Hi all

Just wanted some advice on getting a job in Halifax.

We are hoping to move here next Spring with our young family. Myself and my husband are currently looking for jobs-the only problem is that I am a qualified primary school teacher here but the Halifax Education Board do not recognise my qualification-I don't really want to go back to uni for another 3/4 years. My husband has his own mortgage broker business and has as MBA. He is not sure what he wants to do or what the market is like.

I am looking in to updating my computer skills in the hope that this would at least get me some kind of job.

Any advice on finding jobs would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone found it difficult to get a job there?

Many thanks

did they not recognise your quals as you haven't done a 4 year B.Ed or is there some other reason?! We are currently looking into emigrating and teaching also, and NS is a consideration, however g/f has 4 year B.Ed so i would hope they would recognise it

Hi Kancell

I did a three year Bachelor degree and then obtained QTS throught the GTP (Graduate training programme). I contacted Halifax Board of Ed and they said that you need a NS Teaching licence to teach there, which as I understood it, involved going back to uni regardeless of whether you had a P.G.C.E. or Bach ed. In my case, because I gained my qualification through GTP, I would have to go back to uni for four or five years!!!!I don't think it would be as long for your partner. Best to check it out though ...

Good luck

Suggest you read the Wiki article on Teaching. Recognising your quals is only half the battle. Getting a job is the rest. There is no shortage of Teachers (generally) in Canada.

I have to agree with you on this, I know many qualified teachers here that cannot get work, they get the occassional cover day etc but getting a full time position is pretty much unheard of recently. They are talking of closing some schools also so the problem will only get worse.

I deal with the NSTU and the HRSB a great deal and their biggest complaint is always about available positions. The Unions just do not allow outsiders in.

In order to get a NS teacher's license you need to go to the Nova Scotia Department of Education website

http://certification.ednet.ns.ca/

and follow the steps for applying for a license. Basically, you need to send in your transcripts from both your undergraduate and graduate training programs. They will look at your courses and determine what courses you are missing. If you are only missing 1 or 2 undergraduate courses (not those for the bachelor of education) then they will issue with a Bridging Teacher's license and you will have 5 years to take the additional courses. Though, the BTC gets paid less, so the earlier you do the courses the better. Both of the major universities offer summer classes that are only 3 weeks in duration, and some online classes, so you could probably fill in your missing classes that way. So just send in your things, it takes about 6 weeks to be issued a license.

When you get to Halifax, register yourself on the substitute list. At first you will only get substitute positions, but these often lead into full-time positions rather quickly--especially if you have previous experience. I know it s probably frustrating coming from somewhere where you can teach, but getting a job in Halifax takes a little bit of effort, but it's not difficult. Do you speak french fluently? The HRSB is always looking for french immersion teachers.

Hope this helps.