Overview
Teaching is a regulated profession in Alberta. The Education Act requires an individual to hold a certificate of practice issued by the registrar at Alberta Education in order to be employed in the role of a teacher, principal or superintendent.
Teachers hold a teaching certificate, while teacher leaders (principals and superintendents) hold additional levels of certification known as a leadership certificate and superintendent leadership certificate.
Teachers and teacher leaders have a unique position of trust and influence and a professional obligation and responsibility to:
- meet Professional Practice Standards; and
- adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders
If you have concerns a teacher or teacher leader is not meeting Professional Practice Standards, you may file a complaint of professional incompetence. These complaints can be filed up to 2 years after the alleged professional incompetence occurred.
If you have concerns a teacher or teacher has violated the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders, you may file a complaint of unprofessional conduct. These complaints can be filed at any time.
Role of the registrar
Alberta Education’s registrar receives complaints about matters of alleged unprofessional conduct or alleged professional incompetence against certificated teachers and teacher leaders. This is because the registrar is responsible for issuing certificates of practice to teachers and teacher leaders and keeping records on the status of each certificate issued.
After receiving a complaint, it is the registrar’s role to confirm that the individual in question was a teacher or teacher leader at the time of the complaint before assigning the complaint to the commission.
Role of the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission
Created under the Education (Reforming Teacher Profession Discipline) Amendment Act, 2022 (PDF, 1.3 MB), the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission oversees disciplinary matters for teachers, much like professional organizations do for a variety of occupations in Alberta, including nurses, doctors and social workers.
The commission reviews and investigates complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct and professional incompetence filed against Alberta-certificated teachers and teacher leaders. This includes teachers who are members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) as well as those who are not part of the ATA. Teachers and teacher leaders who are not members of the ATA are employed in independent (private), public charter and First Nations schools, as well as superintendents and other teacher leaders working in school board offices and any teachers or teacher leaders who are no longer practising.
Visit the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission’s web page.
Making a complaint
School authorities have guidelines and processes in place to address complaints and concerns related to their employees. Concerns are often addressed and resolved at the local level. If you are comfortable and it is safe to do so, you are encouraged to try to address your concern at the local school authority level first. Discuss the issue with the teacher or teacher leader if possible or their supervisor if necessary.
If your complaint is not adequately resolved at the local level, contact the Office of the Registrar to discuss your concerns first, before submitting a complaint that will be addressed by the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission.
If you would like to submit a complaint, use the Complaint Form (PDF, 238 KB) and contact the Office of the Registrar.
For more information on the disciplinary process, visit the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission page.
Hearing and appeal committees
If the commissioner determines a case warrants a hearing, a hearing is conducted by a committee.
The committee may make a finding of unprofessional conduct and/or professional incompetence and recommend a penalty to the Minister of Education for consideration, or they may dismiss the case. The hearing committee's decision may be appealed, and the appeal would be heard by a different committee.
Hearing and appeal committees are made up of members of the Professional Conduct and Competency General Panel. Panel members include a variety of teachers and teacher leaders, and public members. The Chair of the Professional Conduct and Competency General Panel assigns members of the panel to serve on committees as needed.
Upcoming hearings
There are currently no upcoming hearings. Hearing dates will be posted here as they are scheduled.
Contact
Connect with the Office of the Registrar:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2045
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-4199
Email: [email protected]
Address:
The Registrar at Alberta Education
2nd floor, 44 Capital Boulevard
10044 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6
The office is currently closed to the public. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions about document submission.
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