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FAQs - PD for Teachers

If your question is not listed below, please contact the Office of the Registrar by email at registrar@nipissingu.ca or by phone at 1-800-655-5154 ext. 1 or 705-474-3461 ext. 4760.

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Before your course begins

After your course

I want to know …

 

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

 

How do I find the admission requirements for an AQ or ABQ course?

 
Be sure you are eligible to take the AQ, ABQ or Honour Specialist course before registering.  For admission Information, click here.
 
 

How do I register for an AQ or ABQ course?

 
Students may register online or by completing a paper registration.

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How much is the course and how do I make payment?

 
Please click here to view course fees and payment options.
 
Full payment is due at the time of registration. 
 
Students registering through WebAdvisor will be required to provide a credit card payment in the Teachers or Master Students Menu under “Financial Information” - “Pay on My Account”.
 
Students registering by fax are required to provide a Method of Payment form authorizing payment by credit card.  If registration forms are mailed, payment may be made by credit card, by cheque or by money order.
 
Non-payment of fees will render a student ineligible for registration in future sessions. Students who are in financial arrears to the University will not be issued a transcript, letter of standing or related evidence of their academic progress, nor will they be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers until such time as their accounts are cleared.
 
 

Do I need to be pre-approved before I register for a course?

 
Pre-approval is required only for Intermediate ABQ courses, Senior ABQ courses and Honour Specialist (all subjects) courses only.  Click here for the Pre-Approval process.
 
 

I am registering in a Part II or Part III course.  Where do I get a Statement of Teaching Experience Form?

 
You may access the Statement of Experience form under the “Forms and Schedule” section on the PD for Teachers website.
 
 

Do I need to send a transcript?

 
Official transcripts are only required when applying for an Intermediate ABQ, a Senior ABQ, an Honours Specialist and/or the Principals Qualification, Part I course.
 

I am interested in applying for FSL Part I.  Where can I find further information?

 

French as a Second Language Part I (FSL) qualifies successful candidates to teach FSL in core, extended and immersion programs in elementary and secondary schools in Ontario
 

Candidates wanting to register for FSL Part I must successfully complete Nipissing University’s oral and written French Language Proficiency test as an entrance requirement before being permitted to register in Part I.  Candidates may only be exempt from the test by submitting to the Office of the Registrar either:

  • a Certificate of Bilingualism from either Nipissing University, Laurentian University or from the Federal government;
  • a transcript showing proof of graduation from a francophone university having studied in the French language;
  • Level B2 Diploma (provided upon successful completion of the DELF French proficiency test). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to access French Language Proficiency test information.

I am a BEd student at an Ontario University.  Can I take an Intersession/Summer course?

 
BEd students graduating from an Ontario Faculty of Education may take courses with Nipissing University providing that they have met all the degree requirements to graduate and have registered with OCT prior to the start of the course.   
 
Students considering registering in a course must register their OCT registration number through WebAdvisor on the Teachers or Masters Students menu under  “User Account” – “Register OCT number” prior to registering for a course.
 
Non-Nipissing BEd students must also provide to the Registrar’s Office a letter from their university verifying successful completion of the B.Ed Program.  The degree requirements for the BEd program must be completed prior to the start of the AQ or ABQ course.
 

How do I know if my documentation is complete for the course?

 
Should you be required to submit documentation to support your admission to the course, it will be noted on your Confirmation of Registration letter which will be mailed to you shortly after you are registered in the course.  
 
Students may also view their document status through WebAdvisor in the Teachers or Masters Students menu under “Communication” – “Important Documents-Outstanding/Received”. 
 

How do I change/update my mailing address, phone number and/or email address?

 
You may change/update your address and phone number on-line through WebAdvisor – “User Account” – Mailing/Home Address Change” or contact the Office of the Registrar by email at registrar@nipissingu.ca, or by fax at 705-495-1772.  Please include your full name and student number.
 

How do I order a textbook?

 
A list of required textbooks is located on our website and is updated regularly.    Not all courses require textbooks.  Unless otherwise noted, textbooks may be ordered from The Education Centre Shop at www.nipissingu.bkstr.com.
 
Please click here to access the Required Textbooks page.
 

What happens if my course is cancelled?

 

In the event that a course is cancelled by the University, registered students will be contacted either by email or by phone and may have an option to be placed in an alternate course if registration is still open and space is still available or will receive a full refund.
 

Does my course require a practicum?

 
Some courses require a Practicum, an Action Investigation or a guided observation component.  Please contact the In-Service Department at inservce@nipissingu.ca or 705-474-3450 ext. 4217 to inquire if the course you are registering in requires a Practicum or an Action Investigation component.
 

How do I access my on-line course?

 
To access your on-line course, go to the Blackboard webpage: http://www.nipissingu.ca/webct/login.htm

In order to access your course it is necessary for you to have your Nipissing username and password which can be found on your Confirmation of Registration email or letter.
 

When will I receive my grades?

 
Grades will be posted on WebAdvisor approximately 4 weeks after the last day of the course.   You can view your marks through WebAdvisor – Summary of Grades. 
 
A transcript processing fee is included in the course registration fee for AQ courses therefore one official transcript of all your Nipissing courses will be mailed to students to the mailing address on file once the recommendation has been sent to the Ontario College of Teachers.  Requests for additional official transcripts must be made through the Office of the Registrar.  Transcript Requests forms can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s webpage at www.nipissingu.ca/registrar then click on “Application & Other Forms”.
 

When will I be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers for this course?

Upon successful completion of any AQ courses, with a minimum grade of 60%, students who are certified teachers will be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers for the appropriate additional qualification or additional basic qualification.  To be recommended, students must have submitted all required documentation and must not be in financial arrears to the university.  Students must provide an OCT registration number and a date of birth in order to have their course recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers.    The Ontario College of Teachers also recommends that you provide a SIN number. 
 
Recommendations are sent in a batch file to the Ontario College of Teachers usually four weeks after the end date of the course.  Sufficient time is required for all grades for the session to be submitted by the instructors, signed off on by the Associate Dean, and verified by the Office of the Registrar.  Individual recommendations will not be sent to OCT in advance of the batch recommendation submission.  An official transcript of the grade completed will be mailed to the student once the recommendation has been sent to OCT.

Students should inform the Registrar’s Office if the course does not appear on their Certificate of Qualification within three months of the official course completion date.  Although rare, there are occasions when recommendations get missed. 
 

How are courses delivered?

Here are the course delivery options: 

On-site and Blended (Partial Distance)

On-site courses are delivered by face-to-face classroom delivery. Participants in these courses enjoy the benefit of sharing knowledge and insights with their peers.

On-site courses are usually held in easily accessible schools in areas across the province where we have an Area Coordinator. On-site courses are subject to minimum enrolments and these may vary by location depending on the cost of offering the course in that area.

In some situations, courses may be offered through partial distance, which means a combination of on-site and on-line delivery.

On-site and partial distance courses are offered in regions throughout Ontario including: Brantford/Waterloo, York region, Simcoe County, Muskoka, North Bay, East and West Parry Sound, Ottawa, Renfrew County, Sudbury, Manitoulin Island, Sault Ste.

Correspondence (Private Study)
Nipissing University offers a variety of courses through correspondence, where the student works independently and corresponds with the instructor via mail, telephone, fax and/or e-mail.
 
Correspondence courses allow students the benefit of completing courses in the comfort of their own home. Students who register for courses with print delivery are sent a course package shortly before the course start date which provides information on how to proceed through each lesson and assignment, as well as specified deadlines for each assignment. Students may also be asked to access and use additional course resources such as textbooks, articles, curriculum documents, internet resources etc.  Students enrolled in correspondence courses should have access to a computer as well as the internet.
 
Online Courses (WebCT - Blackboard)
Nipissing uses Blackboard for its online course delivery.  Many students wonder whether taking on-line courses would be for them. There are many advantages to completing courses in this environment: flexible hours in completing course work and interactive discussion boards, and chat rooms that allow you to a much broader awareness of issues and practices in education on a provincial, national, and global scale.  Our on-line courses are offered in an “asynchronous” environment meaning that students are not required to log on at specified times. Students do not require prior experience participating in online discussions or chat rooms to complete a Blackboard course successfully.
 
Click here for information on the technology requirement to an online course.

What is the difference between a three-part Specialist Qualification and an Honour Specialist Qualification in the same subject?

The three-part specialist qualification (Schedule D) requires that a member take three separate courses (Part I, Part II and Part III (Specialist)). One year of teaching experience is also required for admission to part two. Two school years (388 days) of teaching experience, one school year (194 days) of which is in the subject of the additional qualification, is required before being admitted to the Part III (Specialist) of the course. These three courses allow the member to build subject area expertise and enhance knowledge about teaching the subject.
 
The Honour Specialist Qualification is one course and is designed for members who already have expertise and a background in the subject from a previous degree. To be admitted to the course, the member must provide evidence of 20 full academic courses (not professional teacher education courses) and evidence of his/her background in the form of nine full courses with a minimum of a B average in the subject. The member must also have two school years (388 days) of teaching experience, one school year (194 days) of which is in the subject of the Honour Specialist.  The experience must be completed before the start date of the course.
 

I have sent a Teaching Experience form for a Part II course.  Do I need to send another one for a Part III (Specialist) course?

 
Yes.  The experience required for a Part II course is different from that required for a Part III Specialist course. For a Part II course you only need one (1) school year (194 days) of successful teaching experience. For a Part III (Specialist) course, you must have two (2) school years (388 days) of successful teaching experience, including one (1) year (194 days) of teaching experience in the subject area the Part III (Specialist) course.
 
The form must be signed by an appropriate supervisory officer prior to the start date of the course.  A Principal’s signature does not satisfy this requirement.
 

How do I withdraw from a course and will I receive a refund?

 

To withdraw from a course, students must either withdraw on-line using WebAdvisor OR submit a written withdrawal letter to the attention of the Office of the Registrar either by fax at 705-495-1772 or by email at registrar@nipissingu.ca prior to the deadline date.
 
After this request has been processed by the Office of the Registrar, the student is then officially withdrawn and may be eligible for a credit (or portion) or tuition fees to their account.  A mark of “W” (Withdrawn) or “F” (Failed) may appear on a student’s academic record depending on the date that the withdrawal request has been received. 
 
Note:  Failure to submit payment for a course, discontinuing attendance in classes, login to an on-line course, submit any assignments, notification to the instructor, or stopping payment on a cheque does not constitute an official withdrawal. 
 
Course withdrawals after the course begins:  $200 non-refundable cancellation fee
Course withdrawals before the course begins:  Receive a full refund
 
The Withdrawal Date is considered to be the date the student withdraws using WebAdvisor or the date the withdrawal letter is received in the Office of the Registrar.  If a credit remains on a student’s account after all fees are paid, a refund cheque will be issued.  Refund cheques are generally processed 4 to 6 weeks after a student has withdrawn and are mailed to the permanent home address listed on file.  Students will receive a tuition refund (less the applicable cancellation fee) up to the date specified in the Important Dates and Deadline chart below.  Students who withdraw after the specified dates will not be eligible for a tuition refund.
 
Please view the Important Dates and Deadlines before withdrawing.
 

Who do I contact about technical assistance?

 
Contact the University Technology Services’ (UTS) Help Desk at 705-474-3461 x 4342 or helpdesk@nipissingu.ca.
 

I have previous experience in an area of education.  How can I receive equivalency for it?

 
Nipissing cannot grant equivalencies. You must submit your documentation to the Ontario College of Teachers for consideration of an equivalency.
 

I am a certified teacher with French as my teaching subject at the Intermediate and/or Senior division.  Will this teaching subject give me my FSL Part I qualification?

 
Students who are qualified to teach in the Intermediate and/or Senior divisions may be granted an equivalency for Part I of corresponding three-session courses, for the purposes of entry into Part II (once one year of successful teaching experience has been completed).  The equivalency does not work the other way around (i.e., students who have completed Part I of a three-session course are not considered to have the equivalent teachable in the Intermediate or Senior division).
 
The Intermediate or Senior teachable must be entered on the teacher’s Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification.
 
Some School Boards require that prospective employees complete the FSL, Part I course as a condition of hire, even if they hold the Intermediate and/or Senior French qualification.  Therefore it is recommended that you contact the Board(s) in which you wish to teach to clarify their hiring policies.
 
For a list of course equivalencies available at Nipissing University, click here.
 
For further information about equivalent standing, please visit the OCT website.
 

 




 
Nipissing University
100 College Drive, Box 5002
North Bay, ON, Canada
P1B 8L7
Tel: 705.474.3450
TTY: 877.688.5507
Brantford Campus
50 Wellington St.
Brantford, ON, Canada
N3T 2L6
Tel: 519.752.1524
Muskoka Campus
125 Wellington Street
Bracebridge, ON, Canada
P1L 1E2
Tel: 705.645.2921
 

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