Teacher Education FAQs for Prospective Students

Explore our program comparison tables that outline program eligibility and details to help you choose the right path. To further explore programs of interest, individual program pages can be found in the Program Details Comparison table or in the tabs of the Teacher Education Programs Landing Page.

The Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is primarily offered as a full-time undergraduate program with few exceptions. B.Ed. students must take a minimum of twelve (12) credits per semester (Fall and Winter) unless they are specifically granted special permission through the Internships and Student Affairs Office. The MATL and Graduate Diploma offer both full-time and part-time pathways. Students who opt to study part-time are ultimately responsible for any impact their part-time status may have, including but not limited to immigration and funding.

Yes, largely. While Quebec offers many opportunities to teach, a Quebec teaching licence is also widely recognized outside the province. Teacher candidates who wish to teach in another Canadian province or territory, or in another country, must first apply for and receive their Quebec teaching licence. They may then apply directly to the teacher certification authority in the province, territory, or country where they wish to teach.

Recognition is not automatic, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. Additional documentation, assessments, coursework, or other conditions may apply. Prospective teachers are encouraged to consult the relevant teacher certification authority for information about its requirements and application process.

Yes, technically. Your Quebec teaching licence will identify the teacher education program or specialization you completed; however, once licensed you could be hired to teach at other grade levels or in other subject areas or programs. Hiring decisions are made by individual institutions based on their staffing needs and assessment of an applicant's qualifications and suitability for the position. Historically, McGill Faculty of Education alumni with teaching licences have sometimes been hired for teaching roles that went outside of their completed teacher education program/specialization (e.g. B.Ed. Kindergarten/Elementary graduate hired to teach high school and vice versa).

For additional professional development beyond our teacher certification programs, please see the list of certificates and diplomas available through the Faculty of Education.

The MATL and Graduate Diploma programs are designed to prepare students to teach at the secondary school level, with one exception. The TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) concentration prepares graduates to teach at both elementary and secondary schools. As a result, MATL TESL students may complete internship placements in either elementary or secondary settings, depending on their placement.

Applicants seeking certification as a generalist Kindergarten and Elementary classroom teacher should apply to the Bachelor of Education.

The Master of Arts Teaching and Learning (MATL) may be the right pathway if you already hold an undergraduate degree and meet the program's admission requirements. In addition to a bachelor's degree, applicants must have sufficient coursework in a teachable discipline, a competitive academic record, and experience working or volunteering with children or youth in formal or informal educational settings. Previous classroom teaching experience is not required.

A teachable discipline is a subject area taught in schools that corresponds to the MATL concentration to which you are applying, such as English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Technology, or Social Sciences. Your undergraduate degree does not necessarily need to have the same name as the MATL concentration; however, your previous university studies must include sufficient coursework relevant to the discipline you intend to teach.

For full details on MATL eligibility requirements, including requirements related to previous degrees and disciplinary background, please review the information on the relevant MATL program overview webpage.

Yes. Graduate Diploma students complete the same academic coursework alongside MATL students. The primary difference is that MATL students also complete two supervised internships with accompanying professional seminars, while Graduate Diploma students apply their learning as in-service teachers.

The programs share the same academic coursework; however, MATL students also complete two supervised internships (with accompanying professional seminars) which total 15 credits. Graduate Diploma students are already experienced teachers and instead integrate their learning into their ongoing professional practice.

Potentially. The Graduate Diploma is intended for experienced teachers who are already employed in schools and have a Letter of Tolerance issued from a School Board or Centre de services scolaires in Quebec. While applicants are expected to have a minimum of five years of teaching experience, admission may be considered in exceptional circumstances where equivalent experience can be demonstrated. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the MATL/Gr.Dip. program team before applying to discuss their individual situation.

Possibly; transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Students whose employment situation changes after beginning the MATL may be considered for a transfer to the Graduate Diploma, if deemed eligible. To qualify, you must meet all admission requirements for the Graduate Diploma, including holding a Letter of Tolerance, having the required professional teaching experience, and securing a teaching contract that remains valid for the duration of the program. Obtaining a teaching contract alone does not automatically allow for a program transfer.

Students should also be aware that switching to the Graduate Diploma will change both what they need to complete in their program and the type of teaching authorization they may receive after graduation. For example, instead of completing the MATL internships and professional seminars, students will complete a professional teaching practice. The change may also affect the type of Quebec teaching authorization they receive and the conditions attached to it.

Current students who find themselves in this situation and are considering this option are encouraged to contact the MATL/Gr.Dip. program team as early as possible to discuss their individual circumstances.