Teacher shortages push Alberta schools to use uncertified educators
Letters of authority allow non-certified teachers in classrooms, with usage climbing in rural and northern communities.
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Alberta and British Columbia are increasingly relying on uncertified teachers to fill classroom gaps as shortages intensify, particularly in remote and specialized areas.
Alberta's Education Act requires certified teachers, but staffing pressures have led school divisions to issue letters of authority — permits allowing individuals without full certification to teach in specific circumstances. Jason Shilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said the practice is growing, especially in northern communities where finding qualified teachers for trades courses and specialized positions proves difficult.
"As you travel north, the pressure points get higher," Shilling said, warning the tool should remain temporary. "We do want to avoid this does not become a regular practice."
Many individuals receiving letters of authority are already working toward certification — completing education degrees, practicums, or final requirements. The goal is both addressing shortages and helping communities retain these educators once they're fully certified.
In British Columbia's Peace Region, School Division 59 hired approximately 20 per cent uncertified teachers in 2023-24, marking their largest such cohort to date. The B.C. Teachers' Federation maintains that students deserve consistent access to fully trained, certified teachers. The province also uses classroom supervisors when certified teachers cannot be found, though supervisors cannot provide curriculum-tied instruction — only supervision.
