Considering teacher education?

Are you considering Teacher Education and a career in education? We know exploring career options and making plans for your next steps after your degree can be confusing, so we have compiled an overview of the pertinent information to help guide you. This tip sheet will guide you to information about “Teachers College”, how to apply, and where to get support

October 29, 2025

It is important to be clear about your intentions.

  • Why do you want to pursue teacher education school? Do you have a sense of your strengths and interests related to this field? Reflecting on yourself and your career/life goals is an important first step.
  • The Student Success Centre has career counsellors to support you as you explore your options and make decisions.

Exploring the teaching profession can help you get a more accurate sense of the career field and the education path.

  • Talking to people who work in the field can help you understand how your strengths will apply to the field and what skills and experience are needed to enter and succeed in the field. Use the resource Go Beyond Google and Career Conversations section of our website to support you with career exploration.

The next steps involve gathering detailed information about the programs and when ready, apply!

  • The Ontario Teacher Education Application Service can be a useful place to start. This website provides Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program information, admissions requirements, and application process for most teacher education programs in Ontario.
  • A full listing of programs in Ontario can be found through the Ontario College of Teachers; the regulatory body that oversees the profession in Ontario.
  • Redeemer University and Tyndale University B.Ed. programs typically accept applications directly.
  • If you are interested in advanced research and teacher education, there are a few graduate level teacher education programs in Ontario. There are Master of Teaching programs offered through OISE/University of Toronto. These programs offer a concurrent way to obtain your teaching certification and graduate degree. Applications are typically submitted directly to the school.
  • Admission requirements depend on the grades you are looking to teach at the elementary and/or secondary school level.
  • Completing a 3- or 4-year undergraduate program is usually a requirement; many schools prefer a 4-year honours program with at least a B/B+ average. Requirements will vary for individual schools and programs, so be sure to check carefully.
  • Pre-requisite courses depend on the level you apply to teach.

There are three levels you can apply to with specific pre-requisites for each:

Primary/Junior (Grades K-6) 

  • No specific teachable subject needed, but some programs require applicants to have completed specific undergraduate courses, often one math, science, or English course. Others may give preference to those that have taken a variety of courses that align with curriculum subjects.

Junior/Intermediate (Grades 4-10) 

  • Requires indicating 1 teaching subject at the time of application – typically requires a concentration of courses in one subject and usually 3 “full” units/credits (which is usually equivalent to 18 units at McMaster).

Intermediate/Senior (Grades 7-12) 

  • Requires you to indicate 2 teaching subjects – typically the first subject requires at least 5 “full” units/credits of undergraduate courses (which is typically equivalent to 30 units at McMaster) and the second is usually 3 full units/credits (equivalent to 18 units at McMaster). Some programs require additional pre-requisites, so it’s best to review the program requirements.

Experience (paid or unpaid) in teaching, tutoring, leading children (ex. camp counsellor, coaching) or experience with the age group you are interested in is an important component for many programs. To understand what each school requires, you can review the Experience profile information on the TEAS site, which also has a link to each school’s own website for more details.

  • If you’re unsure if your undergraduate courses will count towards your teachable subject(s), it’s okay to contact the teacher education program’s admissions office; however, they may be limited on what they can tell you prior to assessing your submitted application. Some schools will provide a list of approved courses for questions that are common (i.e., statistics counting as math for P/J). If your circumstances are unique, contact the teacher education admissions office for guidance.
  • Be sure to check if there is a specific course(s) that is required for teaching subject (i.e., Canadian history as part of a history for I/S). You can find these on the TEAS site or on program websites.

Review the OUAC TEAS website for detailed instructions on how to apply to Bachelor of Education – Teacher Education programs.

Note deadlines:

  • Most Ontario schools have a deadline of December 1st for submitting your application to OUAC 

Review GPA requirements 

  • Most schools require a minimum “B” average, equivalent to 70%
  • Schools will calculate your GPA requirement in various ways. Most commonly, it will be based on the last 10 full undergraduate degree-level credits. Some ask for the “best” 10 full credits.

Complete an undergraduate degree

  • Depending on the school, a three-year general degree is sufficient, but preference is given to four-year honours undergraduate degrees 

Meet teachable subject requirements

  • Make sure that the school you are applying to has a program with the teachable you aim to pursue. The TEAS website is helpful in determining this. 
  • Ensure that you have enough courses completed for the teachable requirements or investigate course equivalent forms if the courses you took are not clearly aligned with the teachable. 
  • You may also need to have some requirements completed at the time of application while other program may allow those courses to be  in progress 

Gain teaching-related experience

  • For some programs and schools, teaching-related experiences account for a large portion of the admission decision.
  • You should generally aim to gain experience at the age level that you want to teach at and ideally in group settings. However, there are a range of experiences that you can consider for your experiential portion of the application.  
  • Consider volunteering or gaining experience through clubs, community groups, organizations or working with professors. Supports to help you can be found through Student Success Centre’s Experiential team.  
  • Get organized by creating a chart or spreadsheet with the varying academic and experiential requirements including GPA calculation, prerequisite courses, teachable subject requirements, experience profile requirements, etc.
  • If applying to programs outside TEAS application, like University of Toronto, Redeemer, Tyndale refer to their sites directly for detailed application and admission requirements.
  • Consider the deadline to apply though OUAC/TEAS application is often December 1st, therefore your final year grades will not be on your submitted transcript; this may impact how the GPA is calculated.
  • Carefully review the program websites for information on what to expect for supplemental applications so that you are clear on the requirements.
  • Statements vary by program but most often comprise of short answer questions about why you want to be a teacher, your experiences (work, volunteer, life) that have influenced and prepared you for the role and a question about equity and your experience working with diversity. Be insightful and use descriptive language to demonstrate your knowledge about teaching and learning.
  • Each program has different questions, and this is often the most time-consuming part of the application. Anticipate this and plan your time accordingly.
  • Refer to the Personal Statement guidelines for some general points about writing application material.
  • To qualify as a teacher in Ontario, you would need to transfer your qualifications gained through another province or country through the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). 
  • There are teacher’s education programs offered in other countries that align with Ontario’s regulations.  You may be required to write an exam to transfer your qualifications.   
  • Consulting groups may be worth considering to help you with the process of going abroad for teacher’s education programs.  These include, but are not limited to: CanTeach, Across the Pond, Degrees Abroad, and OzTrekk.   
    • Some of these programs can help you get certified in the country that you will be studying in, as well as back in Ontario. 
    • Many teacher education programs in the United Kingdom are one year long, as opposed to two years in Canada, but you must be cautious in making sure that you will be qualified by the OCT back in Ontario. 
  • Note: As a McMaster student, you have access to GoinGlobal and My World Abroad which are resources that can provide information about cost of living, employment opportunities, and other essential needs for your time abroad

Depending on what guides you to the teaching profession, there are a range of options. The following are just a few suggestions:

    • ELS Instructor 
    • Child and Youth Counsellor 
    • School Social Worker 
    • College Instructor/Professor 
    • Adult Learning Specialist 
    • Instructional Designer 
    • Science Communication/Knowledge Translation 
    • Residence Life Coordinator, Student Affairs Professional
  • Further explore your career options based on your strengths, values, and interests, the Career Planning Essentials course offered by McMaster University is a great place to start! You can register for the course on the webpage listed above.   
  • Talking to people who have completed Bachelor of Education is a great option to explore various career pathways.  You can use the MacConnect Alumni Network to help with this exploration. To learn more about how to conduct information interviews, please see our resources on at The Student Success Centre.

Absolutely. We are here for you. For assistance with all-things further education, feel free to connect to the Student Success Centre in whichever way is most comfortable for you. We offer workshops, one-on-one appointments, research and application support, interview preparation and many more services. 

As a McMaster student, you have access to academic coaching and writing advising to help you be successful in your studies but also build academic skills for further studies. Please connect to the Student Success Centre’s Writing and Academic Skills Services to seek support.