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Category upgrade - TQS Category Requirements
Those who currently hold a TQS Category 1, 2, or 3, or do not currently hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree, please contact the TQS directly for category upgrade information.
If you are currently in CATEGORY FOUR (4) and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree, the following table outlines your options for upgrading:
| Program Required | Category |
| 1 Integrated Program | Five (5) |
| 1 Acceptable Graduate degree | Five (5) |
| 2 Integrated Programs | Five Plus (5+) |
| 1 Integrated Program + 1 Acceptable Graduate degree | Six (6) |
It does not matter in which order you complete your programs for category six (6), but they must be separate programs.
If you are currently in CATEGORY FIVE (5), the following table outlines your options for upgrading:
| Program Required | Category |
| 1 Integrated Program | Five Plus (5+) |
| 1 Acceptable Graduate degree | Six (6) |
The basic requirements of an Integrated Program are:
- thirty semester credits
- twenty semester credits related to education or educational practice in the BC K-12 system
- third year university level or higher
- from an accredited degree granting institute acceptable to the TQS
Twenty credits must be relevant to the BC public K-12 system while up to ten credits may be electives. Courses should be approved by the TQS. You can either design a program yourself by choosing courses that meet the requirements above or you could complete an appropriate post graduate certificate, diploma or degree that fulfils the Integrated Program requirements. There are only two specific instances where junior level course work is allowed in an Integrated Program. The first is in the context of a completed diploma program awarded by a university. The second is where the junior level course work is a verifiable pre-requisite to course work that is directly relevant to the BC public K-12 system.
TQS Policy 4.14 states that verifiable pre-requisites totalling not more than six semester credits may be accepted at less than senior level provided they are relevant to the BC public K-12 system.
Please see TQS Regulation 4.05 & Policy 4.1 on our web site for complete details.
The basic requirements of an acceptable graduate degree are:
- completed in a theme related to public K-12 education or educational practice in British Columbia
- from an accredited degree granting institute acceptable to the TQS
- Master's degree or Doctorate degree recognized by TQS must be awarded
See TQS Policy 5.00 for complete details: https://www.tqs.bc.ca/regulations/tqs-policy.pdf
The TQS recommends that you have any course work/programs for upgrading purposes preapproved. Please use the course approval form found on our website for this purpose. A written commitment from the TQS is the only one with any official status. Due to the risk of misinterpretation, please note that arrangements made by telephone or in person are not considered binding by the TQS.
Individuals seeking a category upgrade should review the deadline dates in articles 7.06, 7.07 and 7.08 of the TQS Regulations: https://www.tqs.bc.ca/regulations/tqs-regulations-brochure.pdf
In order to seek a change in category, you must submit a formal application, original official transcripts documenting the new program, and verification of your employment in the BC public school system.
Once your upgrade is processed, the TQS will mail a new TQS category card to your home address. Processing time is usually two weeks.
Please note that the TQS does not provide category placement to school districts. It is your responsibility to provide your TQS card to your district to ensure that you are compensated correctly.
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