The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, is announcing updates to the Teacher Certification Regulations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Teacher Training Act and the Teacher Certification Regulations govern the requirements and qualifications for teachers to be certified in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The updated regulations reflect national trends to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be a destination for qualified educators from across Canada and beyond. These changes to teacher certification regulations are designed to respond directly to the province's labour market challenges and help fill vacancies more efficiently while maintaining high standards in teacher preparation and certification.
Highlights of the updated Teacher Certification Regulations include the removal of reference to Primary/Elementary and/or Secondary Teaching Certificate, broadening areas of specialization acceptable for certification, changes in language including renaming of educational psychologists to school psychologists, and providing alternate pathways for speech language pathologists and school psychologists to upgrade their credentials.
Changes regarding speech language pathologists and school psychologists will create streamlined pathways for those professionals to advance their certification levels, recognize their expertise, and support their professional growth.
The updated regulations also now allow for interim provisional certification for internationally educated teachers who do not meet all Newfoundland and Labrador requirements but have a Bachelor of Education and are teachers in their respective country. This change will remove barriers for individuals who were previously ineligible for certification and will support ongoing teacher recruitment efforts.
The Provincial Government is committed to supporting a positive educational experience for students. An additional 400 educational positions were added to the K-12 system and class sizes from grades 1-9 have decreased. Both initiatives aim to better meet the needs of students and require a strong and skilled education workforce.
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"Our government is fostering a strong and supportive teaching workforce, which in turn enhances a positive educational experience for students. These updated regulations reflect a modern, flexible approach to teacher certification in the province."
Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
For more information
Prince Phillip Drive
St. John's Newfoundland
Canada A1B 4J6
www.gov.nl.ca
