Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program (SOQP)

This offering is approved as a Micro-credential by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) of Ontario and is OSAP-MC eligible at Lakehead University.

To learn more about the provincial program and how to apply for OSAP for Micro-credentials, please visit Ontario.ca Micro-credentials from Ontario’s postsecondary schools.

To learn more about OSAP for Micro-credentials, please visit Lakehead Student Central.

Candidates wishing to pursue their Supervisory Officer's Qualifications require all of the following:

1. Teaching qualifications in three or more teaching divisions, including the intermediate division;
2. At least five (5) years of successful classroom teaching experience, to be verified by a board supervisory official;
3. A master's degree or doctorate degree (if applicable); and
4. Principal's Qualification Program Part 1 & 2, or equivalent.

For more information, please refer to the information below from the Ontario College of Teachers Act (1996).

Ontario College of Teachers Act (1996)

The Ontario College of Teachers Act (1996) Regulation 176/10 (revised 2017) sets forth the following admission requirements for those who wish to become Supervisory Officers:

(1) The Registrar shall record on a candidate’s general certificate of qualification and registration an entry for the supervisory officer’s qualification if the Registrar has satisfactory evidence that the candidate meets one or more of the requirements set out in subsection (2) and that, at the time he or she was admitted to the program, he or she met all of the requirements listed in subsection (3).  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 35 (1).

(2) The requirements for the purposes of this subsection are as follows:

1. The candidate successfully completed an accredited program leading to the qualification within five years after starting the program.

2. The candidate has qualifications and experience, including experience gained while employed as a supervisory officer under section 2.0.1 of Regulation 309 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Supervisory Officers) made under the Education Act, that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to the successful completion of all of the modules of an accredited program leading to the qualification.

3. The candidate has qualifications and experience, including experience gained while employed as a supervisory officer under section 2.0.1 of Regulation 309 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to the successful completion of some of the modules of an accredited program leading to the qualification, and the candidate successfully completed the remaining modules of the program, as identified by the Registrar, within five years after starting the program.  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 35 (2).

(3) The requirements for the purposes of this subsection are as follows:

1. The candidate held an acceptable post-secondary degree or qualifications the Registrar considers to be equivalent to such a degree.

2. The candidate had,

i. an entry on his or her general certificate of qualification and registration for qualification in grades 9 and 10 in a technological education subject listed in Schedule B or in the intermediate division in a general education subject listed in Schedule A, and entries for qualification in any two of,

A. the primary division,

B. the junior division, and

C. either grade 11 and 12 in a technological education subject listed in Schedule B or the senior division in a general education subject listed in Schedule A, or

ii. qualifications that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to the qualifications described in subparagraph i.

3. The candidate had at least five school years of successful classroom teaching experience in a school providing elementary or secondary education, verified by the appropriate supervisory officer or the appropriate supervisory official.

4. The candidate held a master’s degree for which the candidate was required to complete at least 30 graduate post-secondary credits or their equivalent, or a doctorate, where the master’s degree or doctorate was granted by an institution identified in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “acceptable post-secondary degree” in subsection 1 (1).

5. The candidate met one or more of the following criteria:

i. The candidate held:

A. an Elementary School Principal’s Certificate,

B. a Secondary School Principal’s Certificate, Type A,

C. a Secondary School Principal’s Certificate, Type B, or

D. a Secondary School Principal’s Certificate.

ii. The candidate held principal’s qualifications.

iii. The candidate held qualifications to be a principal from a jurisdiction outside Ontario, as verified by the appropriate supervisory official.

iv. The candidate held or had held a principal’s position outside Ontario that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to a position in Ontario for which principal’s qualifications are required under the Education Act.

v. The candidate held specialist or honours specialist qualifications in one or more subjects and had, in addition to the experience required by paragraph 3, at least two school years of successful experience as a teacher appointed by a school board to supervise or co-ordinate a subject or program or to act as a consultant for the teachers of a subject or program, as verified by the appropriate supervisory officer or the appropriate supervisory official.

vi. The candidate,

A. held specialist or honour specialist qualifications from a jurisdiction outside Ontario, as verified by the appropriate supervisory official, and the Registrar considers the qualifications equivalent to the qualifications described in subparagraph v, and

B. had, in addition to the experience required by paragraph 3, at least two years of successful experience in a position that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to a position described in subparagraph v.

vii. The candidate had, in addition to the experience required by paragraph 3, at least two years of experience,

A. as an education officer employed at the Ministry, as verified by a district manager or branch director of the Ministry, or as an employee outside Ontario in a position that the Registrar considers to be equivalent,

B. as an employee outside Ontario in a position that the Registrar considers to be equivalent to the position of supervisory officer of a school board, as verified by the appropriate supervisory official, or

C. as a program consultant seconded to the Ministry for French language, English language or Native language programs, as verified by a district manager or branch director of the Ministry, or as an employee outside Ontario in a position that the Registrar considers to be equivalent.

viii. The candidate had, in addition to the experience required by paragraph 3, at least two years of education-related leadership experience in an educational organization in a position that the Registrar considers comparable to one of the positions described in subparagraph vii.  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 35 (3).

(4) To fulfil the requirement in paragraph 4 of subsection (3) relating to the completion of graduate post-secondary credits or their equivalent, the credits or their equivalent must have been completed by the candidate in addition to any credits that he or she was required to complete to be granted a general certificate of qualification and registration.  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 35 (4).

(4.1) An entry on a candidate’s general certificate of qualification and registration indicating that he or she has qualifications in three subjects listed in Schedule F is deemed to be equivalent to one specialist or honour specialist qualification for the purposes of subparagraph 5 v of subsection (3).  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 49 (5).

(5) The Registrar may grant a one-year extension to the five-year period referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3 of subsection (2) if,

(a) in the Registrar’s opinion, there are exceptional circumstances that prevent the candidate from completing the program within the five years; and

(b) the person applied for the extension before the end of the five-year period.  O. Reg. 176/10, s. 35 (5).

As presented in https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/100176#BK50

Candidates from non-education backgrounds wishing to pursue their Supervisory Officer's Qualifications (Business) require all of the following:

1. The person has at least seven years of successful experience in business administration, including at least three years in a managerial role relevant to the role of business supervisory officer.
2. The person holds an acceptable post-secondary degree.
3. The person,
   1. holds a master's degree that is an acceptable post-secondary degree, or
   2. is qualified to practice as an architect, certified general accountant, certified management accountant, chartered accountant, lawyer, professional engineer or professional planner, or is qualified to practice in another professional capacity that, in the opinion of the Minister, provides experience appropriate for the position of business supervisory officer.
4. The person has successfully completed a program in school board management.
5. The person has successfully completed the business supervisory officer's qualifications program described in section 2.2 within five years after starting the program.

For more information, please refer to Section III of Supervisory Officers - Certification, Appointment and Notice of Suspension / Dismissal (2011).

The SOQP program is composed of four modules and a supervised leadership practicum that is to be completed within five years of the initial start date. This academically rigorous program is intended to prepare candidates for recommendation to the Ontario College of Teachers for a Supervisory Officer’s Certificate.

Traditionally, the Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program is offered in face-to-face modules during the Fall or Spring. Lakehead University understands the demands and time constraints of the modern educator, and we are committed to ensuring equal and equitable access to all teachers; regardless of their geographic context. As such, we are pleased to offer the Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program fully online.

Overview

Prior to beginning their practicum, candidates must submit their practicum proposal form. This must be approved by the practicum evaluator/supervisor before the candidate begins work on their practicum. SOQP candidates will identify, in consultation with their SOQP provider and mentor, a qualified, experienced supervisory officer from a district school board or similar educational environment, a specific leadership initiative related to the role of supervisory officer. The leadership practicum experience will involve collaboration with appropriate school board staff, school council or community representatives and employee organizations. The focus of the Leadership Practicum aligns with the SOQP course guideline. Provincial leadership initiatives, research and advancements in the field will inform the leadership practicum.

The Leadership Practicum may place the candidate in the role of supervisory officer acting as a member of a district school board administrative team or other similar educational leadership group. The candidate will assume responsibility for the Leadership Practicum; regular feedback from the SOQP instructor and mentor will be an integral component. The Leadership Practicum can only begin after it is approved by the provider.

Timeframe and Fees

The Leadership Practicum is an integral component of the SOQP Program which provides an opportunity for candidates to put what they have learned in the four modules into action. Please note the following: Candidates are to have a minimum of two SOQP Modules completed prior to commencing their Leadership Practicum. Candidates must complete all four modules and the Leadership Practicum within five years of beginning the SOQP (Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation S. 55(1), 7). The duration of the Leadership Practicum will be a minimum of 50 hours. Candidates are to register for the Leadership Practicum module and remit the course fee of $750, prior to submitting their package for assessment.

Forms

Please contact us via email at SOQP@lakeheadu.ca to obtain practicum forms regarding approval and submission.

Each of the four modules costs $1350, and the practicum $750, for a total cost of $6150. This fee is subject to change annually. Fees for each module are payable with our online registration system. Lakehead University will provide candidates with appropriate receipts for income tax purposes.

Since the modules are offered predominantly online, there is very little travel expense required of candidates (time away from family and work, hotels, transportation costs, air fare, meals).

Candidates in any programs offered by Professional Development in Education may be entitled to a refund of applicable fees if they withdraw from a course in a timely fashion. Please see the chart below for details about deadlines and non-refundable fees.