BC Guide for Independent Schools

Teacher Certification

Fee Structure

Changes to eligibility requirements and Ministry of Education processes have resulted in changes to the fee structure for teachers applying for certification through the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools (OIIS).  These changes are effective January 1, 2008.

Current and prospective teachers should be aware of the following:

  • all teachers working in or applying to work in British Columbia’s independent school system must complete and pass a criminal record check (CRC);
  • fees are now required for the following:

    changes to the restrictions of a certificate (i.e. subject, system, and/or school restrictions);

- the issuance of interim certificates, permanent certificates, and replacement certificates (for lost or damaged certificates).

Payment must be made directly to the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools by certified cheque or money order made payable to The Minister of Finance.

Fee Structure

Fees for obtaining a teaching certificate for British Columbia’s independent schools are outlined in the table below.

Certificate Type

Application Processing

CRC

Certificate

Total

New Certificates (Interim) *

Professional Certificate (PC)

$200

$20

$20

$240

System-Restricted (SYR)

$200

$20

$20

$240

Subject-Restricted (SR)

$200

$20

$20

$240

School- and Subject-Restricted (SSR)

$200

$20

$20

$240

Letter of Permission (LOP)

$100

$20

n/a

$120

3-Month Letter of Permission (3LOP)

$100

**

n/a

$100

Existing Certificates
Initial CRC application and new certificate   $20 $20 $40

CRC renewal (every 5 years)

n/a

$20

n/a

$20

Certificate Upgrade ***

$100

n/a

$20

$120

Replacement Certificate

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Certificate Extension *

n/a

n/a

No charge

No charge

Permanent Certificate

n/a

n/a

$20

$20
   

*

New (interim) certificates are valid for four years. If the requirements for permanent certification are not met after four years (refer to the permanent certification eligibility requirements, teachers can apply to have the duration of their interim certificate extended for four additional years.

For more information about certificate extensions, refer to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/independentschools/bc_guide/tc_types.htm#ext

**

The Three-Month Letter of Permission is only issued to applicants who have already applied for a teaching certificate through either the OIIS or BCCT. This prior certificate application includes a criminal record check application. See information about Three-Month Letters of Permissions.

***

Teachers can apply to have restrictions lifted from or amended on their OIIS-issued certificates if they submit new or additional information or training for adjudication by OIIS staff.