The number of teachers working in School District 27 under letters of permission is on the decline.
Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher's Association president Jessica Hill said that while the number of teachers and educators working under letters of permission, or LOPs, did spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, in recent years this number has begun to decline. In 2025, she said of the CCTA's roughly 300 members, 12 are teachers working under LOPs.
"A teacher working under a letter of permission is someone who, for lack of a better term, has been temporarily certified by the teacher regulation branch," Hill explained. "In our district, they're pretty strict about hiring somebody under a letter of permission if they already have some kind of degree that's applicable to the job they might have to do."
This can include a teaching degree or certificate from another country, a skilled tradesperson with a degree as a shop teacher and in one case, a school counsellor with training as a clinical counsellor. Hill said they also have had education assistants step forward into an LOP position, typically because they're pursuing a career in education.
An LOP is typically only hired for a position after SD27 has "exhausted" all other options in the search for a certified teacher, Hill said, which is standard across B.C. Once a teacher with an LOP is in that position, they will remain there for the entire school year, unless the posting was temporary to fill a shortage, like a maternity leave, Hill noted.
"The goal is always to hire certified. From one year to the next, there is definitely some job insecurity there (for LOPs), but within the year, it should be pretty stable," Hill explained, adding that a LOP is tied to the specific job the educator is hired to do.
Most people who work under LOPs tend to be transitional, Hill noted, either moving on to a new job after the year is up or taking steps to become a certified teacher to secure full-time employment. Some apply year after year, with Hill adding she has talked to SD27 about finding ways to support long-term LOPs in getting that certification by ensuring job security.
To become a certified teacher, Hill said, there are many options available these days, from the traditional university route to online courses that provide a certificate. The biggest hurdle she sees is that you still have to do some in-person training, at least 20 per cent, and a supervised practicum as part of an accredited university program.
"If you live in, say, 100 Mile or Williams Lake and you have to go to Calgary, for example, for those two weeks in the summer, for some people, that night not be feasible and a barrier for them to get into that school," Hill said.
One of the requirements of a practicum is that you can't be paid while completing it, so even if the individual has prior experience teaching in a classroom setting, they would still need to complete it. Hill noted that some LOPs do need more mentorship and support than a credited teacher, putting a further strain on the CCTA's membership.
"I think more often than not, members would prefer someone who was an EA because at least they have a familiarity with classroom structures and some educational background," Hill said. "Managing students in a diverse learning environment is often not what people expect."
Hill noted that many school districts have relied on LOPs to fill gaps during the current teacher shortage in B.C., with some having up to 50 LOPs at a time. In SD27 Hill said efforts to recruit certified teachers remain the priority for the school district.
Ultimately, Hill said she hopes SD27 is able to find ways to continue to address the teacher shortage while ensuring LOPs are given the opportunity to become fully certified teachers.
"I would say two to three years ago, we were probably over 20 LOPs. I don't think we ever hit 30, but it has come down quite a bit in the last two years," Hill said. "Our HR and our district are constantly recruiting. They bring teachers with them to help share the story of what it's like to live in 100 Mile, Williams Lake or even out west, so when they're at these recruitment fairs, they have real people who can talk about real experiences."
