The College at a Glance

The majority of College members are classroom teachers, but vice-principals, principals, supervisory officers and directors of education must also be certified teachers to hold the positions they do.

Our Mandate

The College’s mandate is to regulate and govern the teaching profession in Ontario in the best interests of the public. The College sets standards of practice and ethical standards, issues teaching certificates and may suspend or revoke them, accredits teacher education programs and courses, and investigates and hears complaints about individual members. The College is also mandated to communicate with the public on behalf of the profession, which it does primarily through its web site at www.oct.ca and this annual report.

In the Public Interest

The College has a duty to serve and protect the public interest. College policies and initiatives are developed to maintain and improve excellence in teaching. The College is accountable for how it carries out its responsibilities. Standards of practice and ethical standards highlight the public interest. The public can view on the College web site a register of all members of the College that includes their qualifications and credentials. Disciplinary hearings are open to the public and a summary of each hearing and its outcome is published in the College magazine and on our web site.

How We Are Governed

The College is governed by a 37-member Council, 23 of whom are members of the College elected by their peers for three-year terms. Elected members represent the English, French, Catholic, public, elementary and secondary school systems in all regions of the province. The other 14 members of Council are appointed by the provincial government for terms of up to three years. The Council meets four times a year to develop and approve policies and procedures.

Our Members

The majority of College members are classroom teachers, but vice-principals, principals, supervisory officers and directors of education must also be certified teachers to hold the positions they do. Our members work in faculties of education, the Ministry of Education, teachers’ federations, the College, independent schools and many other institutions that provide educational opportunities for teachers and their students in Ontario as well as in other parts of Canada and around the world. The College membership reached 234,416 in 2011.

Our Services

The College offers its members and the public a wide range of resources on teaching and education on its web site, through the Margaret Wilson Library and in our quarterly magazine, Professionally Speaking. Government agencies, consulates, international organizations and advocacy groups, as well as other Canadian provinces, increasingly draw on College expertise on teacher certification, international credentials and assessment, and the status of universities and teacher training around the world.

Our Education Partners

The strength of Ontario’s education system is the breadth and depth of the expertise contributed by individuals and organizations who work together to support student achievement. Parent groups, trustees and government agencies work with teachers and administrators, faculties of education, teachers’ federations and professional associations to articulate problems and develop solutions. Whether developing standards of practice for our members or a response to government policy initiatives, we consult with education partners as an integral part of addressing issues that challenge the teaching profession.