From Wiki

• Gaining entry to Canada as a teacher and then finding a permanent, fulltime job as a teacher once you're in Canada are time consuming processes.

• Canada has no shortage of teachers. There are even Canadian teachers who are on waiting lists for permanent, fulltime jobs.

• Consequently a teaching job will not enable you to get into Canada by one of the quicker immigration routes.

• If you are a teacher, you probably have a university degree. Because of that, you most likely will earn enough points to apply for permanent residence via the skilled worker route. However, be aware that skilled worker applications currently are taking about five years to be processed.

• Once you are admitted to Canada as a permanent resident, you need to apply to the teachers' association of your province for accreditation:
  • Alberta Teachers' Association
  • British Columbia College of Teachers
  • Ontario College of Teachers
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers association

... and so on ... This list will be completed later ... In the meantime, do a Google search for TEACHER + NAME OF DESTINATION PROVINCE.

• Once you're accredited as a teacher, you can expect it to take up to three years to get a permanent, fulltime position at a school that is conveniently located with respect to your home. Your progression might look something like this:
  • First Year - Get sporadic, short-term assignments as a substitute teacher.
  • Second Year - Get a longer-term temporary assignment, e.g., if a permanent teacher is on maternity leave.
  • Third Year - Get a permanent, fulltime position, but one that may be located at a distant school.
  • Fourth Year - Get a permanent, fulltime position at a nearby school.

• There are some instances in which you may be able to speed up this process slightly. For example, you might be able to speed it up if you're willing to move to a remote community. Some subjects, like high school science or French, may be in slightly more demand in some locations.

• You might be able to speed up the process by applying for a job at a private school. Note, however, that private schools constitute a smaller percentage of the total number of schools than is the case in the UK.

• In general, breaking into the teaching profession in Canada if you are an expat is going to require a source of money that can sustain you for at least a couple of years. Either you need to arrive with enough savings to accomplish this, or you need a partner who can support you in the interim. Otherwise it's a non starter.

• Update: On July 1st, 2008, the Daily Mail ran an article entitled Fed up Brits should come to Canada, says Minister sent to lure workers to emigrate.
  • The article stated, "The Canadians want GPs, teachers, nurses, electricians, carpenters, engineers, construction workers, management consultants, and cardiac and diabetic specialists."
  • The article was correct about nurses, electricians, carpenters, engineers and constructions workers.
  • It was dead wrong about teachers.
  • Since the publication of that article, we have had several new forum members popping in and asking questions about teaching in Canada in general or in Alberta in particular (since the Daily Mail specifically highlighted labour shortages in that province).
  • We are sorry to say that the Daily Mail was in error when it created the impression that teachers could have their applications fast tracked if they headed to Alberta.