Could you be missing out on salary?
The Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) has made some changes in its policies. Please read carefully the information below to make sure you don’t miss out on salary.
1. Master’s or doctorate Degree Changes
Who Should Apply?
1. If you are in category five plus (5+) and hold a master’s or doctorate degree that meets the requirements below, apply for an upgrade.
2. If you hold an acceptable master’s or doctorate degree with less than 30 semester credits and have not yet topped up that degree and received an upgrade, apply for an upgrade.
Please Note: If you are currently in category six (6), these changes do not affect you. Please do not request an upgrade or director’s review. Category six (6) is the highest provincial category in British Columbia.
Summary of graduate degree requirements:
A. The degree must be relevant to the BC public K-12 system.
B. A master’s degree or doctorate recognized by the TQS must be awarded.
C. The master’s or doctorate must be awarded by a school that holds accreditation acceptable to the TQS.
What Changed?
· Credit Count – an acceptable graduate degree no longer requires a minimum of 30 semester credits.
· Initial Teacher Education Program – The TQS now accepts graduate degrees that contain an initial teacher education program.
· Capstone – A capstone is no longer required within an acceptable graduate degree. Please see the new Policy 5 & Regulation 2.01- Category 6 (f) on the TQS website for further details.
· If you are in category five (5) and hold a master’s or doctorate degree that contains a teacher education program, you no longer need to complete another master’s or doctorate degree to qualify for category six (6). Now, you will need to complete an Integrated Program to qualify for category six (6).
2. Integrated Program Changes
Who Should Apply?
If you are in category five (5) or lower and have completed course work that meets the new requirements of an Integrated Program (see below) but have not yet used that course work for your current category placement, please apply for an upgrade. Please Note: If you are currently in category five plus (5+) or six (6), these changes do not affect you.
The basic requirements of an Integrated Program are:
· thirty semester credits
· twenty semester credits related to education or educational practice in the BC K-12 system
· third year university level or higher
· from an accredited degree granting institute acceptable to the TQS
Twenty credits must be relevant to the BC public K-12 system while up to ten credits may be electives. Courses should be approved by the TQS. You can either design a program yourself by choosing courses that meet the requirements above or you could complete an appropriate post graduate certificate, diploma or degree that fulfils the Integrated Program requirements. There are only two specific instances where junior level course work is allowed in an Integrated Program. The first is in the context of a completed diploma program awarded by a university. The second is where the junior level course work is a verifiable pre-requisite to course work that is directly relevant to the BC public K-12 system.
TQS Policy 4.14 states that verifiable pre-requisites totaling not more than six semester credits may be accepted at less than senior level provided they are relevant to the BC public K-12 system.
Please see TQS Regulation 4.05 & Policy 4.1 on the TQS website for complete details.
What Changed?
· Time Restrictions – There are no longer any time restrictions on course work in an Integrated Program (previously ten years).
· Relevancy – Twenty semester credits in the Integrated Program must be relevant to the BC public K-12 system; however, they need not be in a specific theme of study. Previously twenty credits needed to be in a specific theme.
3. Second Teacher Education Programs and Familiarization Programs
Who Should Apply?
1. If you are in category five (5) or lower and have completed a second teacher education program for which you have not been granted TQS category credit, please apply for an upgrade.
2. If you are in category five (5) or lower and have completed a familiarization program for which you have not been granted TQS category credit, please apply for an upgrade.
Please Note: If you are currently in category five plus (5+) or six (6), these changes do not affect you.
What Changed?
· Second Teacher Education Programs – The TQS now accepts second teacher education programs that meet our program requirements for category purposes.
· Familiarization Programs – The TQS now accepts familiarization programs and course work for familiarization that meet our program requirements for category purposes.
Definitions:
· A second teacher education program is one taken after an initial program that resulted in teacher certification for the public school system. The second teacher education program must also be eligible for teacher certification in the public school system. Previously, the TQS accepted only a single instance of a teacher education program designed for initial licensure for category placement.
· A familiarization program or course work is that which is required by the Teacher Regulation Branch, formerly BC College of Teachers, prior to certification or recertification for those who already hold a teacher education program. The TQS will also consider familiarization course work and programming taken on independently from any certification requirement.
Both second teacher education programs and familiarization programs must meet the program requirements outlined in TQS policy and regulation in order to be considered.
ATTENTION! Please, read carefully the information below.
If you require clarification as to how these changes might affect your upgrading requirements or current category placement, please request a Director’s review of your file.
To request a Director’s Review: Submit your request through the “Contact Us” page on the TQS website. You must provide verification of current employment in the BC public school system (most applicants photocopy a pay stub) in order to receive a Director’s review.
To apply for an upgrade: Complete the Upgrade Application form on the TQS website. Indicate that you are applying for an upgrade based on the policy and regulation changes. You must provide verification of current employment in the BC public school system (most applicants photocopy a pay stub). Please indicate if the official transcripts are already on file or if they are being forwarded by mail.
PLEASE NOTE: No reviews or upgrades will be processed automatically. You must apply to the TQS in order to receive a review or upgrade.