Working in education in Ottawa–Gatineau
Last reviewed: September 16, 2026
Education is one of the few sectors here that hires in both French and English, at every qualification level. The rules, however, change completely depending on which shore you're on.
Who hires on the Ontario side
Four school boards share Ottawa's territory: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (English public), the Ottawa Catholic School Board (English Catholic), the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (French public) and the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ontario's largest French-language school board.
Add the postsecondary institutions — University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, La Cité — along with child care centres and early years programs.
Who hires on the Quebec side
In the Outaouais, school service centres run the French-language network, notably Portages-de-l'Outaouais, Draveurs, au Cœur-des-Vallées and Hauts-Bois-de-l'Outaouais. The Western Quebec School Board serves the English-speaking population.
At the postsecondary level, the Université du Québec en Outaouais and the Cégep de l'Outaouais hire teaching and support staff.
Teaching: two separate regimes
To teach in a publicly funded school in Ontario, you must be a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers. No school board can waive that.
In Quebec, the teaching licence issued by the Ministère de l'Éducation grants the authorization to teach. A qualification earned in one province doesn't transfer automatically to the other: plan separate steps if you're targeting both shores.
How to get in
Supply or occasional teaching is the usual way in. Boards and service centres keep supply lists, and regular presence in schools often leads to a contract.
Support staff make up a large share of postings: early childhood educators, educational assistants, office staff, custodial, school transportation, lunch supervision. These roles don't require a teaching licence and follow the school calendar.
The hiring calendar
Most postings go out in spring for the September start, with a second wave in August once actual enrolment firms up. A third, quieter period follows in January.
Outside those peaks, supply lists stay open nearly year-round.