Government of New Brunswick

How to upgrade your certificate

Upgrading from a certificate 4 to a certificate 5


Requirements:

The Minister may issue a teacher’s certificate 5

  1. to the holder of a teacher’s certificate 4 who completes an approved master’s degree in teacher education that includes
    (i) a thesis and 18 credit hours,
    (ii) a report and 30 credit hours, or
    (iii) 36 credit hours;

  2. to the holder of a teacher’s certificate 4 who completes 36 credit hours of an approved master’s degree in teacher education with 72 credit hours that includes,
    (i) 6 credit hours in approved pedagogical training,
    (ii) 12 credit hours in the applicant’s area of undergraduate degree specialization and
    (iii) 18 credit hours in 1 or 2 subjects within the programs approved under paragraph 6(b) of the Act;

  3.  to the holder of a teacher’s certificate 4 who completes a second undergraduate degree, other than an undergraduate degree in teacher education, with 36 credit hours in subjects within the programs approved under paragraph 6(b) of the Act;

  4. to the holder of a teacher’s certificate 4 who completes a non-degree program with 36 credit hours, approved in advance, of which
    (i) a maximum of 12 credit hours are university courses at the 1000 level or the equivalent in non-credit courses, and
    (ii) a minimum of 18 credit hours are university courses at the 3000 level;

Upgrading from a certificate 5 to a certificate 6


Requirements:

The Minister may issue a teacher’s certificate 6

to a person who holds a teacher’s certificate 5 or meets the requirements for a teacher’s certificate 5, as set out in paragraph 10(1)(e), (f) or (g), and who

  1. completes an approved Master of Education degree with 36 credit hours, of which 30 credit hours are at the 6000 level,
  2. completes 30 approved credit hours at the 6000 level that, together with the credit hours from the applicant’s undergraduate degree, lead to 1 additional major or 2 additional minors in subjects within the programs approved under paragraph 6(b) of the Act,
  3. completes 30 approved credit hours at the 6000 level that, together with the credit hours from the applicant’s undergraduate degree, lead to 1 additional minor in a subject within the programs approved under paragraph 6(b) of the Act and 9 credit hours in an area of concentration approved in advance by the Minister, or
  4. holds an approved master’s degree and completes 30 credit hours of approved undergraduate course work;

 

How to obtain a principal's certificate


Requirements:

The Minister may issue an interim principal’s certificate to the holder of a teacher’s certificate 5 or 6 who has at least 5 years of teaching experience and who has completed the training specified by the Minister.

Training:

Upon completion of the following training, the candidate may apply to the Office of Teacher Certification for an interim principal’s certificate:

  1. Three university graduate level courses in each of the following areas:
    - School administration;
    - Supervision of Instruction; and
    - Assessment and Evaluation in Education.
  2. Six approved modules sponsored by the school district of which three are compulsory (modules must be comprised of 12 – 15 contact hours).

Upon satisfactory completion of a one year term (195 accumulated days) as a principal or vice-principal in a New Brunswick public school, candidate may apply for the regular principal’s certificate.

 

Evaluation of work experience for salary purposes


Requirements: Requirements:

Article 52 of the New Brunswick Teachers Agreement defines eligible work experience as such:

Full recognition of experience for salary purposes shall be granted to a person who:

  1. Taught in the public schools of Canada, or elsewhere, while licensed or eligible to be licensed in New Brunswick, or
  2. Taught in the public schools of Canada although unlicensed and ineligible to be licensed during the period of employment, but becomes licensed in New Brunswick, or
  3. Was employed as a supply teacher with or without a license in the public schools of New Brunswick, or
  4. Was granted a leave of absence for educational purposes with pay, or
  5. Was granted a leave of absence for educational purposes without pay, subject to the approval of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Teacher Licensing and Certification.

Recognition of one-half of a person's experience for salary purposes shall be granted to one who:

  1. Taught in private schools of Canada, while licensed or eligible to be licensed in New Brunswick, or
  2. Obtained the approval of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Teacher Licensing and Certification for any work or related experience while licensed or prior to becoming licensed in New Brunswick. Credit for work or related experience under this section shall not exceed two (2) years, that is, one half credit for up to a maximum of four (4) years work or related experience.

This is recognized at the district office level. Please contact Human Resources office in your district.

Renewing or converting your interim certificate


Requirements:

Renewal of an interim certificate must be done every 4 years.

You may be eligible to convert your interim certificate to a permanent certificate if the following applies:

- You can provide proof of 2 years of teaching experience in the New Brunswick School system; or
- You completed your teacher’s education in a province outside New Brunswick prior to 2015.