Additional Qualifications (AQ)
Ongoing learning is an integral part of the teaching profession. Not only do students learn more effectively, but educators also report greater job satisfaction when they have more opportunities for professional development.
Taking the initiative to pursue Additional Qualifications (AQ) can help you reach your career goals as an Ontario Teacher, as well as create a culture of learning that supports fellow educators. Find out more about how our course offerings can benefit you, your students and your school community.
Have Questions About a Program? Speak to One of Our Team Today
T: 416-978-2474
E: oise.cpl@utoronto.ca
Why choose our programs?
With over 100 AQ courses to choose from in nine different divisions and more than 30 subject areas, we are one of Ontario’s largest providers of professional development for teachers.
What you’ll learn
Our Additional Qualifications courses, approved by the Ontario College of Teachers, are informed by evidence-based practices that have made Canada a world leader in teaching and learning.
Many of our AQ courses allow you to work up to a Specialist or Honours Specialist designation, developing your capacity for curriculum leadership. Aspiring school principals can also learn to manage and plan programming efficiently in increasingly complex environments.
Who Would Benefit From This Program
Educators registered with the Ontario College of Teachers interested in enhancing their knowledge and classroom skills or preparing for a career change.
Most Commonly Related Occupations
Ontario Certified Teacher Candidates
Ontario Certified Teachers
Aspiring Principals
Popular Related FAQs
Additional Qualifications can often be a catch all term for courses accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers. However, you will notice that your Certificate of Qualification does separate your qualifications between “Basic Qualifications” and “Additional Qualifications”. Basic Qualifications extend your eligibility to teach in a given division; Primary (K- Grade 3), Junior (Grade 4-6), Intermediate (Grade 7-10) and Senior (Grade 11-12). Additional Qualifications enhance your teaching divisions by deepening your skills in a specific subject area or specialization.
You may qualify for a Combined Honour Specialist. For a combined Honour Specialist, we are looking for proof of successful completion of 14.0 university degree credits or the equivalent in the 2 subjects in which the combined Honour Specialist qualification is being sought, including no fewer than 6.0 university degree credits or the equivalent in each subject. Each subject area must have an overall average of at least a “B” or “70%”. Both of the Honour Specialist courses in the combination must be successfully completed before the qualification will be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers to be added to the Certificate of Qualification.
The One-Session Additional Qualifications are complimentary education courses. Since this course is a condition of your certification, the Ontario College of Teachers will not display it on your Certificate of Qualification, but you will have access to a record of learning showing completion of the course from OISE Continuing and Professional Learning.
An important component of the Principal Qualifcation Program is the proposal and development of your Leadership Practicum. In PQP Part 1, you are expected to submit a practicum proposal within 1 month from the end of the course. This practicum must be approved before you can take PQP Part 2. In PQP Part 2, you are expected to completed your practicum within 1 year from the end of the course. While exceptions can be made, most learners find it efficient to plan to take the PQP Part 1 and PQP Part 2 within a year, in order to ensure that their practicum proposal continues to be relevant and accomplishable.
The Math Proficiency Test has a practice test and answer key, which offers an excellent way to prepare for the test that covers Ontario Curriculum from Grades 7 – 10. The French Proficiency Test does not have a practice test. To prepare for the test, we encourage you to immerse yourself as much as possible in the language (listening to the radio, reading books, watching videos) and review important aspects of the language (tense system, idiomatic expressions).
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