaching licences with modified expiry dates will not be issued. Any holder of a teaching licence who would like to verify its expiry date can make a request using the Teaching licence application service form.

A letter of tolerance is a permission, granted in exceptional circumstances, that authorizes an employer to hire, as preschool, elementary school or secondary school teacher, a person who does not hold a teaching licence. This permission is granted mainly to employers who are experiencing a shortage of teachers, in order to allow them to hire persons who have not had teacher training. Letters of tolerance are issued only to employers.

Contact the school service centres and school boards (English and special status) directly to find a job.

Documents for use by employers:

• Terms and Conditions for the Issuance of a Letter of Tolerance (PDF 506 Kb) (in French only)

Declaration concerning a judicial record (PDF 0.98 Mb)

Tool regarding teacher education programs for vocational training (PDF 1.59 Mb) (in French only)

Regulation respecting teaching licences