The College investigates and considers complaints about members that relate to alleged professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. If the Investigation Committee concludes that a complaint does not relate to one of those three matters or is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process, it does not proceed with the complaint.
Approximately four out of five complaints are not referred to the Discipline Committee but are dismissed or resolved by other means. Examples of cases considered by the Investigation Committee and not referred to a hearing are provided here.
Teachers' qualifications
Changes for teaching
Deaf and hard of hearing
Teachers must hold a Deaf qualification to teach students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. A more extensive program is replacing the old qualification.
Old qualification
The Deaf qualification, which was offered previously as a three-session program, has continued in place during a transition period. On August 31, 2012, Part I, Part II and Specialist qualifications will no longer exist.
New qualification
Since August 31, 2008, the Qualification for Teaching Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing has replaced the previous qualification program. The new program is equivalent to two academic semesters and consists of three components: a core component (80 per cent), either an ASL/LSQ or aural/oral component (20 per cent) and a 400-hour practicum.
For further information visit www.oct.ca ➔ Additional Qualifications
Prerequisite amendments for principals and technology specialists
Amendments to the Teachers' Qualifications Regulation clarified the prerequisites for College members who want to take the Honour Specialist in Technological Education or the Part 1 Principal's Qualification Additional Qualification courses.
The Honour Specialist in Technological Education has three different prerequisite pathways:
- three technological education subjects listed in Schedule B, including one subject for both Grades 9 and 10 and Grades 11 and 12 to a total of four entries (for example, Communications Technology for Grades 9 and 10, Hospitality Services for Grades 9 and 10, Technological Design for Grades 9 and 10 and Grades 11 and 12)
- four technological education subjects listed in Schedule B for Grades 9 and 10 and an entry indicating the specialist qualification in one of the subjects in Schedule D
- two technological education subjects listed in Schedule B for Grades 9 and 10 and the same two subjects for Grades 11 and 12.
Members pursuing the Part 1 Principal's Qualification must have completed the required graduate postsecondary credits in addition to credits required for initial certification.
