College and Vocational Instructors
Formal Description
“College and other vocational instructors teach applied arts, academic, technical and vocational subjects to students at community colleges, CEGEPs, agricultural colleges, technical and vocational institutes, language schools and other college level schools. This unit group also includes trainers who are employed by private training establishments, companies, community agencies and governments to deliver internal training or development courses. College teachers who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Business Administration Teacher
Community Planning Teacher
Economics Teacher
Health and Safety Instructor
Indigenous Studies Professor
Marketing Teacher
Public Speaking Instructor
Social Services Teacher
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- “A bachelor’s degree, a college diploma or demonstrated expertise in the field of instruction is required.”
- “A master’s degree in the field of instruction may be required.”
- “A certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required.”
- “For instructors of trades, completion of apprenticeship training and industry or trade certification are required. Additional courses in teaching or a provincial teaching certificate may be required.”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs.
Economics Learn More
Learning microeconomics and macroeconomics, covering key concepts such as supply and demand, market structures, economic systems, fiscal policy, and international trade are essential for teaching students how economies function, both on a local and global scale.
Environment & Society Learn More
Completing courses on urban and regional planning, land use, and environmental policy, teaches the core principles of community planning, addressing how cities and towns manage development, infrastructure, and environmental challenges. This background equips students to pursue further education and experience, which may lead to teaching at a college or vocational school.
Indigenous Studies Learn More
A degree in Indigenous Studies provides a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous cultures, languages, histories, and current issues. This knowledge is crucial for both teaching and conducting research on Indigenous peoples in academic environments.
Sociology Learn More
Sociology helps students develop critical thinking skills to examine social issues, analyze data, and assess complex problems from various viewpoints. These abilities are highly transferable to a wide range of careers to pursue and then eventually teach at the college level, including social services, business management, and public policy.
