• Overview
• Certificates Issued
• BC Graduates
  • Application Information
  • Fee Information
  • Leaving BC?
• Canadian Graduates
  • Application Information
  • Fee Information
  • Language Proficiency
  • Labour Mobility
• International Graduates
  • Application Process
  • Country-Specific Information
  • Fee Information
  • Language Proficiency
  • Translation Policy
  • PQP Graduates
• First Nations Language
  • Application Package
• Independent School Certificate
  • Application Package
  • Fee Information
  • Language Proficiency
  • Translation Policy
• Letters of Permission
• BC Offshore Schools
• Previously Certified Teachers
• Applicants Area

Applying for a Letter of Permission

A letter of permission may be issued to a suitable person who is not a certificate holder and whose services the Director of Certification considers are required for a specified period of time. The maximum validity period for a letter of permission is one school year. To apply for a letter of permission, you must be recommended by a Superintendent of Schools or an Independent School Authority who wishes to employ you for a specific position.

It is important that your prospective employer review the following information before recommending you for a letter of permission.

The employer must include with the application all postings as evidence that there has been an extensive search for a qualified individual. Letters of permission are appropriate only where a qualified certified candidate cannot be found. The position posting should be advertised for a minimum of two weeks. Placing an uncertified person in a teaching position should be considered a temporary placement and not a long-term solution. Employers must make every effort to seek a certified teacher to fill the position.

In cases where a secondary school position involves teaching in more than one subject area, the employer should post the subject assignments separately. This provides greater access to certificate holders. Separate postings for each subject may result in finding a qualified teacher for at least a portion of the position, thus requiring a letter of permission for a smaller assignment.

In cases where a certified teacher has applied for the position, the employer must provide to the Teacher Regulation Branch a comprehensive rationale for not assigning the teacher to the position.

Employers should keep in mind that they may only employ teachers who hold a valid Ministry of Education teaching certificate or Letter of Permission. Employers should further note that employment of an uncertified person for more than 20 days would be in contravention of Section 19 of the School Act or section 3 and 6 of the Schedule of the Independent School Act. These sections state that a board or authority may employ an uncertified person for 20 or fewer days where a certified teacher cannot be found.

More details are in the Application Package for Letter of Permission. The package includes a checklist of the necessary documents as well as the form the school district must submit.