Planning to work in education? Here’s what’s important to know about a teacher background check.
Many sectors require checks as part of the hiring process. The education services sector, representing over 400,000 part-time and full-time public primary and secondary teachers in Canada, is one of them. Educational institutions strive to create safe and nurturing environments conducive to learning, so it’s no wonder implementing background checks is a cornerstone of their risk management strategy.
Teachers are in high demand, so this blog post is dedicated to anyone looking for a teaching job in Canada. If you’re interested in working as a public school teacher, it helps to know what to expect at the background screening stage. We dive into the importance of a teacher background check and explore their significance, the different types of checks, FAQs, and some best practices that may inform the steps you encounter. Let’s get started!
Why Education Background Check for Employment Matters
Background checks serve as a crucial tool for safeguarding educational environments. By thoroughly screening prospective employees and volunteers, educational institutions can mitigate risks associated with potential threats to safety, misconduct, and negligence. Whether hiring teachers, administrators, coaches, or support staff, conducting background checks helps identify red flags or disqualifiers, vet qualifications, and uphold the institution’s commitment to providing a secure learning environment.
There are also regulatory reasons why institutions run a teacher background check. In fact, the Ontario College of Teachers encourages wannabe teachers to review their professional suitability by taking a Application Eligibility Assessment quiz to find out how likely they are to meet the regulatory requirements to teach in the province.
Types of Background Checks in Education
- Criminal Background Checks: As we cover in Criminal Record Checks Canada FAQs, screening for criminal history helps identify individuals with past convictions or behaviours that could pose a risk to students or colleagues. This includes offences related to violence, sexual misconduct, substance use, and other crimes that may disqualify you from working in close proximity to children. The Calgary Board of Education Frequently Asked Questions about Applying for a Job Online web page confirms that, in their district, teachers don’t need to submit a criminal record check when applying for a job, but must obtain one prior to starting work. (If you want to complete a teacher background check at the application stage to avoid processing delays if hired, remember that these checks must be completed in the six months prior to the beginning of employment to be valid, at least according to the Calgary rules.)
- Employment Verification: Verifying employment history ensures that candidates have the experience they claim. This includes confirming details about your previous positions held, tenure, job responsibilities, and in some cases even your reasons for leaving. In British Columbia and Manitoba, teachers wishing to be hired in those provinces must undergo employment verification prior to being hired. The exact verification process differs across the country and school board, which demonstrates the importance of doing your own region-specific research. Obviously, this is also different if you’re applying for your first teaching job!
- Credential Verification: Authenticating academic credentials, certifications, and licences ensures that employees possess the requisite qualifications for their roles. In educational settings, credential verification includes verifying degrees, teaching certifications, specialized training, and any professional licences. For example, to become a teacher in Nova Scotia, you must first be issued a teacher’s certificate by the Registrar of Teacher Certification. In order to be awarded with a teacher’s certificate, qualified applicants must apply for teacher certification with the Office of Teacher Certification.
- Reference Checks: Contacting your references is a common part of pre-employment screening. It offers prospective employers valuable insights into your character, work ethic, and suitability for the role. References from previous employers, colleagues, supervisors, and mentors can provide first-hand perspectives on the candidate’s performance and conduct. In online forums, teachers in Canada suggest having all your references, educational credentials and background checks organized and in order to make it easier to start working faster.
Teacher Background Check FAQs
What shows up on a background check in Canada?
“Background check” is an umbrella term for many different types of screenings and verifications. Background checks in Canada typically include information such as:
- Criminal Record Check: This includes convictions and in some cases (in “enhanced” screenings) outstanding warrants and non-conviction information.
- Employment Verification: Previous employers, positions held, and duration of employment.
- Education Verification: Confirmation of degrees, diplomas, or certifications obtained.
- Credit Report: While not usually required as part of a teacher background check, information about credit accounts, payment history, and any outstanding debts.
- Driving Record: Details of any traffic violations, licence suspensions, or accidents for roles that require driving a company vehicle.
- Reference Checks: Contacting provided references to verify employment history or character references.
How long does a Certn background check take?
Results of a Certn background check can be available in as little as 15 minutes, depending on the type of check being run. A Canadian criminal record check can typically be completed within a few days to a week, assuming the information is readily available and the sources respond promptly. Our online checks use automation to speed up the process.
Does Canada do a background check on everyone at a school?
It’s safe to assume all schools perform some kind of background check, but the type, whether a criminal record check, employment verification, credential verification, and/or reference check depends on the nature of the role (including level of student interaction). Check with the institution! Professional colleges and school boards do require teachers to submit criminal record checks before they can be hired to teach. School staff members, such as administrative staff, custodians, and cafeteria workers, may also be required to undergo a criminal record check.
Where to apply for teaching jobs in Canada?
EducationCanada lists many opportunities. The big city school boards also each have their own websites where openings are listed.
Best Practices for Background Checks in Education
As a leading Canadian background screening vendor, it’s our job to know about background checks in education. Here are some best practices for running a teacher background check and other educational services sector screenings. Even if you aren’t an employer, this information might help you understand why you’re being asked to complete certain screening steps before you can teach.
Establish Clear Policies: All employers should develop background check policies outlining the types of checks required for different roles, the screening process, and criteria for disqualification based on findings. This helps uphold fairness in the hiring process – consistency helps ensure fairness and mitigate potential liability. We lay out more detail in the guide, How to Create a Background Screening Policy.
Compliance with Regulations: Educational institutions must adhere to relevant federal, provincial and territorial, and local regulations governing background screening and hiring in education. This explains why an approach that’s required by one province may not be the same across the country. The blog post Background Check for Government Employment, explains that education falls under provincial and territorial government jurisdiction, so this level of government sets key requirements in addition to federal privacy laws such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) which governs online collection and use of personal information in Canada.
Partner with Trusted Screening Providers: Educational institutions should collaborate with a reputable background screening vendor who specializes in a teacher background check. Certn has experience in the educational services sector and a track record of delivering accurate, timely results while prioritizing data security and confidentiality.
Teacher Background Check Canada Online
In conclusion, the teacher background check plays a pivotal role in promoting safety, security, and accountability within educational institutions. Checks are also run for regulatory purposes. By implementing checks as part of screening programs, public primary and secondary schools can mitigate risks, protect their communities, and uphold their commitment to providing a conducive learning environment for all.
If you’re a teacher or school volunteer looking for a background check, our MyCRC service is a 100% online criminal record check service for Canadians who want to order. The results are available in as little as 15 minutes.
If you’re a professional college, school board, or other educational institution looking to run a teacher background check on staff, we’ve got you covered so you don’t have to spend time researching the best checks and can focus on your mission. Request a quote to talk to one of our screening experts today.
