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Gordon Thomas
Question: How long will it take the Teacher Qualifications Service to process my application for evaluation?
Answer: The length of time required by the Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS) to process an application for evaluation is influenced by a number of factors.
You can contribute to a smooth evaluation process by ensuring that your application is complete. A study of the processing delays in TQS indicates that more than 50 per cent of applications are incomplete, which can result in a delay of 2–10 weeks, depending on what information is missing. When completing an application for evaluation, please note the following:
a) Are all the required sections of the application form complete, including the application fee?
If not, a letter of deficiency is sent to the teacher, listing the items that need to be provided before the evaluation can be processed. Teachers are encouraged to act on the deficiencies listed as soon as possible because the evaluation can’t proceed until all the deficiencies are addressed.
b) Does the teacher have authority to teach in Alberta?
Proof of teaching authority in the form of a teaching certificate or Alberta letter of authority must be submitted before the application can be processed.
c) Are all the required original official transcripts submitted?
University policy and privacy regulations require the teacher to apply for his or her official transcript. You can ask the university to send the official transcript directly to TQS. Please note: TQS does not accept certified, faxed or e-mailed copies of documents. It may take a number of weeks before the university processes a transcript request and the transcript is received by TQS.
d) Does the application include studies from multiple institutions or international institutions?
All postsecondary courses included in an evaluation have to be evaluated according to the 19 principles in the
Principles for the Evaluation of Years of Teacher Education for Salary Purposes established by the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board. The evaluator will ensure that the course content in one course does not duplicate other courses submitted for evaluation. Studies from non-accredited or international institutions require the evaluator to conduct additional research during the evaluation process. Simply speaking, the more complicated the evaluation, the more time it takes to process.
e) Will the time of year affect my application?
At certain times of the year, such as late summer and fall, TQS receives a high number of applications. Applications received at times of high volume take longer to process. As well, in recent years, TQS has observed an increase in the number of applications that include studies in multiple institutions or international institutions, which increases the time required to evaluate these applications.
As mentioned, you can contribute to a smooth evaluation process by ensuring that your application is complete.
Questions for consideration in this column are welcome. Please address them to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House (gordon.thomas@ata.ab.ca).
