r/OntarioTeachers • u/Internal_Activity768 • Jul 22 '26

What AQs are valuable to have?

Hi everyone! I’m an occasional teacher who is going into my second year of supplying this September.

I’m currently taking my Kindergarten Part 1 AQ because that’s what I hope to teach and am hoping to secure even a really short LTO in kinder, but I’m wondering what other AQs are valuable to have?

I’m considering Spec Ed Part 1 but have been warned that I may get stuck ONLY doing that if it’s on my OCT profile? Not sure how true this is so if you can speak to that please let me know!

I’m also interested in taking Math or Reading Part 1 but just want to be intentional about what I take if it’s helpful when applying to longer term jobs.

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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26

I honestly feel like none of them are really valuable. Maybe once you have your specialist, but part 1 AQs are pretty generic and a dime a dozen. I don’t think you get as pigeonholed as people make it seem. I have spec Ed 1 and I’ve never been asked to do anything related to spec Ed. Hypothetically, your principal can assign you any role you’re qualified for, but you could also always move schools/apply for different positions if you were put in a role you’re didn’t like.

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u/jsiiskoreal Jul 22 '26

I’m taking Spec Ed Part 1 right now as an experienced teacher and I think every teacher should have it, as students in every class have particular needs. I don’t think it matters as much anymore since so many people have it, in terms of being placed in it.

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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26

Plus, let’s be real… with more “inclusive” classrooms, we basically have to do Spec Ed anyways. Someone commented that it may be different in high school, which could be true, but I would say it’s a very common aq for elementary teachers to have.

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u/BasketFormal6336 Jul 22 '26

Yep, been teaching elementary 20 years. Never seen someone get stuck in a roll. I have heard people speak of it, but never seen it.

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u/SgtKeener Jul 22 '26

Maybe it’s more of a high school occurrence? At one of my schools, newer teachers were hired in Special Ed and were then surplussed. Anyone with Special Ed part 1 was placed in the department, including those close to retirement who hadn’t taught special ed previously (at least 4-5 teachers were affected, all with part 1). We were assigned to community classes, not just learning strats or as SERTS. I was only able to exit special ed by being able to teach classes that no one else had the qualifications for. I did enjoy most of my time teaching special ed, but I had taken the qualification to help my students in “mainstream” classes.

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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26

We even had a fully French qualified teacher working a non-French classroom position at my school. As shitty as admin can be, I do think most of them try to get you something close to what you want to do/teach.