Elementary and Secondary Teaching careers

Elementary and Secondary Teaching

The sub sector for early childhood education and care

Early Childhood Education and Care

Education Administration

Careers in Post-Secondary and Vocational Training Instruction

Post-Secondary and Vocational Training Instruction

All careers associated with the Education sector

Education

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To work as a teacher in B.C., you must have completed an accredited teaching program, including a practicum, and meet the standards for educators set by the province. 

Secondary school teachers

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To work as a teacher in B.C., you must have completed an accredited teaching program, including a practicum and meet the standards for educators set by the province. 

Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To work as a social worker in BC, you may choose to become certified through the B.C. College of Social Workers (BCCSW). Eligibility is achieved through completion of an approved post-secondary program, criminal record checks, and successful writing of a licensure exam.

Social workers

Early childhood educators and assistants

This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the languages native to the Western Hemisphere. These programs include courses in philology; oral and written literatures; Inuit and Aleut languages; North American language families, including, but not limited to, Algonkian, Athabascan, Siouan, Muskogean, Iroquoian, Kumeyaay, Yuman, Mayan, Zapotecan, and Uto-Aztecan; South American language families, including, but not limited to, Andean-Equatorial, Ge-Pano-Carib, and Macro-Chibchan, and other minor languages.

Indigenous languages, literatures, and linguistics of the Americas

This instructional program class comprises any program not listed above that relates to Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics.

Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other

Indigenous Languages Certificates

Secondary school teachers prepare and teach academic, technical, vocational or specialized subjects at public and private secondary schools. Secondary school teachers who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.

Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.

Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, daycare centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.

The Lil'wat Nation Language and Culture Certificate is well-suited to current or future teachers of the Lil'wat language and offers introductory language courses as well as literature and other electives relevant to Lil'wat language and culture. The program is taught from a Lil’wat perspective. Through language classes, First Nations studies and linguistics classes, you will improve your reading, speaking and understanding of Ucwalmícwts.

CapU offers programs at the Ts'zil Learning Centre, located in the Lil'wat Nation along the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Learn more on CapU's website [here](https://www.capilanou.ca/about-capu/get-to-know-us/our-locations/tszil-learning-centre/).

Lil'wat Nation Language and Culture Certificate

The Sechelt Nation Language and Culture Certificate focuses on developing your Sechelt language skills while learning more about the history and culture of the Sechelt (shíshálh) nation. You'll take introductory language courses as well as literature and other electives relevant to Sechelt linguistics and culture. You'll study at the Capilano Sunshine Coast campus and be taught by CapU instructors and Sechelt community members. You'll help increase fluency and keep the Sechelt language alive. The course is taught from a Sechelt perspective and is aimed at current and future Sechelt language teachers.

Capilano University offers programming in the Sunshine Coast community. Please note that programs offered at this location are subject to confirmation. Interested applicants may apply to the Off Campus location for programs currently available.

Sechelt Nation Language and Culture Certificate

The Dakelh Language Fluency Certificate & Diploma programs are foundational and innovative programs with a focus on Dakelh content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Indigenous communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversation ability of Indigenous languages.

NVIT offers community-based delivery. Learn more [here](https://www.nvit.ca/community-education/).

Dakelh Language Fluency Certificate

The First Nations Speech and Language Assistant Certificate (FNSL) is  offered through community-based delivery. The program prepares you to work at the paraprofessional level in the speech and language field under the direction of a speech language pathologist. Due to the unique challenges of many remote and semi-remote First Nations communities, participants will also receive training in the use of technology as a way of delivering speech language services. This program is specifically designed for people working in First Nations communities such as schools, head start programs, and preschools.

First Nations Speech and Language Assistant Certificate

The Indigenous Language For Early Years Certificate is a combination of the Indigenous Language Revitalization Micro-Credential and the Indigenous Early Childhood Education Assistant Micro-Credential, offering an exciting opportunity to revitalize Indigenous languages in early childhood learning environments.

This integrated pathway supports learners who want to work with young children and use their ancestral language in everyday activities. By connecting language revitalization with early childhood education, learners gain both the practical teaching skills and the cultural grounding needed to create immersive, language-rich learning spaces for children.

By combining the three streams of research, language, and childcaring, this initiative serves as a steppingstone for learners to develop language within Early Years programs while empowering themselves and their Communities to continue the work of revitalization. Through experiential learning—particularly learning on the land and reconnecting with traditional Indigenous pedagogical practices—learners gain the knowledge and confidence to surpass their teachers by expanding the web of revitalization even further. This approach is flexible and can be adapted to meet the unique needs of each Community, ensuring that language and cultural renewal remain grounded in local contexts.

By bundling all nine courses into one certificate, learners will also have two streams to progress their education upon completion: NVIT’s Indigenous Early Childhood Educator Certificate/Diploma, and/or NVIT’s Language Fluency Certificate/Diploma, which also ladders into University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Language Fluency Degree. These avenues allow multiple laddering and stackability options to advance a learner’s education with more pathways to accreditation and professional development.

Indigenous Language for Early Years Certificate

The Nadut’en Language Fluency Certificate is a foundational programs with a focus on Nadut’en content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Nadut’en communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversational ability of Indigenous languages.

Nadut'en Language Fluency Certificate

The Niwhkinic Language Fluency Certificate program is a foundational and innovative programs with a focus on Niwhkinic Language content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Niwhkinic communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversational ability of Indigenous languages. 

Niwhkinic Language Fluency Certificate

The Nleʔkepmx Language Fluency Certificate focuses on the Nleʔkepmx content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Nleʔkepmx communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversational ability of Indigenous languages. This program is approved by the local language authorities in their respective communities. This certificate allows graduates to work in entry-level with community members and First Nations Organizations, or continue onto the diploma program.

Nle?kepmx Language Fluency Certificate

The Nsyilxcen Language Fluency Certificate focuses on the Nsyilxcen content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Indigenous communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversation ability of Indigenous languages. The  program is approved by the local language authorities in their respective communities. Upon successful completion of the certificate, you have the option to enroll in the diploma for further study.

Nsyilxcen Language Fluency Certificate

 NVIT’s Open Certificate Program provides flexible, foundational education rooted in Indigenous perspectives. 

This program provides a broad-based academic foundation that allows for transferability within NVIT and with external post-secondary institutions. Communities are empowered to choose courses that reflect their unique interests, priorities, and aspirations. Communities can establish a customized 30-credit course plan aligned with their specific educational objectives. With approval from the appropriate Dean, this customized course plan can include a specialization to the Open Certificate, reflecting their unique combination of courses.

To ensure the program’s applicability and transferability, courses included in the Open Certificate program must be selected from University Transfer (UT) department courses, Language Fluency courses, and/or UT qualifying Business courses as per the BC Transfer Guide. These courses are recognized for their alignment within the British Columbia Transfer Guide to provide learners with a solid foundation to pursue further education or accreditation if they choose. Course selection can be first year, second year, or a combination of both, depending on whether learners meet prerequisite requirements.



Open Certificate

The Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate program is foundational and innovative programs with a focus on Secwepemc Language content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Secwépemc communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversational ability of Indigenous languages. 

The program is designed to be delivered year-long through the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. The Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate is approved by the local language authorities in their respective communities. Successful completion of the program will allow graduates to work with community members and First Nations Organizations. 

Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate

The St'át'imcets Language Fluency Certificate program is foundational and innovative with a focus on St'át'imcets content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Indigenous communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversation ability of Indigenous languages. 

St’át’imcets Language Fluency Certificate

The x̄á’isla Language Fluency Certificate is a foundational and innovative program with a focus on x̄á’isla content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective x̄á’isla Communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding, and conversational ability of the x̄á’isla language.

x̄á’isla Language Fluency Certificate

With the Indigenous Language Fluency Certificate, you'll explore Indigenous language and draw on local Indigenous knowledge systems, ways of knowing and protocols through experiential and land-based learning to explore the values and beliefs encoded in Indigenous language. This cohort-based program will help you to unearth the understanding of how language forms the foundation of all Indigenous relationships.

Indigenous Language Fluency Certificate

This program is for students who wish to acquire conversational and literacy skills in a particular Indigenous language, to teach this language in schools, or to enhance their language for cultural reasons or professional objectives.

Indigenous Language Proficiency Certificate

The First Nations Language Certificate offers a program that allows you to pursue an interest in First Nations language through a concentrated program of courses on a particular language. The program is designed for those who may not wish to commit to a full majors program, persons of First Nations descent, and people who are working in the area of indigenous education.

First Nations Language Certificate

The Nisga'a Language Fluency Certificate provides an immersive education in the Nisga'a language, intended to create new Nisga'a language speakers. The fundamental pedagogical approach is to offer as much Nisga'a language instruction as possible, as early as possible. The program is offered in a manner that recognizes that learners, knowledge keepers, and their communities as a whole benefit from, and contribute to, the (re)development of Nisga'a language fluency.

Nisga'a Language Fluency Certificate

 The Halq’eméylem Intermediate Proficiency Certificate classes for Stó:lō children are available starting in Head Start preschool programs all the way to Grade 12 classes in some public schools. Indigenous organizations also offer language camps and courses.

Halq'eméylem language courses are certified by the Halq'eméylem Language Authority and are recognized by the B.C. College of Teachers.

Halq’eméylem Intermediate Proficiency Certificate

The goal of the Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency (CILP) program is to support Indigenous communities to create new adult speakers, by providing a strong foundation in language learning and language learning methods that will support ongoing language acquisition. This new Certificate offered through the Department of Indigenous Education at the University of Victoria, is delivered in community contexts, draws on and upholds local knowledge and expertise, and situates learning in communicative contexts.

This certificate is a credential on its own, or can ladder into the Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization and Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization. Each delivery is co-designed and administered in partnership with an Indigenous community.

For information and to apply visit the institution's website: 

[Indigenous Language Revitalization Certificate]( https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/culture-museums-and-indigenous-studies/programs/indigenous-language-revitalization)

Educational Path

Indigenous Languages Certificates

Programs

Careers