ARTICLE A2 - QUALIFICATIONS

	QUALIFICATIONS
A2.01	(1)	Category A Teachers with less than one year teacher education.
	(2)	Category 1 One year of teacher education.
	(3)	Category 2 Two years of teacher education.
	(4)	Category 3 Three years of teacher education.
	(5)	Category 4 Four years of teacher education which includes at least one degree.
	(6)	Category 5 Five years of teacher education which includes at least one degree.
	(7)	Category 6 Six years of teacher education which includes two bachelor degrees or at least one graduate degree. No teacher who is at Category 6 as of November 9, 2001 will have his or her salary reduced as a result of the implementation of this Article.
A2.02	For A2.01, "teacher education" refers to years of training leading to the granting of a recognized teaching certificate.
A2.03	Before appointment to the teaching staff of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the teacher submits proof of qualifications, for certification purposes, to the hiring Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The TQS will decide appeals of placement on the salary grid.
A2.04	(1)	The Registrar of the Department of Education, Culture & Employment or designate will evaluate a teachers qualifications for salary purposes.
	(2)	If a teacher disagrees with the salary placement, the TQS is used to determine placement.
	(3)	A teacher who has acquired additional education and is requesting a re-evaluation, is responsible for notifying the TQS in writing with appropriate documentation.
	(4)	The TQS advises the Department of Human Resources, the Superintendent and the teacher of the placement.
	(5)	The effective date of any adjustment to salaries for increased teacher education is the date the TQS receives the notice referred to in A2.04 (3).
A2.05	Original documents or official validated copies are necessary as proof of qualifications.
A2.06	Teachers being paid at Categories 4, 5 or 6 when this Agreement is implemented will continue to be paid within their appropriate pay level until their academic qualifications meet the requirements of a higher Category.
A2.07	The requirement for a degree in Categories 4 and 5 do not apply to teachers of a vocational program who are granted credit for a journeyperson's standing by an accredited Canadian teachers training institution and who hold a valid vocational teaching certificate.
A2.08	A teacher who does not have a university degree and who completes university courses leading to a complete year of university education as of the date of ratification of this Agreement will receive a pro-rata allowance for the portion of the years work which has been completed. This amount is calculated by multiplying the fraction of the year’s work completed (as identified by the TQS) by the difference between the salary of the current Category in which the teacher has been evaluated and the next highest Category.
		Example: As identified by the TQS: Teacher Category – 3 + 1/10 pro rata: Teacher Experience – 21 years Calculation from the Grid: Category 4/Step11 – Category 3/Step 11 = Difference 1/10 pro rata = .10 Allowance = Difference X .10
	The Employee must provide to the Superintendent, a criminal record check and a vulnerable person’s screening check upon hire, and as part of the certification and recertification process for every teacher; the Employer may request criminal record checks at other times, depending upon the circumstances.