Teacher Updating Program
The UBC Faculty of Education’s Teacher Updating Program is currently on an indefinite hiatus.
If you hold teaching credentials from a jurisdiction outside BC and are seeking a Certificate of Qualification in BC (via the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, Teacher Regulation Branch), you may wish to learn more about the Introduction to the BC K-12 School System & Professional Standards for Educators program offered by UBC Faculty of Education. Interested candidates must first provide an evaluation from the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Teacher Regulation Branch.
Qualified teachers who hold certification from other countries, or qualified domestic teachers who are required to update their certification, are eligible to apply to our Teacher Updating Program. This program offers the opportunity to update teaching credentials while becoming familiar with recent developments in British Columbia schools.
Candidates admitted to this program take coursework alongside current Bachelor of Education teacher candidates. Practicum placements are matched to grade-level preference and previous experience. Upon completion of this program, candidates will hold a UBC-conferred Diploma in Education – curriculum and instructional studies.
Please be advised that individuals who have previously registered in a similar program at a university other than UBC within the most recent five years are not usually eligible for the UBC teacher updating program.
Application Information
Teacher Updater Admission Dates (subject to change)
| January 2022 | Application and all supporting documents must be submitted |
| May 2022 | Assessment of completed application files begins |
| June/July 2022 | Admission offers begin*
*Due to limited space, teacher updaters cannot be guaranteed admission. Before applying, please talk to an admissions officer in the TEO to discuss your options. |
Application Information
Applicants must have obtained a Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB) assessment letter that details their assessment of your foreign teaching credentials.
Application Deadline:
Complete application package must be submitted by January 15 preceding September start of program. Incomplete or late application packages will not be considered.
Applicants to the teacher updating diploma program are expected to meet all academic requirements (as detailed by the TRB Assessment letter) and are required to have a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer/paid work experience in a Canadian public classroom with age-appropriate youth (e.g., Elementary: 5 to 12 years old, or Secondary: 13 to 17 years old) in a Canadian setting.
Prior to any application, potential applicants will have their credentials assessed by the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB).
Please note that all communication and interactions with the Teacher Education Office and Faculty of Education are considered part of the admissions process and are taken into account when considering applicants for admission. Admission may be denied to applicants who communicate in an unprofessional manner or who act in an inappropriate manner during the admissions process, regardless of academic standing.
Application Requirements
A complete application package includes all of the following documents:
- Complete Online Application
- Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB) assessment letter OR current TRB Teaching Certificate signed by witness if doing voluntary teacher updating
- Transcript showing degree conferral
- Additional transcripts for courses completed at other institutions
- Proof of registration for outstanding courses (if applicable)
- English proficiency test
- Two Reference Reports
- Please indicate that you are applying for the Teacher Updater Program in the “Additional Comments” section of your online application and email teacher.ed@ubc.ca once you have submitted the completed appliation :
All application documents must be received by the TEO by January 15 to be considered.
Admission officers comply with all TRB requirements as stated in the assessment summary.
A list of pre-approved courses from accredited post-secondary institutions in BC that meet the more frequent outstanding academic requirements can be found here. Please note that this is a list of suggested courses and thus not an extensive list of all potential courses. Please also note that some of these institutions provide many courses online (e.g., Thompson Rivers University Distance Learning).
Application Evaluation
Applications to the UBC teacher updating program are evaluated to determine if the required documents have been received by the Teacher Education Office. If the application is complete, it is then read and evaluated by admission professionals who make recommendations for admission based upon the quality, quantity and relevance of an applicant’s:
- Academics (minimum GPA of 65%)
- Combined experiences (experience in a Canadian public classroom is required)
- Language proficiency
- Two reference reports
- The Teacher Updating Diploma Program’s ability to support specific secondary teachable subjects
If the number of available places in the UBC teacher updating program program option is exceeded by the number of applicants, not every qualified applicant will be admitted.
Tuition Costs
For information regarding tuition costs, consult the UBC Calendar. These costs do not show books and activity fees. Fees are calculated per credit costs. The teacher updating program diploma is 30 credits in length.
Language Proficiency Tests
English Language Requirements
When you apply to any of the Faculty of Education programs, you will need to demonstrate highly competent English written and oral language skills. An applicant must satisfy English language admission requirements established by the Faculty of Education. Where acceptable standards of both written and oral English are not demonstrated during the program, BEd or updating candidates will be required to improve before continuing with courses and before proceeding to the extended practicum.
Applicants may be required to complete an acceptable English test before beginning the program if they have not completed all of their post-secondary studies at an institution in a country where English is the primary language of instruction. Original copies of assessment scores completed within two years of the application date must be provided as part of the application process.
For the English language proficiency test we require IELTS-Academic or TOEFL-iBT. No other test will be accepted.
IELTS & TOEFL required minimum test scores
French Language Requirements
Applicants applying to the French options, Teacher Updating diploma, also need to show French proficiency at the appropriate level. We accept the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF)/Diplôme avancé en langue française (DALF).