Council of the Ontario College of Teachers

Ministry

Education

URL

www.oct.ca

Address

101 BLOOR ST W
TORONTO
M5S0A1

Phone

(416) 961-8800

Fax

(416) 961-8822

Background

Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (opens a new window)

O. REG. 345/96 (opens a new window)

Function

The Ontario College of Teachers (College) is the self-regulatory professional body for the teaching profession in Ontario. Established in 1996, the College has a mandate to establish and enforce professional and ethical standards for its members, to investigate complaints involving members for professional misconduct, incompetence, and fitness to practise, and to accredit teacher education programs provided by post-secondary institutions and other bodies. The College licenses all elementary and secondary school teachers, vice-principals, principals, and academic supervisory officers in Ontario and maintains a public register of licensed members. 

The Council of the Ontario College of Teachers (College) has a legislated responsibility for regulating the teaching profession in Ontario and for governing its members. Council members have a primary duty to serve and protect the public interest in carrying out this duty. The Council focuses on strategic oversight of corporate governance and risk management, with separate committees made up of non-Council members that are responsible for regulatory and statutory functions such as registration, accreditation, investigation, fitness to practise, and discipline. 

Council members also serve on three sub-committees of Council that are responsible for all corporate matters relating to the appointment of Council and committee members and the human resources and financial affairs of the College: the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee, the Finance and Audit Subcommittee, and the Human Resources Subcommittee.

Membership

The Council is made up of six members of the teaching profession appointed by Council and six members of the public appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Appointments to the Council take into consideration the diversity of Ontario, regional representation, and experience in Ontario’s education system. Members of the profession include at least one Francophone member of the College. Members of the public include at least one Francophone and one Indigenous person.

Qualifications

The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint persons who are, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, able to represent the public interest and the interests of the education community.

Term

A person may be a Council member for more than one term. The term of office for the Lieutenant Governor in Council appointed Council members is up to three years for a maximum of seven consecutive years.

Meetings

Council members attend a minimum of four Council meetings each year.

Remuneration

Appointees are remunerated according to Schedule A, Level 1 of the Agencies and Appointments Directive.

Appointments & Vacancies