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Educator, Instructor, School Teacher, Teacher, Teacher of Children with Visual Impairment, Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, Teacher of Gifted Children, Teacher of Hospitalized, Homebound or Institutionalized Children
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.
Special needs teachers spend most of their working day providing instruction and handling unexpected as well as routine situations. They work with children who have:
Special needs teachers must understand the unique characteristics of each student and choose or develop appropriate instructional programs and methods. Teaching techniques and methods vary with the particular disability or special talent but, in general, special needs teachers:
Their working environments and responsibilities may vary considerably. For example, special needs teachers may:
Special needs teachers also may work in:
For more information, go to the Inclusive Education page on the Government of Alberta website.
Working with children who have special needs requires considerable physical, mental and emotional stamina. Other working conditions for special needs teachers vary depending on student needs and on the type of facility and its philosophy. For example, some special needs teachers may lift over 20 kilograms when helping children move to and from wheelchairs.
In addition to the qualities required by other teachers, special needs teachers need:
They should enjoy finding different ways to solve questions 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 17 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 18, 2020 and Jul 22, 2021.
Review these skills to learn:
| Teach students using lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips | 16 |
|---|---|
| Prepare subject material for presentation according to an approved curriculum | 16 |
| Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops | 16 |
| Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness | 16 |
| Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials | 16 |
| Prepare, administer and correct tests | 15 |
| Identify childrens' individual learning needs | 15 |
| Assign and correct homework | 15 |
| Develop course content | 13 |
| Personal Suitability: Excellent oral communication | 13 |
Special needs teachers may need specific training and skills for working with children who have particular types of disabilities. For example, teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children must be able to use various sign languages, techniques and aids to communicate with their students.
In Alberta, special needs teachers generally have a bachelor of education (B.Ed.) degree with a specialization related to special education. The minimum qualification is a 4-year B.Ed. degree in elementary education, or a university degree in another area plus a teaching certificate.
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
Special needs teachers are employed in public and private schools and in hospitals and other institutions. With experience and additional training, they may advance to positions in school administration or consulting services.
Special needs 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. However, all teachers are paid according to a grid system based on the number of years of training and experience a teacher has.
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
Inclusion Canada website: inclusioncanada.ca
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada website: www.ldac-acta.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated May 20, 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.