Overview

The College at a Glance


Our Mandate

The College regulates and governs the teaching profession in Ontario in the best interests of the public. It does this by:

  • setting ethical standards and standards of practice
  • issuing teaching certificates, which it may suspend or revoke
  • accrediting teacher education programs and courses
  • investigating and hearing complaints about individual members.

The organization is also mandated to communicate with the public on behalf of the profession. This annual report is one example of that communication. Our website is another.

Two bells sit on a shelf. 

In the Public Interest

The College has a duty to serve and protect the public interest. Our policies and initiatives are developed to maintain and improve excellence in teaching. We are accountable for how we carry out our responsibilities. Ethical standards and standards of practice for the teaching profession highlight the public interest.

In the interest of transparency, the public can view a public register of all Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs) on our website, which includes their qualifications and credentials. Disciplinary hearings are open to the public. A summary of each disciplinary hearing and its outcome is published in the College magazine and on our website.

How We Are Governed

Until the end of 2020, the College was governed by a Council of 37, that met a minimum of four times a year to set direction, recommend regulatory changes, and develop and approve policies and procedures directly related to the objects and mandate of the College.

In 2018, the College commissioned an independent review of its governance, focusing on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of key governance practices and structures. The College then made a set of recommendations to the government and in December, 2020, those changes became law. 

This new legislation evolves the College's governance structure to operate more efficiently and effectively. When the changes to governance are complete, Council will have fewer members, enabling it to be more nimble. It will be made up of an equal number of members of the public and OCTs, balancing the interests of the public and the profession. Committees will be composed of individuals who are not Council members, meaning that overall, a greater number of individuals will be involved in our work. A roster of panellists will also work with committee members on panels for statutory and regulatory committees. This will allow for greater representation and diversity, throughout.

Our Members – Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs)

Who are OCTs? Teachers, consultants, vice-principals, principals, supervisory officers, directors of education and those working in non-school board positions must all be licensed by the College to work in Ontario’s publicly funded schools and school systems. Our members work in faculties of education, the Ministry of Education, teachers’ federations, the College and independent schools. They also work in many other institutions that provide educational opportunities for teachers and their students in Ontario, other parts of Canada and around the world. The College membership reached 232,164 in 2020.

A pair of glasses rest in front of a stack of books on a desk. 

Our Services

We offer OCTs and the public a wide range of resources about teaching and education on our website, through the Margaret Wilson Library and in our quarterly magazine, Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession. Government agencies, consulates, international organizations and advocacy groups, as well as other Canadian provinces, increasingly draw on College expertise about teacher certification, international credentials and assessment, and the status of teacher education. Standard correspondence at the College reflects, wherever possible, gender-neutral language. Providing members with the ability to self-identify supports our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and respect when communicating with applicants, College members and the public within diverse communities.

Our Education Stakeholders

The strength of Ontario’s education system is the breadth and depth of the expertise contributed by individuals and organizations that 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 identify issues and develop solutions. Whether developing standards of practice for OCTs or a response to government policy initiatives, we consult with education stakeholders as an integral part of addressing issues and opportunities facing the teaching profession.