EDUC 570: Field Experience for Certification

EDUC 570 students will plan, implement, and assess a series of lessons, working up to 80-100% teaching time by the end of Week 5.

Each lesson will require a written lesson plan that asks what do I want the learners to know and what will I accept as evidence that the lesson has been successful? Students are encouraged to utilize the lesson plan recommended by their Partner Teacher or Field Experience Instructor.

By the end of EDUC 570, it is expected that students will have met the following outcomes:

1. Develop an understanding of how to connect curriculum pedagogy to current research and contemporary educational thought and curriculum.
2. Articulate an emerging philosophy/vision of learners, teachers and schools and the ways in which experience and study has informed this vision.
3. Articulate the ways in which pedagogical relationships that support student learning have been formed.
4. Engage in extending curriculum expertise through planning, teaching and assessment and reflection.  This includes multiple ways of engaging diverse learners in the discipline.
5. Negotiate professional relationships in your school environment in a manner that contributes to your emerging professional identity and professionalism.

By the end of the fifth week of Field Experience 570, the Pre-service Teacher will be expected to take responsibility for the instructional load and will be teaching 80% to 100% of the day.

The Partner Teacher will prepare a narrative assessment which will be a formal, but formative, written assessment of the Pre-service Teacher’s strengths and areas for growth.  The assessment should be based on the competencies identified for EDUC 570.

Apply to Alberta Education for an assessment of your previous education and experience. Please visit Alberta Education for more information.

Alberta Education Teacher Certification Information

To teach in Alberta, you are required to hold a valid Alberta teaching certificate. Your first step is to apply for Interim Professional Certification (IPC) so that Alberta Education can assess your educational and professional qualifications. If you meet the requirements, the IPC allows you to teach anywhere within the province's K to 12 system and is valid for 3 years. When you meet all the requirements for Permanent Professional Certification (PPC), your school authority must recommend you for a permanent certificate.

As part of your Interim Professional Certification (IPC) application, Alberta Education will assess your credentials. It is important to note that Alberta Education is the only body that can assess credentials for teaching authority in Alberta.

International applicants: All applicants for certification must meet the above criteria and academic credentials will be assessed on a course-by-course basis. If your program is not acceptable to the Minister of Education, you may need to take additional courses to qualify for an IPC.

When your assessment is complete, you will receive a letter of assessment.

For more information, please contact: Alberta Education

Once your assessment has been completed, Alberta Education will provide you with a letter detailing any requirements you must complete to become a certified teacher.

Usually, these requirements will be covered by one of the following:

If Alberta Education requires 9 weeks supervised classroom experience, EDUC 570 might be the right fit!

At the University of Calgary this is known as EDUC 570 and can only be completed after all other requirements detailed in the letter from Alberta Education have been successfully completed. 

Considerations for EDUC 570:

Please send the UPE Advising Team a copy of your Alberta Education Assessment Letter. This letter will outline the requirements you need to complete for Alberta Certification, we will record the details of those requirements.

Please send a scanned PDF copy of the letter to upe@ucalgary.ca 

All requirements detailed in the letter from Alberta Education must have been successfully completed before you participate in our EDUC 570 course / 9 weeks supervised classroom experience. You will need to provide documentation you have met all requirements outlined in the Alberta Education Assessment letter. As you complete/ meet these additional requirements, we ask you please send the UPE Advising Team the documentation for our records. This may include transcripts showing you have completed the coursework.

When/if you have completed all the requirements except for the 9 weeks of supervised classroom experience, please send the UPE Advising Team an email and ensure you have provided the supporting documentation. We will then send you an email with your next steps to enroll in Education 570.

Please send evidence all additional requirements have been met to upe@ucalgary.ca

You must be an Open Studies Student. To enroll in EDUC 570, you must be accepted in Open Studies for the semester that EDUC 570 will be offered. For more information visit the Open Studies website

For details on how to apply, click here

Please note the English Language Proficiency admission requirement: English is the official language of instruction at the University of Calgary. All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency to be considered for admission:  https://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/a-11.html

Please pay attention to the Open Studies dates and deadlines. Before applying, please ensure you are eligible to enroll in EDUC 570 and confirm the dates EDUC 570 will be offered. 

Open Studies Application Dates for Winter 2026:

Open Studies Winter applications open August 1 and close November 30. 

• We strongly recommend applying early to ensure you meet the EDUC 570 registration deadline. 
• Enrolment start dates will be listed in the Student Centre and on the Registrar's website.

Consent of the department is required to register in EDUC 570.

• EDUC 570 is restricted to students with a letter from Alberta Education indicating additional requirements or those who have received permission from the Associate Dean.
• You will work with UPE Advising Team to facilitate your enrollment. 

Please be aware that successful completion of required coursework and/or admission into Open Studies does not guarantee you will be admitted to EDUC 570 or a placement will be secured.

Once you have met all the requirements and have been accepted as an Open Studies Student, please email upe@ucalgary.ca to formally request your enrollment. 

Once enrolled, please note these next steps: