All teachers currently holding an Interim Certificate of Qualification (ICQ) or an Interim Certificate of Qualification (Limited) face a firm deadline with regard to the Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test if they wish to maintain their certification for the upcoming school year. "Teachers who hold ICQs need to know that they must pass the qualifying test within a year of the date the ICQ was issued by the College," said College Registrar Doug Wilson. "We inform ICQ holders in writing at the time the certificates are issued. The test requirement is noted on the certificate itself, but we remain concerned that some have not yet fulfilled the requirement and will not be able to return to the classroom in September." Regulation 100/02 under the Education Act states that applicants to the College may be granted an ICQ or an ICQ (Limited) and that the College must cancel the certificate of those who have not passed the qualifying test within the year. The qualifying test is administered by a consortium of the Education Testing Service (ETS), based in New Jersey, and the Ontario Principals Council. The test is offered only a limited number of times per year. It was offered twice in April and in November in 2002 and three tests were scheduled for 2003.
More than 200 Affected A significant number of ICQs issued to members since March 2002 expired this spring. For more than 200 individuals who were required to pass the test this year, the College has yet to receive any indication that these ICQ holders have even written it. The College is holding off on the cancellation of these certificates until the results of the April qualifying test have been forwarded from ETS. "We want to minimize disruption and avoid the unnecessary removal of any teacher from the classroom in the final weeks of the school year," said Wilson. "Not only is it mandatory that the test be passed in the first year, but there is also a very special situation in schools with the double cohort and we need to avoid any disruption that could affect students. "We are concerned that members who did not pass or register on time for the April qualifying test will run into difficulty They can write it on July 12th but must register by May 30th. The next test isnt until November 22nd." said Wilson. "It now seems that some teachers who were in the classroom this year may not be able to return in September, which will only exacerbate the teacher shortage leading to more unqualified teachers in classrooms throughout the province. Notification of ICQ Holders In addition to the notification with the issuance of the certificate, the College notifies concerned ICQ holders at least two months before the termination of their twelve-month certification. This second notice is sent to ICQ holders who have not met the requirement, effectively warning them of the impending cancellation of their certificate. |
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