After completing the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) you will earn a Certificate of Qualification and Registration from the Ontario College of Teachers, in the Primary and Junior division. As a qualified elementary school teacher, you will acquire the necessary pedagogical skills and knowledge combined with a strong personal understanding of your Indigenous traditions, culture and heritage to build strong learning environments for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.
Qualifications
For this Program, applicants must meet each of the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- One of the following completed certifications from an accredited university or college:
- Early Childhood Education (ECE);
- Aboriginal/Native/Indigenous Classroom Assistant Diploma Program:
- Native Special Education Assistant Diploma Program (NSEADP);
- Native Language Teaching Certificate (NLTC);
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited university.
- Proof of Indigenous ancestry
- A one-page, typed statement that outlines the reasons for applying to the Indigenous Teacher Education Program.
Program Components
This two-year program is comprised of three components:
a) summer sessions at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario;
b) e-Learning delivered courses to teacher candidates in community; and,
c) in-school internships under the supervision of a certified teacher, in a classroom setting.
Summer Component: Over the course of six (6) weeks, students will take six 3-credit courses, from Monday to Friday. Evenings and weekends are dedicated to group work and individual assignment completion.
e-Learning Delivery: Each semester (fall, winter, spring), teacher candidates are enrolled in one 3-credit course, delivered through video/online technologies during scheduled days/times (evening and/or weekends).
Practicum: Teacher candidates are required to complete two internships each year of the program. The first year consists of a 8-week practicum. The second year consists of a 11-week practicum and a 60-hour (minimum) alternative practicum. The teacher candidate must complete a practicum experience in both the Primary and Junior divisions.
The Program meets the academic requirements of Nipissing University’s Teacher Education Program. When you have successfully completed all courses in Part One (first summer), students will be eligible to apply for a Transitional Certificate through the Ontario College of Teachers. This Transitional Certificate of Qualification will allow students to be employed by school boards and/or authorities to teach Primary/Junior grades in Ontario schools.
After successful completion of all components of the ITEP, graduates are reported to the Ontario College of Teachers to be eligible to receive a Certificate of Qualification in the Primary/Junior divisions.
Note: Only those students holding a "Certificate of Qualification" are eligible to take Additional Qualification courses.
Students who complete an undergraduate degree within 10 years of completing the requirements for a teaching certificate and who obtain an overall average of 70% on the required courses in the Indigenous Teacher Education Program will be eligible for a Bachelor of Education degree. Contact the Office of the Registrar for graduation procedures upon completion of the undergraduate degree.
Requests for information on admission to the Indigenous Summer Programs should be directed to:
Office of the Registrar
Nipissing University
100 College Drive, Box 5002
North Bay ON P1B 8L7
E-Mail: iep@nipissingu.ca
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4522
Fax: 705-474-1772