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Educator, Instructor, Music Teacher, Primary School Teacher, School Teacher, Teacher
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:
| Starting | $35.77 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $44.68 |
| Top | $59.14 |
Interest in leading students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development; in participating in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops; and in preparing examinations
Interests in co-ordinating information to prepare courses for presentation to students according to curriculum, to identify children's individual learning needs and to prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
Interest in instructing students using a systematic plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips; and in assigning and correcting homework and administering and correcting examinations; may supervise teachers' aides and student teachers
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 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.
In general, elementary school teachers:
Elementary classes vary in size and include students who represent a broad range of abilities, interests and needs. A variety of instructional and assessment strategies are required to maintain student interest and maximize individual learning.
In addition, elementary teachers:
Most elementary teachers are responsible for a homeroom class of 20 to 33 children and teach most subjects. Some teachers “team teach” (work as a group of 2 or more teachers to plan and carry out teaching activities) or teach music, second languages or physical education at multiple grade levels.
Elementary teachers who have specialized in early childhood education are prepared to work with children from kindergarten to Grade 3. Early childhood education programs focus on the development of positive self-concepts in young children. These teachers plan, organize and provide a wide variety of developmentally appropriate experiences that foster understanding and use of language through:
Most kindergarten teachers in urban areas teach 2 different groups of children each day: 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. In rural areas, kindergarten teachers often work in half-day or alternate full-day programs.
Many schools in Alberta offer language immersion or bilingual programs in Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish, Ukrainian, Indigenous and other languages. In addition, the number of non-English speaking immigrant children in the province has created a need for English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learners (ELL) teachers. ESL and ELL classes usually are taught by elementary teachers who have completed related university course work.
Teaching is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation that requires a high level of energy. Much of the time, teachers are on their feet interacting with children. Teachers are required to maintain a positive learning environment while addressing the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of students from diverse backgrounds. A teacher’s day, therefore, is busy and requires careful attention to a wide variety of responsibilities concurrently.
Elementary school teachers need:
They should enjoy finding different ways to solve problems and present information, and organizing and coordinating the work of others.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 13 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 18, 2020 and May 31, 2021.
Review these skills to learn:
| Teach students using lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips | 13 |
|---|---|
| Prepare subject material for presentation according to an approved curriculum | 13 |
| Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops | 13 |
| Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness | 13 |
| Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials | 13 |
| Prepare, administer and correct tests | 12 |
| Identify childrens' individual learning needs | 12 |
| Assign and correct homework | 12 |
| Personal Suitability: Excellent oral communication | 11 |
| Develop course content | 10 |
In Alberta, the minimum qualification required to teach in an elementary school is 4 years of post-secondary education leading to a bachelor of education (B.Ed.) degree.
Competition for admission to programs often is keen. Post-secondary schools may give preference to applicants who have experience working with children in a leadership capacity. Valuable experience can be obtained from:
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
In Alberta, teachers in the K to 12 system work at the elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 6), junior high (Grades 7 to 9), or high school (Grades 10 to 12) levels. Elementary and junior high teachers are typically generalists. However, it is preferred that high school teachers have subject area expertise.
Under Alberta’s Education Act [pdf] and Certification of Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation [pdf], school teachers must be certificated by the Government of Alberta.
Minimum requirements for an interim professional certificate are:
Requirements for a permanent professional certificate are:
For detailed official information including coursework requirements for teachers in the K to 12 system, visit the Government of Alberta website.
Individuals who hold a valid teaching certificate from another Canadian jurisdiction are eligible for certification in Alberta without additional training or examination. Evidence of language proficiency may be required. For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory in Canada? and the Government of Alberta website.
The Registrar at Alberta Education
Government of Alberta
2nd Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard Building
10044 – 108 St
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6
Phone: 780-427-2045
Toll-free within Alberta: 310-0000, then 780-427-2045
Fax: 780-422-4199
Email: teacher.certification@gov.ab.ca
Website: www.alberta.ca/teacher-certification.aspx
Elementary teachers are employed in:
To find employment, new graduates may relocate to rural or isolated communities or work as supply (substitute) teachers.
With experience and additional training, elementary school teachers may advance to positions such as:
Elementary school teachers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 4032: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers. In Alberta, 99% of people employed in this classification work in the Educational Services [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 4032: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 754 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years. The Alberta Teachers’ Association estimates that about 900 teaching positions will become vacant each year due to retirement.
Salaries vary from one school board to another because wages and benefits are determined by collective agreements between boards and their teachers. Teachers are paid according to a grid system based on the number of years of training and experience. Administrators such as school principals receive an additional allowance.
All teachers employed in Alberta’s publicly supported schools are members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and are automatically included under the Alberta Teachers Pension Plans Act [pdf]. Holidays and pensions are specified by provincial legislation. However, teachers often use the spring, summer or Christmas break periods for professional development or for fulfilling additional professional responsibilities.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $18.71 | $49.21 | $35.77 | $34.10 |
| Overall | $35.29 | $53.89 | $44.68 | $44.78 |
| Top | $35.29 | $84.44 | $59.14 | $55.55 |
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.
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.
| Educational Services | $78,158 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $77,661 |
Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) website: www.teachers.ab.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated May 18, 2021. 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.