Students across Alberta and British Columbia are increasingly being taught by individuals who are not certified teachers, as school divisions grapple with persistent staffing shortages and a lack of qualified educators. The practice, while intended as a temporary fix, has raised alarms among education leaders who warn it should not become a permanent solution.
Rise in letters of authority
Jason Shilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, noted that Alberta’s Education Act mandates certified teachers in classrooms, but staffing pressures have led to greater use of letters of authority. These letters allow individuals who are not fully certified to teach under specific circumstances, often in remote or specialized roles. “As you travel north, the pressure points get higher,” Shilling said, explaining that letters of authority have become more common in recent years, particularly in communities where finding qualified teachers for specialized positions, trades courses, and other areas is challenging. He emphasized the need to ensure the practice remains a short-term tool: “We do want to avoid this does not become a regular practice.”
British Columbia’s staffing challenges
In British Columbia, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) reported similar pressures, especially in northern and rural communities. The BCTF stated unequivocally, “Students deserve consistent access to fully trained, certified teachers leading their classrooms.” Earlier this year, the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Education declined to disclose the number of certified versus uncertified teachers in School Division 59 (Peace Region) and at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. In March, School Division 59 board of trustees chair Chad Anderson pointed to the Enhancing Student Learning Report of 2023-24 as the most recent data available. That report revealed, “We hired our largest number of uncertified teachers to date to fill classroom teacher roles, which was approximately 20% of our staffing.” Anderson added that the division does not publish more specific or frequent information.
Accountability and oversight
Shilling countered that school divisions are required to provide yearly breakdowns of their use of letters of authority, which must be renewed annually and reviewed by the province. He noted that many individuals receiving letters of authority are already working toward certification, including students completing education degrees, practicums, or final requirements before full certification. “It is a lot of our letters of authority, on the way to their certification, learning already,” he said. The goal, Shilling added, is also to help communities retain those future teachers once they complete their education. Alberta also employs classroom supervisors in some situations when a certified teacher cannot be found, but Shilling stressed that these positions differ from teachers and cannot provide curriculum-based instruction.
Impact on students and communities
The reliance on uncertified educators has sparked concerns about educational quality and equity. While letters of authority offer a stopgap, education leaders argue they are not a substitute for fully trained professionals. The Alberta Teachers’ Association and BCTF both advocate for increased investment in teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in underserved areas, to ensure all students have access to certified teachers and consistent, high-quality instruction.
