OCELT & ICTEAL Certification

OCELT certification recognizes that a certificate holder has the knowledge and skills required for teaching English to adult learners in all publicly funded and private programs in Ontario, other Canadian provinces and territories, and abroad. ICTEAL certification recognizes that a certificate holder has the knowledge and skills required for teaching English as an Additional Language in international settings. OCELT and ICTEAL are officially registered professional designations and certificate trademarks.

Application Requirements for OCELT/ICTEAL Path 1

Standard Membership

Applicants are required to hold valid TESL Ontario standard membership prior to submitting their OCELT & ICTEAL certification application. If you are not a standard member yet or your standard membership has expired, please go to https://applications.teslontario.org/, and click on “JOIN” or “RENEW”, as appropriate.

University Degree

Applicants are required to hold a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree, or a PhD from an accredited institution located in Canada, OR a degree deemed equivalent by a member agency of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC), such as

World Education Services (WES), Ontario
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), Ontario
Comparative Education Service (CES), Ontario

Required proof: university degree or official transcript from Canada OR equivalency report if earned outside Canada

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

ELP must be demonstrated in one of three ways:

Holding one or more degrees (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD) that meet the following criteria:
- Completed degree program/s comprised at least three years of full-time in-person education or an equivalent of that in part-time mode.
- Degree program/s were completed in one or more English-speaking countries:
  Canada, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cameroon, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nigeria, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States, Uganda, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Language of instruction was English.
Online courses and research-based courses do not count as in-person instruction. Also, completion of non-degree programs, i.e., one or more certificate or diploma programs, does not count as proof of ELP.
Minimum acceptable scores/bands from a TESL Ontario recognized ELP test taken within three years of the TESL Ontario Certification application date:
- Michigan English Test (MET): Listening 64 , Reading: 64 , Speaking: 64 , Writing: 64
- IELTS-Academic Test: Listening: 7 Reading: 7 Writing: 7 Speaking: 7
- CAEL-At a Test Centre: Listening: 70 Reading: 70 Writing: 70 Speaking: 70
- CAEL Online: Listening: 70 Reading: 70 Writing: 70 Speaking: 70
- TOEFL iBT: Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Writing: 27 Speaking: 26
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Writing: 27 Speaking: 26
- Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE): Level: C2
TESL Ontario accepts a combination of two test reports (for the same ELP test taken twice or for two different ELP tests) indicating that all required scores/bands have been obtained. Test reports older than three years are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Evidence of grades 6-12 completed with English as the language of instruction in one of the countries listed in paragraph a.
Required proof:
- For ELP option (a): official transcript/s
- For ELP option (b): language proficiency test report/s
- For ELP option (c): report cards or confirmation letter from school board

Education in TESL

Applicants are required to complete a TESL Ontario accredited TESL training program consisting of at least 250 hours of instruction in TESL theory and methodology, at least 30 hours of observation, and at least 20 hours of supervised practice teaching.

Required proof: TESL certificate or official transcript from a TESL Ontario accredited TESL training program

Proof of Name Change

Proof of name change (e.g., marriage certificate, Legal Name Change document) in English or a certified translation is required only if any of your documents is under a different name than the one you are applying under.

How to Apply

To apply for OCELT & ICTEAL Certification through Path 1, fill out Form A-1: OCELT & ICTEAL Certification Application and upload your documents at https://applications.teslontario.org/

All required supporting documents must be in English. Official English translations are required for documents that are not in English.

Fees:
Non-refundable, one-time Administration fee: $125.00 + HST ($141.25)
Pro-rated certification fee: a maximum of $84.00 + HST ($94.92)

If application is NOT approved, certification fee will be refunded to the applicant.

Certification Application Path 2: CCPLAR (Competency-and-Credit Based Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) has two streams (Steam A and Stream B) and consists of two stages.

Application Requirements for OCELT/ICTEAL
Path 2 – Stage 1 of CCPLAR

Standard Membership

Applicants are required to hold valid TESL Ontario standard membership prior to submitting their CCPLAR application to obtain OCELT & ICTEAL certification. If you are not a standard member yet or your standard membership has expired, please go to https://applications.teslontario.org/, and click on “JOIN” or “RENEW”, as appropriate.

University Degree

World Education Services (WES), Ontario
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), Ontario
Comparative Education Service (CES), Ontario

Required proof: university degree or official transcript from Canada OR equivalency report if earned outside Canada

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

ELP must be demonstrated in one of three ways:

Holding one or more degrees (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD) that meet the following criteria:
- Completed degree program/s comprised at least three years of full-time in-person education or an equivalent of that in part-time mode.
- Degree program/s were completed in one or more English-speaking countries:
  Canada, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cameroon, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nigeria, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States, Uganda, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Language of instruction was English.
Online courses and research-based courses do not count as in-person instruction. Also, completion of non-degree programs, i.e., one or more certificate or diploma programs, does not count as proof of ELP.
Minimum acceptable scores/bands from a TESL Ontario recognized ELP test taken within three years of the TESL Ontario Certification application date:
- Michigan English Test (MET): Listening 64 , Reading: 64 , Speaking: 64 , Writing: 64
- IELTS-Academic Test: Listening: 7 Reading: 7 Writing: 7 Speaking: 7
- CAEL-At a Test Centre: Listening: 70 Reading: 70 Writing: 70 Speaking: 70
- CAEL Online: Listening: 70 Reading: 70 Writing: 70 Speaking: 70
- TOEFL iBT: Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Writing: 27 Speaking: 26
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Writing: 27 Speaking: 26
- Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE): Level: C2
TESL Ontario accepts a combination of two test reports (for the same ELP test taken twice or for two different ELP tests) indicating that all required scores/bands have been obtained. Test reports older than three years are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Evidence of grades 6-12 completed with English as the language of instruction in one of the countries listed in paragraph a.
Required proof:
- For ELP option (a): official transcript/s
- For ELP option (b): language proficiency test report/s
- For ELP option (c): report cards or confirmation letter from school board

TESL-related Education OR Qualifying Experience

CCPLAR Stream A: TESL-related diploma or degree

University bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in teaching English as a second/foreign language or applied linguistics.
two-year college diploma in teaching English as a second/foreign language
or a Cambridge DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
or Trinity College DipTESOL (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) professional diploma

CCPLAR Stream B: Adult English language teaching experience

At least 2,000 hours of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to adults. Up to 250 hours of volunteer experience may be counted towards teaching hours as long as the volunteer experience was obtained in Canada and meets the definition of adult English language teaching.
Has occurred within 5 years of the application date, with at least 500 hours within the last 3 years
Is verified by employer letters

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) training

CLB Bootcamp certificate from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB). The CLB Bootcamp is a 10-hour self-directed online course that is available free of charge.

How to self-enroll in CLB Bootcamp and the Introduction to PBLA for New Classroom Instructors
(Self-directed course)

Portfolio-based Language Assessment (PBLA) training

Introduction to PBLA for New Classroom Instructors (Self-directed Course) certificate from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB). The PBLA training is an 18- to 20-hour self-directed online course that is available free of change.

How to self-enroll in CLB Bootcamp and the Introduction to PBLA for New Classroom Instructors
(Self-directed course)

Proof of Name Change

How to Apply

The application process has two application stages.

In Application Stage I, candidates choose Stream A or Stream B as applicable, and apply to confirm their eligibility for CCPLAR. Please refer to the CCPLAR Candidate Handbook

In Application Stage II, eligible Stream A candidates meet competency requirements in Canadian Adult ESL Contexts by doing a 50 -hour practicum course, or by providing evidence of 250 hours of adult ESL teaching experience in Canada, or by participating in a challenge interview session.
Eligible Stream B candidates meet the competency requirements in one to four areas:

Canadian Adult ESL Contexts
Educational Technology
Adult Second Language Acquisition Theory
Culture and Diversity.

Required competencies can be met through completing additional TESL training, doing a practicum course, providing evidence of teaching experience, and/or participating in one to four structured interviews.

All required supporting documents must be in English. Official English translations are required for documents that are not in English.

To apply for OCELT & ICTEAL Certification through Path 2 (CCPLAR), fill out Form A-2.1: CCPLAR Application and upload your documents at https://applications.teslontario.org/

Fee:
Non-refundable Administration fee: $350.00 + HST ($395.50)

Accredited TESL Training Programs

Signing up for CLB & PBLA

OCELT/ICTEAL Certification Renewal

Professional Development Requirement

OCELT/ICTEAL Certification holders are required to complete 10 hours of PD activities each year by their annual renewal due date and keep the proof on file. Documents such as PD certificates, PD event registration slips, course transcripts, PD confirmation letters (on letterhead and signed), and PD confirmation emails are recognized as proof of PD.
Additional PD hours completed in any given certification year cannot be carried over to the following certification year. PD hours completed during the renewal month can be considered for either the current certification year or the new one.

PD Recognition Standard

To be recognized as PD, an activity must meet the following criteria:

It increases participants’ knowledge of theories, methods, or techniques of teaching English as a second/foreign language to adult learners or their knowledge of a subject closely related to teaching adult ESL/EFL such as principles of adult learning, classroom management, diversity training, culture, multiculturalism, assessment, and technology in the classroom.
It augments participants’ teaching adult ESL/EFL skills and classroom performance.
PD is above and beyond the day-to-day requirements of certified teachers’ professional duties. Therefore, an activity (or a component of an activity) a certified teacher is required to carry out as part of their daily professional responsibilities does not count towards the PD hours required for TESL Ontario certified membership renewal.
Also, content-based training, workshops, seminars, etc. where the focus is solely on a content area, such as Canadian law, health, banking, cooking, traveling, employment, safety at work, etc., and the application of the content to teaching ESL/EFL to adult learners is not established or practiced are not recognized as PD for the TESL Ontario annual renewal.

Activities Recognized as PD

Every hour of participation in any of the activities outlined below counts as one PD hour. Every hour of presentation is recognized as five PD hours. Activities recognized as PD are as follows:

Participating in TESL-related workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars and other similar events in Canada or abroad
Presenting in TESL-related workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars and other similar events in Canada or abroad
Completing a TESL-related training course
Attending TESL-related in-service training sessions and PD events provided by employers
Mentoring practicum students from TESL Ontario accredited training programs
Mentoring newly certified OCELTs and CTESOLs
Serving as a provincial TESL organization Executive Board member, Working Committee member, or Affiliate Chapter Executive Committee member
Conducting or participating in TESL-related research
Volunteering as a teacher, a teacher assistant, or a tutor in an on-site or online adult ESL program run by a recognized school or settlement agency in Canada
Pilot testing curricula or assessment tools for ESL teachers or ESL teacher training

A Few Examples of Recognized PD Events and Activities

TESL Ontario Conference
TESL Ontario Affiliate Chapter Conferences
Post TESL Certificate Training courses (PTCT)
TESL Ontario Live Webinars
TESL Ontario Archived Webinars
Tutela Live and Recorded Webinars
Contact North Webinars
Volunteering for TESL Ontario Working Committees
CCLB E-learning Portal
BC TEAL Events
Alberta TESL (ATESL) Events
TESOL International Convention and English Language Expo
IATEFL Conference and Exhibition
IATEFL Webinars

PD Random Audit

Please be advised that 10% of certified membership renewals due in every given month are selected randomly and receive a PD Audit Notice approximately 6 weeks prior to their renewal due date. Selected members are required to email or mail their proof of PD to TESL Ontario by their renewal due date to be eligible for annual renewal. A one-month grace period is granted if the required PD is not received by the renewal due date. At the end of the grace period, certified membership lapses if PD is still outstanding.

Questions? Please contact TESL Ontario at accreditation@teslontario.org or at 416-593-4243, Ext. 205.

Certification Reinstatement

Filing an Appeal

Frequently Asked Questions

TESL ONTARIO CERTIFICATION

I don’t have a university degree. Can I apply for TESL Ontario certification?

No. Holding a university degree is an initial requirement of the TESL Ontario certification application.

I am a certified member of TESL Ontario. How can I receive my TESL Ontario certificate?

Visit the TESL Ontario website at https://registries.teslontario.org/ and follow the cues to download your certificate or receive it by email.

What is the difference between OCELT and CTESOL?

OCELT Certification recognizes that a certificate holder has the knowledge and skills required for teaching English to adult learners in all publicly funded and private programs in Ontario, other Canadian provinces and territories, and abroad.
CTESOL recognizes certification holder’s knowledge and skills to teach English to adult learners in non-publicly funded programs in Ontario, in both private and publicly-funded programs in other Canadian provinces and territories, and in a variety of contexts abroad.
OCELT certification requires the completion of 300 hours of TESL Ontario accredited TESL training. Eligible applicants may also apply for OCELT through competency-and-credit based PLAR (CCPLAR) application path. CTESOL certification requires only 120 hours of accredited training.
A TESL Ontario certified member can hold either OCELT Certification or CTESOL Certification. One member cannot be certified at both levels at the same time. If a CTESOL Certificate holder applies and is approved for OCELT certification, their CTESOL certified status is removed automatically.

Do I need to join TESL Ontario as a standard member before applying for certification?

Yes. TESL Ontario processes standard membership applications and notifies applicants of their membership number and membership renewal due date in two business days.

Are there any alternatives to the TESL Ontario English language proficiency (ELP) standard?

No. All certification applicants must demonstrate English language ELP in one of three ways outlined on the TESL Ontario website. There are no alternatives or exemptions.

I have a university degree in TESL/TEFL. Can I apply for TESL Ontario certification without completing a TESL Ontario accredited TESL program?

You may want to consider applying for the TESL Ontario certification through CCPLAR-Stream A application path. CCPLAR stands for Competency-and-Credit Based Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. This application path is for candidates who have completed a degree in TESL/TEFL or applied linguistics. In Application Stage I, candidates choose their stream (Stream A for you) and apply to confirm their eligibility for CCPLAR. In Application Stage II, eligible Stream A candidates meet competency requirements in Canadian Adult ESL Contexts by doing a 50 -hour practicum course, or by providing evidence of 250 hours of adult ESL teaching experience in Canada, or by participating in a challenge interview session. For detailed information about the CCPLAR stream A, application stages, required documents, and fees, please review the CCPLAR Candidate Handbook.

I am an experienced adult ESL/EFL teacher and hold a university degree. Can I apply for TESL Ontario certification based on my experience?

You may want to consider applying for the TESL Ontario certification through CCPLAR-Stream B application path. CCPLAR stands for Competency-and-Credit Based Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. This application path is for candidates who have accumulated at least 2000 hours of adult ESL/EFL teaching experience over the past five years, including at least 500 hours accumulated over the past three years. In Application Stage I, candidates choose their stream (Stream B for you), and apply to confirm their eligibility for CCPLAR. In Application Stage II, eligible Stream B candidates meet competency requirements in four areas: Canadian Adult ESL Contexts, Educational Technology, Adult Second Language Acquisition Theory, and Culture and Diversity. Required competencies can be met through completing additional TESL training, doing a practicum course, providing evidence of teaching experience, and/or participating in one to four structured interviews.
For detailed information about the CCPLAR streams, application stages, required documents, and fees, please review the CCPLAR Candidate Handbook.

I have a university degree and a CELTA. How can I apply for the TESL Ontario OCELT Certification?

OCELT application has three requirements: 1) university degree, 2) English language proficiency (ELP) and 3) at least 300 hours of TESL Ontario accredited TESL training. Your CELTA training is recognized as equivalent to Part 1 (120 hours) of the TESL Ontario required training. You should complete Part 2 (at least 180 hours) of a TESL Ontario accredited training program to meet the TESL training requirement of TESL Ontario certification application.

I have a university degree and have completed a TESL Canada Standard 1 training program. How can I apply for the TESL Ontario OCELT Certification?

OCELT application has three requirements: 1) university degree, 2) English language proficiency (ELP) and 3) at least 300 hours of TESL Ontario accredited TESL training. You should complete Part 2 (at least 180 hours) of a TESL Ontario accredited training program to meet the TESL training requirement of TESL Ontario certification application.

TESL TRAINING

I don’t have a university degree. Can I sign up for a TESL training program?

Yes. Some TESL training providers do not require that candidates hold a university degree. You should contact the training providers of your choice directly or visit their websites for more information.

Does TESL Ontario provide a TESL training program?

No. TESL Ontario is a membership organization with professional development and certification services for its members. It is not an educational institution; therefore, it does not offer a TESL training program.

What does a TESL Ontario accredited TESL training program consist of?

A TESL Ontario accredited TESL training program consists of at least 250 hours of instruction in TESL theory and methodology, at least 30 hours of observation, and at least 20 hours of supervised practice teaching. The training can be completed full time or part time.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD) REQUIREMENT

Do I need to do any PD?

OCELT and CTESOL Certification holders are required to complete 10 hours of PD activities each year by their annual renewal due date and keep the proof on file. Documents such as PD certificates, PD event registration slips, course transcripts, PD confirmation letters (on letterhead and signed), and PD confirmation emails are recognized as proof of PD.

What activities are recognized as PD?

Every hour of participation in any of the activities outlined below counts as one PD hour.
Every hour of presentation is recognized as five PD hours.

Participating or presenting in TESL-related workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars and other similar events in Canada or abroad
Completing a TESL-related training course
Attending TESL-related in-service training sessions and PD events provided by employers
Mentoring practicum students from TESL Ontario accredited training programs
Mentoring newly certified OCELTs and CTESOLs
Serving as a provincial TESL organization executive board member, working committee member, or affiliate chapter executive committee member
Conducting or participating in TESL-related research
Volunteering as a teacher, a teacher assistant, or a tutor in an on-site or online adult ESL program run by a recognized school or settlement agency in Canada
Pilot testing curricula or assessment tools for ESL teachers or ESL teacher training

Should I submit my proof of PD to TESL Ontario?

If you have received a PD Audit Notice from TESL Ontario, you are required to email or mail your proof of PD to TESL Ontario. Otherwise, keep your proof of PD on file.

FINDING EMPLOYMENT AS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER

What certification do I need to be able to apply for ESL teacher positions?

In order to find out what credentials or certification you are going to need to be eligible to work as an ESL teacher in Ontario or other Canadian provinces, you should first determine the context/s in which you would like to teach:

Government-funded LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and funded Adult ESL providers in Ontario,
such as school boards and settlement agencies, require the TESL Ontario OCELT certification. OCELT stands for “Ontario Certified English Language Teacher”.
Non-government funded language instruction providers, such as private language schools, colleges and universities, anywhere in Canada may accept the TESL Ontario OCELT Certificate, a university degree in TESL or applied linguistics, a TESL certificate from a TESL Ontario accredited training provider, a TESL certificate from a TESL Canada accredited training provider, a CELTA Certificate, or any certificate in TESL/TESOL/TEFL, etc. To learn about the type of training/certification required by non-government funded employers you would like to work for, you should contact them directly or check out their websites and job ads.
Ontario’s grade schools (elementary schools, secondary schools, and high schools) require the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Certificate of Registration.

I don’t have a degree. Can I find a job as an adult English language teacher?

Yes. Some employers do not require that candidates hold a university degree. You should contact target employers directly, review their job ads, or visit their websites for more information.

Can TESL Ontario certification be used to apply for adult ESL/EFL teacher jobs abroad?

Yes.

Can TESL certificates issued by the TESL Ontario accredited training providers be used to apply for adult ESL/EFL teacher jobs abroad?

Yes.