National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
- 4 - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- 40 - Professional occupations in education services
- 403 - Secondary and elementary school teachers and educational counsellors
4031 - Secondary school teachers
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 group.
Illustrative example(s)
- adult education teacher, secondary school
- biology teacher, high school
- commerce teacher - secondary school
- department head, secondary school
- English as a second language teacher, high school
- English teacher, secondary school
- French as a second language teacher, high school
- high school teacher, special education
- history teacher, secondary school
- remedial teacher - secondary school
- secondary school teacher
- supply teacher, high school
- teacher-librarian, high school
- trades instructor - secondary school
- vocational teacher, high school
Exclusion(s)
- College and other vocational instructors (4021)
- Educational counsellors (4033)
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (4413)
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (4032)
- Junior high school teachers (See 4032 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers)
- Psychoeducators (See 4153 Family, marriage and other related counsellors)
- School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education (0422)
- Secondary school librarians (See 5211 Library and public archive technicians)
- Teachers of non-academic courses (See 4216 Other instructors)
- Teachers teaching life skills courses to persons with disabilities (See 4215 Instructors of persons with disabilities)
Main duties
Secondary school teachers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare subject material for presentation to students according to an approved curriculum
- Teach students using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop and field studies
- Assign and correct homework
- Prepare, administer and correct tests
- Evaluate progress, determine individual needs of students and discuss results with parents and school officials
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
- May teach and evaluate students through distance or online courses
- May advise students on course selection and on vocational and personal matters
- May supervise student teachers.
Secondary school teachers may specialize in such areas as mathematics, English, French, special education or second language instruction. Secondary school teachers of vocational and trades subjects may specialize in areas such as hairdressing or auto mechanics.
Employment requirements
- Teachers of academic subjects require a bachelor's degree in education which is often preceded by a bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences.
- Teachers of vocational or technical subjects require a bachelor's degree in education which is usually preceded by specialized training or experience in the subject.
- Instructors of trades in Quebec require completion of an apprenticeship training program and industry or trade certification.
- Department heads usually require several years of teaching experience.
- To specialize in special education or English or French as a second language, additional training is required.
- A provincial teaching certificate is required.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers' association or federation may be required.
Additional information
- Progression to vice-principal or other administrative positions in the education system is possible with experience.
- Date modified: