About Us
The BC College of Teachers is a statutory body. Its mandate is to regulate the education
profession in the public interest. It is empowered through legislation to ensure
that educators who work with students in BC classrooms are competent and suitable
for the important role they play in society.
In no other profession do professionals spend as much time with their clients as
do educators. Parents entrust their children to the care of educators for seven
hours a day, five days a week, forty weeks a year, for thirteen years. This intense
interaction has an immense impact on children's intellectual, emotional and physical
development. The College works to ensure that professional educators are well-educated
and prepared for their important work with children and their shared responsibility
with parents to raise strong, healthy and informed citizens.
The College was created in 1987 under the
Teaching Profession Act to establish and promote
Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct
of its members. The College
- assesses applicants for admission to the College
- issues certificates of qualification
- conducts reviews of certificate holders
- suspends or cancels certificates when necessary
The College is governed by a 20-member Council
and administered under the direction of the Registrar.
The
members of the College include teachers, vice-principals, principals, directors
and superintendents in the public, independent and First Nations school systems
in BC.