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Northern Alberta Teacher Award

This return of service award encourages teachers to live and work in rural and remote northern Alberta locations.

Important dates

Stay tuned for the 2025/26 Northern Alberta Teacher Award (NATA) application dates.

Overview

The Northern Alberta Teacher Award (NATA) encourages students in a teaching program to live and work as a teacher in northern Alberta, within the Northern Alberta School Division boundaries, after completing their program. Award recipients will be chosen while in their last year of a Bachelor of Education program from an accredited post-secondary institution in Alberta. They will receive the award once they have completed their 2- or 3-year stay living and working in a school division within northern Alberta.

Schools included within the program area are under the authority of a northern Alberta School Division, a First Nations’ Education Authority or an accredited independent school.

Funding

The Northern Alberta Teacher Award is a financial incentive for applicants in their final year of a Bachelor of Education degree who are willing to complete a 2- or 3-year return of service working in northern Alberta. When applying for the award, applicants can select the length of return of service they are interested in completing.  

Students must be able and willing to complete:

  • two years of full-time employment to receive a $9,000 award, or
  • three years of full-time employment to receive an $18,000 award

Selected recipients will be asked to sign a return of service agreement. Funds will be disbursed once successful applicants have completed the term of their agreement. Recipients who do not fulfill the full return of service requirement will not receive the award.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Northern Alberta Teacher Award, an applicant must be:

  • a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution
  • in the last year of a Bachelor of Education program or in the second year of a Bachelor of Education After Degree
  • completing a program with a specialization in demand within northern Alberta
  • planning to live and work in northern Alberta upon completion of your program and sign a return of service agreement declaring your intent

You can increase your chance of success if you:

  • have an acceptable academic record

Participating school divisions

Award recipients are required to inform Alberta Education and Childcare when you have secured employment at an eligible school jurisdiction. Email us at [email protected] to ensure recognition of the return of service agreement.

How to apply

Check back for information on how to apply.

Contact

Connect with the program administrators:

Email: [email protected]