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Career and Technical Education Teacher, Educator, Instructor, Music Teacher, Teacher, Technical Instructor, Vocational College Instructor
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
College, technical, and vocational instructors teach adult students of all ages and academic backgrounds. Some students may have very little formal education. Others may be experienced individuals who want vocational upgrading or retraining.
Duties vary depending on the type and size of the post-secondary school, the subject area, and the level of instruction. In general, however, instructors:
Instructors also must keep abreast of developments and changes in their fields. To do this they maintain contact with industrial or business sectors. Attending workshops, seminars, and refresher courses is part of the job.
Some instructors have assistants who help prepare materials, set up laboratory and audiovisual equipment, gather research data, mark assignments and exams, and perform other non-instructional duties.
College instructors may teach a broad range of courses, from academic upgrade courses to applied degree programs. They may teach in fields such as:
Instructional responsibilities and required qualifications vary with different programs. Instructors who teach university transfer programs may have responsibilities similar to lecturers who teach undergraduate programs at universities. Career certificate programs often are taught by instructors with industry experience in specific fields.
Technical institute instructors provide technically oriented instruction to adult students. Studies may relate to:
Technical schools provide technical in-school training for over 90% of Alberta’s apprentices. They also provide academic upgrading for students wishing to fulfil entrance requirements for further technical studies.
Vocational college instructors provide instruction in programs such as:
These programs provide unemployed or under-employed adults with academic and employment skills they need to enter or re-enter the work force. Instructors may teach students who:
Most college, technical, and vocational instructors work in the classroom, office, or laboratory. While facilities generally are well equipped, equipment and IT support may be limited in some institutions. Enrollments are limited in size.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in co-ordinating information to develop curricula and prepare teaching materials, course outlines and examinations
Interest in administering and marking tests and papers to evaluate students' progress and in supervising independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work or hands-on training; may serve on committees concerned with matters such as budgets, curriculum revision, and course and diploma requirements
Interest in instructing students, providing individualized tutoring and advising on program curriculum and career decisions
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
College, technical, and vocational instructors need:
They should enjoy co-ordinating information in innovative ways to prepare teaching materials, provide supervision, and evaluate student progress. They should be keen to help others achieve their goals.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 147 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Mar 04, 2023 and Dec 27, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Prepare teaching materials and outlines for courses | 87 |
|---|---|
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 87 |
| Tasks: Deliver lectures and presentations | 83 |
| Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills | 80 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 80 |
| Construction Specialization: Reliability | 77 |
| Construction Specialization: Flexibility | 75 |
| Tasks: Prepare reports | 73 |
| Tasks: Prepare, administer and mark tests and papers to evaluate students' progress | 72 |
| Construction Specialization: Client focus | 70 |
Most college, technical, and vocational instructors have related post-secondary education. Specific educational requirements vary depending on the position. College instructors usually have graduate degrees (master’s or PhD).
Instructors who teach academic upgrading usually have at least a bachelor’s degree. In some post-secondary institutions, they need a master’s degree. An Alberta teaching certificate or a certificate, diploma, or degree in adult education are definite assets.
Instructors of technical, trade, or vocational programs should be experts in their fields. Instructors in technical schools normally hold professional or technical certification. They may need to have a licence for their field of expertise.
Most instructors have extensive work experience as well as a formal education. They should be familiar with web-based instruction and research, as these are becoming increasingly important.
Employers usually provide staff development programs for instructors who do not have formal teacher training. These programs focus on instructional methods and teacher-student relations.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
College, technical, and vocational instructors work for:
In all adult learning facilities, instructors with experience may advance to become department or program heads. In these positions, they will have increased supervisory and administrative duties. However, there are many fewer administrative positions than classroom teaching positions.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
College and other vocational instructors
2016 NOC: 4021
77.0% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Salaries for instructors usually are based on a grid system. It accounts for their years of related training and experience in the field. Positions are about equally divided between contract positions and sessional or permanent positions that offer benefits.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.00 | $40.14 | $28.81 | $28.70 |
| Overall | $23.94 | $55.87 | $43.55 | $46.58 |
| Top | $26.19 | $100.00 | $54.33 | $50.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $77,676 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | $92,762 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $98,158 |
| Educational Services | $78,634 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $65,561 |
| Public Administration | $89,246 |
Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
