QECO works for the teacher. Its employees are committed to providing the best possible service for teachers in Ontario.
Below is a list of the most common services that QECO provides to teachers. Teachers must apply online to receive these services. Teachers must also meet all eligibility requirements to be entitled to QECO services.
Teachers must note that this is not a comprehensive list. These are just the most common requests that QECO receives from teachers. Teachers may apply for any other requests not mentioned here.
Teachers can always contact QECO with any questions.
First Time Applicants – Initial Evaluations
Teachers who have not yet received a QECO evaluation are encouraged to apply as soon as possible so they can receive their initial category placement and upgrading advice. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Teachers newly certified by the OCT, including teachers with a Temporary or Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
- Teachers who were evaluated by the OSSTF prior to May 11, 2020.
- Teachers whose teacher training program was completed abroad (internationally educated teachers).
- OCT certified teachers who otherwise never applied for their first QECO evaluation.
When the initial evaluation is complete, a teacher will receive a statement of evaluation and cover letter. These documents can be downloaded and provided to the teacher’s employer to update their salary category. It is a teacher’s responsibility to provide their statement and cover letter to their school board.
If the teacher does not receive Category A4 placement right away, they will also receive an upgrading letter. This letter contains upgrading advice tailored to the teacher and is only for that teacher. QECO will always provide upgrading advice to a teacher who does not receive Category A4 placement.
Category Changes & Upgrading Advice
If a teacher has completed one of the options outlined in their upgrading letter and is seeking a category upgrade, they must apply to QECO. Teachers must apply to QECO each and every time they want to be considered for an upgrade.
When the evaluation is complete, and if the teacher receives a category upgrade, then a new statement of evaluation and cover letter will be provided which reflect the new category placement. It is a teacher’s responsibility to provide their statement and cover letter to their school board.
If the teacher is not placed in Category A4, or if they do not otherwise receive a category upgrade, they will also receive an upgrading letter or letter of confirmation. This letter contains upgrading advice tailored to the teacher and is only for that teacher. QECO will always provide upgrading advice to a teacher who does not receive Category A4 placement.
A teacher may also apply any time for upgrading advice, regardless of whether they qualify for a category upgrade. Teachers are encouraged to apply to QECO for an evaluation at least once each year to make sure that they are on the fastest path to Category A4 placement. Teachers can also ask specific questions and have their upgrading advice tailored accordingly (for example, if a teacher is pursuing a master’s degree outside of their basic teacher training, or if they want to know how specific AQs or ABQs might affect their category placement, and so on).
QECO only provides upgrading advice on how to reach the next category from a teacher’s current placement. For example, if a teacher is placed in Category A1, QECO can only outline upgrading advice on how to reach Category A2. QECO evaluators cannot outline a path to Category A4 unless a teacher is already in Category A3 because the upgrading advice will depend on how the teacher reached Category A3 placement. Teachers who wish to see, at a glance, how to reach Category A4 from their current placement can review the QECO Evaluation Charts.
Duplicate Statements of Evaluation
QECO statements of evaluation are all electronic. Teachers can login to apps.qeco.ca and look under the Letters tab of their most recent application to find all the letters QECOgenerated for that application.
Teachers who cannot find their letters in this manner (e.g. teachers whose last evaluation or category upgrade was prior to September 2018) must apply to QECO and request a duplicate statement of evaluation. Then, QECO will generate a new Statement of Evaluation and Cover Letter for the teacher, and will also provide upgrading advice if applicable.
Name Changes
It is QECO policy that a teacher’s name on file with QECO must match the name that teacher has on file with the OCT. Teachers wishing to have their name changed in the QECO system or to have a duplicate statement issued under their new name must first have their named changed with the OCT. Once their name has been changed and the new name appears on the teacher’s OCT Certificate of Qualification and Registration (visible on the public register at oct.ca), the teacher can login to apps.qeco.ca and submit a new application to request the name change.
Formal Requests for Information in Writing
For any formal requests for written information including, but not limited to:
- Letters for graduate degree allowance or other special allowances
- Letters for retroactive pay
- Any other letters required by a school board or other entity
Teachers must apply and specify their request on the last page of the application form.
Note that QECO has no authority or information regarding how a teacher can claim special allowances, retroactive pay, et cetera. These matters are between the teacher and their employer depending on their collective agreement. However, school boards may request written documentation from the teacher that QECO is able to provide.
In these cases, teachers must confirm exactly what documentation is required, then apply to QECO and provide those specifics. If QECO can assist, then documentation will be made available for the teacher in their account at apps.qeco.ca. The teacher is responsible for providing this documentation to their employer (or whichever entity requested the documentation).
What QECO Does Not Do
- QECO does not communicate with anyone but the teacher.
- QECO does not grant or administer qualifications. QECO only evaluates the qualifications a teacher already has.
- QECO does not update a teacher’s salary category placement unless the teacher applies for an evaluation. Upgrades are not “automatic”. Teachers must apply to QECO each and every time they want to be considered for a category upgrade.
- QECO does not communicate with a school board on the teacher’s behalf:
- Teachers are responsible for providing statements of evaluation to their school boards to ensure the board is paying them the correct salary.
- A teacher must apply to QECO for any information that their board requires in writing from QECO . Once QECO provides this information to the teacher, it is the teacher’s responsibility to provide it to their board.
- QECO does not automatically receive documents from any institution or entity. Teachers are responsible for providing QECO with all the information and documents required for an evaluation.
- QECO does not and cannot update a teacher’s OCT Certificate of Qualification and Registration. Teachers must contact the OCT for this.