Additional Qualifications

College advisory highlights ongoing learning

The College has issued a professional advisory on the regulated system of courses and programs known as Additional Qualifications (AQs), which is included with this issue of the magazine. The advisory outlines the role AQs play in a teacher’s ongoing professional learning.

“Learning is as much a part of our profession as teaching,” says Registrar Brian McGowan. “This advisory reflects the importance the profession puts on our members maintaining and improving their professional knowledge. Members will find it helpful not only in familiarizing themselves with the AQ system but for long-term planning of their professional learning.”

In conjunction with the publication of Additional Qualifications: Extending Professional Learning, the College has updated its web site with a list of qualifications and the latest course guidelines. The College creates guidelines for course providers to use in designing courses and for members to see course content.

The updates of qualifications won’t affect those who currently have AQs on their certificates, says Margaret Aubé, project leader for the Teachers’ Qualifications Review.

“Members who have an AQ on their certificate will continue to show that they have earned this qualification,” she explains. “If the qualification they earned is a prerequisite to other courses, they are considered to have satisfied that prerequisite.”

A review of the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation completed in 2007 led to the renaming or discontinuation of some AQs and the creation of dozens of new ones that reflect the changing teaching environment.

Aubé says, “These revisions ensure that additional qualification courses reflect the reality of today’s classrooms.”

You can find more information on the new AQs on the web site.

AQs now open to interim certificate holders

All interim certificate holders are now eligible for admission to Additional Basic Qualification and Additional Qualification (ABQ/AQ) courses.

Amendments to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation, passed by Council at its December 2007 meeting, updated the list of those eligible to take AQs. These amendments have now received final government approval.

Previously, some interim certificate holders were not eligible to enrol in ABQ/AQ courses until they had completed conditions on their certificate.

“The Council has made a priority of updating teachers’ qualifications to reflect changes to the education system and the teaching profession,” said Council Chair Don Cattani. “We’re pleased that we’re able to remove barriers to professional learning opportunities for our members.”

College members holding an Interim Certificate of Qualification (Limited) are now eligible to take all ABQ courses, one-session courses and three-session specialist courses.

Holders of a Certificate of Qualification (Restricted) are now eligible to take one-session courses.

Interim certificate holders with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma are eligible to take the Honour Technological Education Specialist.