Strengthening Alberta’s teacher workforce
Edmonton(PAB) April 24, 2026
Alberta’s government is introducing four new expedited teaching certificates to help qualified individuals enter classrooms sooner.
The new certificates will allow final-year bachelor of education students, internationally trained teachers, tradespeople, and other skilled professionals with relevant expertise to begin teaching sooner in relevant roles suited to their previous experience. With 80,000 students joining Alberta’s classrooms in just three years, the need for more teachers in the province has never been greater.
“As classroom needs continue to grow, students need teachers with diverse skills and experience. These new certificates will fast-track qualified professionals into high-need classrooms, uphold strong standards, and give school boards greater flexibility to support students locally.”
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare
Growing the number of qualified teachers will help school boards better support diverse student needs and manage increasingly complex classrooms. These new pathways will also reduce staffing pressures, helping keep class sizes manageable, courses available, and teachers supported.
“Expedited teaching certificates will help ensure there are enough teachers to keep pace with population growth. By expanding access to coursework and partnering with institutions to deliver high-quality preparation, we’re helping qualified professionals enter classrooms sooner – without compromising standards.”
Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education
All expedited certificate holders will be required to complete teacher preparation training before entering the classroom. Teachers in these pathways will be closely supervised by a designated teacher leader, such as a school principal, and supported throughout their placement. Employing school boards will continue to oversee hiring and classroom placement decisions, ensuring educators are appropriately placed, supported and aligned with local needs.
Student safety will remain a top priority, and all participants must adhere to Alberta’s professional teaching standards and demonstrate successful teaching experience before being recommended for permanent certification by the Registrar at Alberta Education and Childcare. This approach maintains high standards while expanding access to qualified teachers with diverse skills and experience.
“Rural and regional school divisions, such as Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools, have long faced unique challenges in attracting and retaining specialized teachers. These new pathways will help ensure that students across Alberta, regardless of geography, have equitable access to high-quality teaching and the opportunities they deserve.”
Andrea Keenan, chair, Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools
“We are pleased to see new pathways that will uphold the professionalism of teachers, and we welcome applications from competent and talented professionals. Chinook’s Edge School Division is and will continue to be a major employer of well-trained, capable teaching staff in Alberta.”
Holly Bilton, chair, Chinook’s Edge School Division
Candidates pursuing the trades or specialized certificate pathways to teaching will complete a two-stage pathway:
- Stage 1: candidates must complete four initial post-secondary courses in teacher preparation before entering the classroom, including a supervised practicum.
- Stage 2: After entering the classroom, candidates complete six additional teacher pedagogy courses over a three-year period, while actively teaching.
In total, candidates must complete 10 teacher preparatory courses to be eligible for a permanent Specialized or Trade Teacher Certificate, as determined by the Office of the Registrar at Alberta Education and Childcare.
The new certification pathways are part of Alberta’s broader investment in strengthening the teacher workforce. Budget 2026 includes a record $10.8 billion investment in education, supporting the hiring of more than 1,600 teachers and more than 800 support staff in the 2026-27 school year.
Quick facts
- Starting June 1, 2026, eligible individuals may apply for a Developmental or Conditional teaching certificate on Alberta.ca for the 2026-27 school year.
- Final-year bachelor of education students in Alberta will be eligible to teach K-12 under a Developmental Teacher Certificate.
- Qualified internationally educated teachers who meet Alberta coursework and Canadian residency requirements will be eligible to teach K-12 under a Conditional Teacher Certificate.
- Tradespeople and skilled professionals will be eligible to teach Grades 7-12 in subject areas aligned with their expertise after completing required teacher preparation training, including a practicum, through an approved post-secondary institution. They may then apply for certification on Alberta.ca.
- Skilled professionals are individuals who hold a doctorate, graduate, undergraduate degree, or diploma that meets specific criteria, and who have five years of academic or academic and professional experience combined, related to their area of specialization.
- Through Targeted Enrolment Expansion funding, Advanced Education will invest more than $1 million annually for three years to support up to 80 new seats each year in expedited teaching certification programming.
- Alberta Education and Childcare will provide a $2,000 bursary to support eligible participants enrolled in teacher preparation programming for the Interim Specialized Teacher Certificate or Interim Trade Teacher Certificate.
- Up to 80 bursaries will be available in 2026-27 at $2,000 each, totaling $160,000 in bursary funding.
- Up to $250,000 will be available through Education and Childcare in the 2026-27 fiscal year to support eligible post-secondary institutions interested in developing coursework programming for Specialized and Trade Teacher Certificates.
- In Alberta, approximately 2,400 students graduate with a Bachelor of Education each year.
- Approximately 800 out-of-province teachers are certified each year to teach in Alberta classrooms.
