Canada Migration as a Teacher

No doubt, all professions are important to our world in their own unique ways but immediately you hear of the most important and respected profession in the world, then, teachers immediately come to mind!

The importance of teachers in our daily lives cannot be overemphasized, thus, they are increasingly needed across the globe including Canada.

According to the OECD, 56% of Canadian adults possess a post-secondary qualification, little wonder why the country is known to be one of the most educated in the world.

All thanks to its excellent education system, which is provided to all Canadian citizens, residents inclusive, without a charge.

The list of Occupation in-demand for 2020 had teachers as one of the top ten. Secondary school teachers should look forward to having 53,700 employment openings for them between the years 2019 and 2028, so says the Canadian job banks.

This is proof that teachers will continuously be in demand for a good number of years in Canada.

Imagine earning up to $96,000 yearly and other great benefits that accompany being a teacher in Canada, you will discover that you are assured a bright future not just for the young minds but also for yourself and loved ones.

So, are you a teacher? Would you love to migrate to Canada? This is an opportunity to start living in one of the most liberal countries in the world. Keep reading to find out the migration options that are most suitable for you as a teacher and get answers to basic questions you may want to ask as someone who has intentions of migrating to Canada.

Initial Step To Migrate To Canada as a Teacher

The principal move to make when immigrating to Canada as a teacher is to take a simple assessment. You should talk to an immigration lawyer whose area of specialization is Canadian immigration.

Most times, their fee is quite affordable and they can surprisingly offer free consultation just to pay attention to you.

If the consultation turns out to be fruitful, the lawyer discusses the cost of his services with you and in most cases, discusses how much time he/she can take to get the process done for you.

Federal Skilled Workers Factors for Selection

Federal skilled workers (FSW) are highly regarded in every country and are given the most priority, especially in industries hardly affected by the recession. Teachers, doctors, and dentists are examples of professions that will always be needed.

This alone is a piece of encouraging news for teachers who desire to migrate to Canada.

1. The highest level of education attained; preferably, higher than a high school diploma.
2. Work experience under one of these categories; professional, technical/skilled, or managerial that proves that you have been employed for at least one year.
3. You must be fluent in the two or either of the two spoken languages in Canada (French/English)
4. Your present age
5. Your general ability to adapt which is usually tested via an assessment quiz
6. Your present state of employment
7. Your most current teaching experience
8. Your knowledge of the culture and curriculum of the education system in Canada.
9. Eligibility to teach, character reference, and successful criminal record check inclusive.

Additionally, we advise you to possibly start a bachelor’s degree in Education and obtain a provincial certificate prior to your arrival because getting that in Canada can be a slow process and they are both needed for teaching jobs in Canada.

We also highly recommend that you complete a major and a minor in one teachable course each such as sciences, languages, business, and social studies as they are prerequisites for teaching in Canadian secondary schools.

What Documents Do I Need?

There are certain documents you must present when migrating to Canada as a teacher. Your academic documents must be up to the standards set by the Canadian Educational system.

But if you studied anywhere else aside from Canada and your document is up to the expected standard then you have to prove it by obtaining Educational Credential Assessment.

We have a list of organizations that can be of assistance to you in obtaining the necessary documents needed to migrate to Canada as a teacher.

1. International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
2. International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
3. World Education Services;
4. International Credential Evaluation Service
5. International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

Please note that your academic qualifications determine the job you can apply for. Here is a list of the educational demands:

1. Childhood educators must have a Bachelor’s Degree in child development or a college program in early childhood education (2-4 years)
2. Elementary and Kindergarten teachers need a Bachelor’sSeco Degree in education and child development.
3. Secondary school instructors normally need a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and also in the Arts or Sciences.
4. College and Vocational teachers need a Bachelor’s or Master’s  Degree or College Diploma in your field of expertise and maybe,a qualification in adult education (diploma, certificate, or degree)
5. University professors require a Doctoral and Mater’s Degree in their specialized field.
6. The province where you worked and belonged as a member of the teacher’s association will give you a provincial teaching certificate and license.

What Salary Can I Earn as a Teacher In Canada?

As we stated earlier, teaching is an important service needed for the growth of society. Irrespective of the level you teach whether primary, high school, or college, you are entitled to a good salary for your service. In 2019, Canada was rated one of the top 10 countries that pays the best salary for elementary teaching jobs according to a Business insider.

These are a few of the salaries paid to teachers in Canada according to provinces and territories.

AVERAGE YEARLY PAYS FOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS IN CANADA
Province/Territory	Average Salary (CAD)
National Average	$68,894
Alberta	$70,098
British Columbia	$53,031
New Brunswick	$66,250
Newfoundland & Labrador	$58,500
Northwest Territories	$82,000
Nova Scotia	$57,675
Ontario	$87,000
Prince Edward Island	$63,512
Quebec	$49,579
Saskatchewan	$62,400
Yukon	$69,000

Where Do I Intend To Work And Live In Canada?

Relocating to Canada is a decision you should thoroughly think through before even leaving your country, let it be said that you have everything figured out.

Canada does not plan to harbor people on its streets, this is why you have to consider where you will live and there are certain things you should put into consideration like:

• Living cost
• Are there specific facilities to meet your healthcare 
• What job offers are available in your area of specialization and you have better chances if your job is in high demand 
• The likelihood for career growth
• Cost of housing whether you want to buy or rent 
• Your preferences as regards lifestyle, for instance, if you prefer big cities to a small town or vice versa.

Now, you may want to know which of the provinces where teachers are needed the most because of the more available jobs you have in a province, the chances of you either receiving a job or getting an invitation to apply for permanent residence in that province increases.

WHAT ARE THE PROVINCES IN HIGH NEED OF TEACHERS?

You should know the territories that need teachers the most before considering the province you will like to settle, this will go a long way to help you in making decisions.

Province/Territory	Occupation In-demand
Alberta	(4011) University professors and lecturers
British Columbia	(4413) Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Newfoundland & Labrador	(4011) University professors and lecturers(4031) Secondary school teachers
Nova Scotia	(4021) College and vocational instructors
Northwest Territories	(4214) Early Childhood Educator
Prince Edward Island	(4011) University professors and lecturers
Saskatchewan	(4011) University professors and lecturers(4021) College and vocational instructors(4214) Early Childhood Educator(4215) Instructor of persons with disabilities(4216) Other instructors(4413) Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Yukon	(4214) Early Childhood Educator

What Are The Possibilities Of Finding A Job In Canada Or Do I Have a Job Offer?

If you want to relocate to Canada to live and work as a teacher, as a skilled worker, you can be qualified but unfortunately, there are some skilled workers who do not even get to secure jobs when they get to Canada.

We advise you to first secure a job even before moving to Canada because of two reasons:

First, it will save you the stress of wandering in search of a job while trying to settle down in the country but if you already have a genuine job offer, you will save time and do other stuff.

Then the second reason is that getting a job offer before migrating to Canada will help increase your Permanent Residence score, in your comprehensive ranking system, you can score up to 10 points thereby having higher chances of getting selected for the provincial program. This will make it a lot easier for you to migrate to Canada. 

Did I Make The Right Choice Of The Canadian Immigration Program?

Although there are different means to immigrate to Canada, we have the top 4 ways that can possibly give you more chances of living and working in Canada.

1. Express Entry system;
2. Provincial Nominee Program;
3. Atlantic Immigration Pilot;
4. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

1. Express Entry

This system takes care of the three Canadian Federal Economic Immigration Programs namely; CEC (Canada Experience Class), FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program), and the Federal Trade Worker Program (FTWP) and as a high-skilled worker, you are eligible to apply either through the FSWP or the CEC that is if you have a minimum of 1-year Canadian work experience.

For Express Entry System, the process of application can take just a short period of time (6 months), your application will be put into draws which happens every 2 weeks, and then ranked alongside other applicants and the applicant who has the highest score according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) will be invited to apply for permanent residence (ITA).

This is one of the best means to migrate to Canada because it permits you to work anywhere and you do not need a job offer in Canada before migrating.

2. Provincial Nominee Program

If you have a job offer that meets the required labor demand of a specific province or territory, then, The Provincial Nominee Program permits you to reside and work in Canada.

In other words, every province has its specific PNP with its own in-demand jobs and if you are fortunate enough to receive a provincial nomination worth extra 600 points then you are guaranteed an ITA  for permanent residence.

We will also like to let you know that every PNP has a stream connected to the Express Entry System and this will accelerate your application process from roughly 18 months to 6 months only if you apply directly to the province via Express Entry.

Here is a list of streams of PNP for teachers who want to migrate to Canada in each territory or province

 

Canadian Immigration for Teachers
Province/Territory	Immigration Stream/Category
Alberta	Alberta Express Entry Stream
British Columbia	Express Entry: Skilled Worker Category
Newfoundland and Labrador	Express Entry: Skilled Worker Stream
Northwest Territories	Express Entry: Skilled Worker Stream
Nova Scotia	Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Stream
Prince Edward Island	Express Entry Stream
Saskatchewan	Express Entry: International Skilled Worker Category
Yukon	Express Entry: Skilled Worker Stream

3. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot

If you have intentions of settling in one of Canada’s coastal regions such as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or Newfoundland and Labrador, then this immigration program is your best bet. 

To be eligible for this program, you need a valid job offer in one of these Atlantic provinces and also you are expected to meet requirements like work experience and language skills.

4. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

This program is suitable for those who would rather settle for a simple life rather than staying beside the ocean. If you belong to this category, then you may consider one out of the eleven participating communities of Canada’s RNIP (Rural and Nothern Immigration Pilot) such as Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba.

You will also need a valid job offer in one of those aforementioned communities, and meet other requirements needed to apply for Canada migration via the RNIP.

What Could Lead To Automatic Dismissal?

Unfortunately, certain applicants are dismissed almost immediately. In order to avoid this, ensure you deal with any of these discrepancies before proceeding to submit your application;

1. A criminal history
2. Previous connection to organized crime
3. Possession of a human/international rights violation
4. DUI convictions may be due to alcohol or drugs
5. Health conditions especially contagious ones
6. Irregularities in your application
7. Inadequate financial security
8. Being in relation to an inadmissible person
9. If you violate Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or IRPA

What Are The Benefits Teachers Get In Canada?

Here are some of the benefits of being a teacher in Canada aside from the universal free healthcare system.

Kindly note that these benefits vary from province to province, they are not static. 

Benefit	Description
Paid maternity and parental benefits	Maternity benefits (up to 55% of your earnings for up to 15 weeks) + standard or extended parental benefits standard – up to 55% of your earnings for up to 40 weeks NB: 1 parent can’t take more than 35 weeks)or extended – up to 33% of your earnings for up to 69 weeks (1 parent can’t take more than 61 weeks)
Sickness benefits	Up to 55% of your earnings for up to 15 weeks if you can’t get a job due to medical reasons
Caregiver Benefits	Family caregiver benefit for children – up to 35 weeks payable ( for an under 18 seriously sick or injured person)Family caregiver benefits for adults – up to 15 weeks  (for above 18 seriously sick or injured person)Compassionate care benefits – up to 26 weeks ( someone who requires end-of-life- care, he/she could be of any age)

We hope that with this expository article, you have clear answers to all questions that may be ravaging your mind as a teacher who wants to migrate to Canada for some reason.  

This decision could be a tasking one, but, we hope you find it a little easier after going through this article.