Pre-module and Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) Access

Pre-module Work

The content includes a course overview and opportunity for community building. There may be some other specific assignments designed to help candidates reflect and prepare for productive conversations and participation.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Pre-module

All candidates will be asked to complete an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) self-directed module (generally 2-5 hours) that is meant activate prior knowledge, provide an opportunity for self-reflection and new knowledge building. It is our hope that you will take the learning and reflection from this pre-module forward into the course as you engage with the facilitator and colleagues on a variety of topics. 

Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) Access

All program content and the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) access will be available to candidates/participants at least one week in advance of the program/course and will remain active for four weeks after the end of the program/course. Following this period, candidates/participants will no longer have access to assignments, conversations, resources or other content. Please save any information that you would like to retain during the timeframe that you have access to the LMS.

PQP Part 1 Modules

Module 1: The Role of the Principal

Module 2: Equitable and Inclusive Schools

Module 3: Management and Leadership

Module 4: Pedagogical Leadership

Module 5: Inclusive Education

Module 6: Co-creating Safe Schools

PQP Part 2 Modules

Module 7: The Changing Role of the School Leader

Module 8: Co-creating an Inclusive School

Module 9: Building Professional Capital

Module 10: Evidence-based Decision Making

Module 11: Building Relationships with Parents and the Community

Module 12: Supporting Wellness and Well-Being

Candidates will need to purchase a copy of the required text prior to the start of the program. Purchasing information is included below.

Part 1 Text - Required

Street Data: A Next Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy and School Transformation

by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan (2021)

Available through Corwin Canada, Amazon.ca or Indigo.ca.

Part 1 Text - Recommended

Collaborative Inquiry For Educators: A Facilitator's Guide to School Improvement

by Jenni Donohoo (2013)

Available through Corwin Canada, Amazon.ca or Indigo.ca.

Part 2 Text - Required   

Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Curriculum and Instruction

by Gholdy Muhammad (2023)

Available through Scholastic.ca, Amazon.ca or Indigo.ca.

Program Timelines

OPC offers sessions of the PQP in fall, spring and summer.

It is possible to complete all components of the PQP in 1- to 2-years.

Candidates that take the course with OPC have 3-years after the date of completion of the Part 1 course to complete the Part 2 course and all components of the Leadership Inquiry Practicum.

• The LIP must apply to a school setting and be mentored by a practising principal or vice-principal.
• The duration of the LIP will be a minimum of 50 hours, of which 20 hours can be observation.
• Candidates identify a specific LIP informed by PQP content, a variety of leadership frameworks and a problem of practice in a school setting.

Candidates will develop a LIP proposal in Part 1 and successfully complete the LIP before the Part 2 qualification is recommended to OCT for acknowledgement.

Deadline - Candidates have three years after the date of completion of the Part 1 course to complete all components of their practicum.

Note for candidates who choose

• Part 1 with OPC and Part 2 with a different provider - the practicum is still completed with OPC. A confirmation of completion letter will be issued that the candidate can submit to their Part 2 course provider who will report their Part 2 qualification to OCT.
• Part 1 with a different provider and Part 2 with OPC - please provide OPC with a practicum completion letter for us to report the Part 2 qualification to OCT.
• Requests or documentation must be submitted by email to pqp@principals.ca or by upload during registration (as applicable).

The Master's Dimension (MD) option is available if you plan on completing PQP Part 1 and Part 2 through the OPC and would like advance standing credits towards a Master of Education degree with post-secondary partner institutions.

Appropriate academic standards apply to the Leadership Inquiry Practicum component. For more information, please visit our MD overview.

PQP Part 1

Candidates must have:

• Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) certificate.
• OCT membership in Good Standing.
• An acceptable post-secondary undergraduate degree.
• Qualifications in three divisions, where one division is in Intermediate, defined as
• in the intermediate division in a general education subject listed in Schedule A or
• for technological teachers, qualifications in grades 9 and 10 in a technological education subject listed in Schedule B. 
• Five years of verified classroom teaching experience in elementary or secondary education.
• One from this list of further qualifications:
• Two Specialist AQ from Schedule D (or two Honour Specialist AQ from Schedule E) or combination.
• One Specialist AQ and a half master's degree.
• A full master's degree or a doctorate with at least 30 graduate credits or equivalent.

Transcripts - Candidates applying with graduate credits or who would like consideration of a half master's, must submit a transcript to OPC for evaluation to determine if the prerequisite for admission has been met. A digital copy will suffice (an original is not necessary).

Transcripts will be evaluated as follows:

• The graduate credits are granted by an institution authorized to grant an acceptable postsecondary degree.
• If graduate credits were applied towards obtaining initial certification with OCT, only credits completed in addition will be considered towards admission to the PQP.

For detailed information on the PQP admission requirements, refer to Regulation 176/10 from the Education Statutes and Regulations of Ontario. 

If there is a qualification that has been completed but is not yet posted to the OCT certificate, a Conditional Admission Form (for Part 1 candidates) or equivalent documentation to verify the completion, must be submitted before the start of the Part 1 program.

PQP Part 2

Candidates must have:

• Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) certificate.
• OCT membership in Good Standing.
• PQP Part 1
  • If the qualification is not yet posted on the OCT certificate and the course was completed 
    • with OPC - the verification of completion will be handled internally for candidates that are registering for consecutive sessions (Part 1 followed by Part 2). 
    • with a different provider other than OPC - a Conditional Admission Form (for Part 2 candidates) or equivalent documentation to verify the completion, must be submitted before the course start date.

Disclaimer

Candidates are solely responsible for ensuring they meet all eligibility requirements under O. Reg. 176/10 under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, including applicable academic, professional, experiential, and credit prerequisites as determined by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). These requirements are a prerequisite to admission to Additional Qualifications (AQ) courses/programs, and to successful recommendation to the OCT. It is the candidate’s obligation to provide truthful, complete and accurate documentation, and to confirm that their academic and professional history fulfills all regulatory requirements.

Completion of an AQ course/programs through the OPC does not guarantee the OCT will

• accept a candidate’s qualifications,
• record the qualification on the Certificate of Qualification and Registration, or
• recognize any credits submitted.

If the OCT determines a candidate does not meet prescribed requirements — even where OPC has accepted the registration and the candidate has completed or paid for the program — the OPC shall not be liable for any loss, claim, cost, expense or damage however arising from that determination.

Fall 2025 - Closed

General Online - Part 1 and 2 are always offered and open to all eligible teachers. Board participation will be posted when information is available. 

Fall registration deadline: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Spring 2026 - Board registration now available!

General Online - Part 1 and 2 are always offered and open to all eligible teachers. Board participation will be posted when information is available. 

Spring registration deadline: Sunday, January 25, 2026

Summer 2026

*Dates are tentative and subject to change.

Summer registration deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Academic Integrity and Engagement

Professional Learning Expectations and Standards

Accessibility and Other Policies

Our Accessibility and other policies that relate to OPC programs are outlined on the OPC Policies webpage.

Fees and Refund Policy

Full payment is required for registration to be confirmed.

If payment is not completed, an email with a link to a secure online form will be sent as a reminder during the week prior to registration closing.

• Once issued, the link is available for 4-days before the application is automatically cancelled and you will no longer receive course notifications.
• To continue the application, contact us at pqp@principals.ca.

Refund and withdrawal requests are handled as follows:

A full refund applies when an offered section or session is cancelled due to low enrollment.

The program is

• accredited with and follows the Ontario College of Teachers’ regulations.
• instructed by exemplary, provincially-trained, practising principals who are under contract as facilitators.
• designed with input from principals and vice-principals to meet the needs of candidates from all school boards, including local input on school board policy, protocol and professional practice.
• supported by expert guest presenters.
• a step in the leadership development continuum that school boards partner with OPC to provide. This continuum offers support for
  • aspiring school leaders
  • provincial licensing
  • a mentoring program
  • professional development workshops/presentations and
  • the Supervisory Officer's Qualification Program (SOQP).

The program also offers

• professional learning around
  • collaborative practice
  • the use of data to improve teaching and learning, and
  • the legal responsibilities of a principal.

• case study exercises to enhance the practical learning experience.
• opportunities for a diverse group of candidates from various backgrounds and experiences to learn with and from each other and develop long lasting multi-school board networks.
• an emotional intelligence inventory to give feedback to the candidates around their strengths and areas for growth as a school administrator.
• Master's Dimension - candidates who choose to add this option can apply for advanced standing credits with post-secondary partner institutions who recognise the completion of PQP Part 1 and 2 as part of a Master of Education graduate degree.

• Part 1 Conditional Admission Form
• Part 2 Conditional Admission Form

Conditional Admission Form instructions:

1. Part A is to be completed by the Instructor or someone from admission, confirming your successful completion.
2. Part C is completed by you.
3. Part B is completed by OPC after the form is submitted to us.

This form can be uploaded to your candidate file via upload link when completed.

As part of the application process, you are required to provide adequate proof of 5+ years teaching experience.

Ontario School Board Teachers

A Superintendent must verify all teaching experience. If you are not sure of the person in charge of signing, please enquire with your board's employee/teaching records team directly. A Principal may NOT confirm your experience. 

Process:

• Once you register, you will be prompted to forward an email to the contact at your board who would verify your teaching experience.
• The Superintendent can complete the form to verify that you have the required years of experience.
• OPC will receive an automatic email confirmation upon completion of the form and your file will be updated to reflect that this requirement has been met.

Private Schools or First Nations Education Authority in Ontario

If you work at a private school (international or otherwise) operating in Ontario or a First Nations Authority, your teaching experience must be verified with the signature of a Supervisory Official. A Principal may NOT confirm your experience.

In Ontario, there is a Ministry of Education official appointed to provide supervisory services. The OCT has a form (fillable PDF) that can be submitted with your request - Statement of Successful Teaching Experience

Contact:

Private Schools and International Education Unit
Field Services Branch
Ministry of Education
416-325-1981
fsb.psie@ontario.ca

This form can be uploaded to your OPC candidate file via upload link when completed. We require the form prior to the PQP start date to finalize your admission to the program.

INTERNATIONAL (Outside of Ontario):

Applicants that have work experience teaching abroad are considered. You must be qualified to teach in the jurisdiction where the school is located and in a paid position for the experience to be acceptable. Refer to OCT's page on acceptable teaching experience for guidelines. 

Documentation requirements are:

• Must be official school letterhead with employment details, which include position, grades taught and dates.
• Signed by the headmaster / supervisory / district official of the school or equivalent.

A tax receipt will be generated and available on your OPC account by the end of February for the previous tax year.

To access the document:

• Log into the OPC website.
• Go to "My Profile" on the navy blue bar towards the top right of the browser window.
• Click on “Program Tax Receipts”.
• Select the appropriate year to open and print your tax receipt.