Professional Certification

Teaching Certificate – Becoming a Teacher

Certification Requirement

To work as a teacher in the Manitoba public school system, you must hold a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate or a Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate (valid for three [3] years). Once certified, a teacher is able to teach all grade levels from Kindergarten to Grade 12, except otherwise indicated on the certificate.

Academic Requirements for Certification

The academic requirements for a teaching certificate are set out in the Teaching Certificates and Qualifications Regulation 115/2015.

If you do not have a Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent, please contact a Manitoba University to discuss entry into a Bachelor of Education program. Below is a list of Manitoba universities offering a Bachelor of Education Program:


Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate

  • May be issued for a period of three (3) years
  • The certificate has an expiry date
  • The certificate holder is expected to complete specific requirements for a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate.
  • An extension will only be considered where the certificate holder can provide proof that they are making reasonable efforts to attain the qualification for a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate

Effective November 12, 2024, all applicants for teaching and clinician certificates will be required to complete an approved sexual abuse prevention program in order to be eligible for certification.

Residency Requirements

  • Canadian citizen or landed immigrant (permanent resident) status or a valid work visa
Academic Requirements
Manitoba Bachelor of Education Graduate Teacher Certified in another province in Canada Internationally Educated Teacher
N/A Bachelor of Education from an approved post-secondary institution and a valid teaching certificate issued by a jurisdiction that authorizes the person to teach limited grades or subjects in the jurisdiction and the applicant has not attained one year of approved teaching experience.

An approved teacher preparation program from an approved post-secondary institution in the jurisdiction that authorizes the person to teach in the jurisdiction. The following must be complete:

  • 120 credit hours, including 30 credit hours of professional education course work that includes student teaching (If the teacher preparation program does not include a practicum, one year of approved teaching experience may be substituted) and;
A certificate issued by the jurisdiction that authorizes the person to be a teacher, in the case where the person is from a jurisdiction that certifies teachers.
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Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate

  • Permanent

Effective November 12, 2024, all applicants for teaching and clinician certificates will be required to complete an approved sexual abuse prevention program in order to be eligible for certification.

Residency Requirements

  • Canadian citizen or landed immigrant (permanent resident) status.
Academic Requirements
Manitoba Bachelor of Education Graduate Teacher Certified in another province in Canada Internationally Educated Teacher

Bachelor of Education degree program offered in a 150 credit hour integrated five (5) year program or a minimum of 90 credit hours in an approved undergraduate (three year program) and a 60 credit hour two (2) year Bachelor of Education degree program.

The following must be complete:

  • 6 credit hours of Special Education course work
    and
  • 3 credit hours of Aboriginal Issues course work
    and
  • 24 weeks (30 credit hours) of student teaching
Bachelor of Education from an approved post-secondary institution and a valid teaching certificate issued by a jurisdiction that authorizes the person to teach all grades or subjects in the jurisdiction or limited grades or subjects in the jurisdiction and the applicant has attained one year of approved teaching experience.

An approved teacher preparation program from an approved post-secondary institution in the jurisdiction that authorizes the person to teach in the jurisdiction.  The following must be complete:

  • 150 credit hours, including 60 credit hours of professional education course work that includes student teaching (If the teacher preparation program does not include a practicum, one year of approved teaching experience may be substituted) and;
A certificate issued by the jurisdiction that authorizes the person to be a teacher, in the case where the person is from a jurisdiction that certifies teachers.

exclamation markIMPORTANT INFORMATION

A Statement of Eligibility (SOE) may be issued to an applicant from outside Canada after an assessment of her/his teaching credentials. An SOE is not a teaching certificate but it is proof of the applicant's eligibility for a Manitoba Teaching Certificate. Once the applicant obtains a Work Visa, becomes a Canadian Citizen or achieves landed immigrant status, she/he presents the SOE to Professional Certification Unit (PCU). An original current background check will be required at that time before issuing the certificate cited on the SOE: permanent or provisional professional teaching certificate.

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Credit hours

Credit hours means the basic unit used by a Manitoba university or other approved post-secondary institution for recognition of academic work that applies towards a degree, a diploma or a certificate. In Manitoba, university courses are usually three (3) or six (6) credit hours and are based on the course length and classroom hours:

Definition of Credit Hours
Credit Hours Course Length and Classroom Hours
3 Approximately 13 weeks at 3 hours per week
6 Approximately 26 weeks at 3 hours per week
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Language Requirements

In Manitoba all international applicants for teaching and clinician certificates, whose prescribed post-secondary programs of study were not completed in English or French, are required to demonstrate proficiency in English or French in order to be eligible for certification, in accordance with the October 24, 2024 amendments to the Teaching Certificates and Qualifications Regulation M.R. 115/2015.

The department has partnered with Pathways to Teach Canada, a single-entry point for internationally educated teachers interested in obtaining a teaching certificate in most provinces and territories in Canada, including Manitoba.

Pathways to Teach Canada Language Competency Assessment for the Teaching Profession (LCATP) is the only approved language proficiency test accepted by Manitoba for teaching and clinician certificates.

Other Languages

A limited number of schools in Manitoba operate in languages other than English or French; therefore, employment opportunities may exist at these schools.

Please visit the Schools in Manitoba website for a list of schools operating in languages other than English or French.

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Translation of Documents and Notarized Translations

Documents submitted to the Professional Certification Unit (PCU) that are in any language other than English or French must be accompanied by a notarized translation to English or French. The notarization must verify the qualification of the translator and the veracity of the translation.

You may contact the Immigrant Centre regarding translation services. The Immigrant Centre also provides free notary public services for permanent residents in Manitoba.

Immigrant Centre
100 Adelaide Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
R3A 0W2
Phone: 204-943-9158
Website: www.icmanitoba.com

Birth Certificates, Official Name Change Documents and Teaching Certificates

A photocopy of Birth Certificates, Official Name Change Documents and Teaching Certificates are to be submitted to PCU by you. If they are in a language other than English or French you must submit an original notarized English or French translation along with a copy in the original language.

Statement of Professional Standing

A Statement of Professional Standing must be sent DIRECTLY by mail to the Professional Certification Unit from a licencing body or education ministry. Statements of Professional Standing in a language other than English or French must include an English or French coversheet indicating your name and date of birth.

exclamation markIMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Professional Certification Unit reserves the right to request further documentation, to assist in the evaluation of your credentials.

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