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Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education

Location(s): ​Dawson Creek, and ​Fort St. John

The Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE) is a joint teacher education program offered by Simon Fraser University (SFU), Northern Lights College, School Districts 59, 60, 81, and local teacher associations. The AHCOTE program has existed at NLC for more than two decades, and hundreds of program graduates now work in school districts across the region and beyond.

Students who enter AHCOTE with a previously completed degree finish the program in 1.5 years and are then eligible to apply to the Teacher Regulation Branch, to start teaching with a Professional Teaching Certificate provided all course prerequisites have been met. Students who enter AHCOTE with 60 credits in designated areas or with NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree (Education) also finish the program in 1.5 years and are then eligible to apply to the Teacher Regulation Branch, to start teaching with a Conditional Teaching Certificate provided they have the required minimum credits and all course prerequisites have been met. These students generally need an additional 30 elective credits to earn SFU’s Bachelor of General Studies (Education) and a Professional Teaching Certificate.

Career Prospects

AHCOTE graduates receive either a Professional or Conditional Teaching Certificate from the Teacher Regulation Branch of BC (TRB).

  • Professional Certificate (no expiry date): Awarded to AHCOTE graduates who have a full degree and have completed all coursework required by the TRB.
  • Conditional Certificate (five-year duration): Awarded to AHCOTE graduates who are still working toward a degree but have completed the required minimum credits and all coursework required by the TRB. Individuals in this category must complete a degree within five years to be eligible to continue teaching.

Details

Intakes

LocationStartingType
Dawson CreekFallCohort 
Fort St JohnFallCohort 

Note:  The application period for each intake is October 1 to mid-January.  See the SFU Application Closing Date for the next intake details.

Length

This is a 16-month program taken over four semesters.

Estimated Program Fees

Fees for this program are set by SFU.  See SFU student fees.

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Admission Requirements

Admission to AHCOTE is subject to a competitive application process that includes a review of academic performance, prerequisite completion, experience in a classroom setting, and an interview. To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  • completion of NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree (Education); or
  • completion of a minimum of 60 university-level credits that include all required coursework*; or
  • completion of a degree from an accredited university.

* Please see the Application & Tuition – Faculty of Education – Simon Fraser University (sfu.ca) for more information on required coursework.

All applicants must apply to both SFU and NLC.  Admission to NLC is conditional upon admission to SFU.

Important Notes

  1. The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAidBC to apply for financial assistance online.
  2. With minimal additional coursework, students who hold a degree upon entering AHCOTE may also qualify for SFU’s Bachelor of Education as a Second Degree after completing AHCOTE.
  3. AHCOTE students who do not have a degree when they begin the program are advised to pursue SFU’s Bachelor of General Studies (Education) degree.
  4. This program is affiliated with Simon Fraser University and SD 59, 60, and 81.

Program Requirements

Program requirements provided here are abridged from SFU.  For details, please see SFU’s Schedule of Courses.

Semester One

September – December

Semester Two

January – April

  • SFU Education 401/402 (school placements begin)

Semester Three

May – June or May – August

  • SFU Education 404: Additional educational/professional coursework.

For those pursuing the Secondary-level teaching option, this semester is spent at SFU’s Burnaby campus, taking specialized methodology courses.

Semester Four

September – December

  • SFU Education 405 (major school placement practicum)

Notes

For further information about SFU Education courses, please go to sfu.ca/education

Credential

None