Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Careers in Special Education

Teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing in BC are also known as hearing resource teachers and teachers of the hearing impaired.

They work with children of ages who are deaf and hard of hearing.  In BC’s public schools, a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing children teaches students speech, auditory, writing, reading, and language skills based on a modified or adapted curriculum developed as a part of the individual student’s individual education plan (IEP).

Teachers of deaf and hard of-hearing children may work in district-based itinerant roles travelling from school to school, supporting specific goals in accordance with students’ IEP, and supporting the regular classroom teacher and educational assistant or visual interpreter in the program adaptation and delivery. They also utilize a background in speech and language development and audiology.

Itinerant teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing work with other teachers and, in some instances, Case Managers to develop IEPs that integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) to support teaching and learning.

Teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children foster the development of strong literacy and numeracy skills in their students by utilizing various communication techniques, instructional skills, and teaching methodologies.

In many cases, these teachers may work with students with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive listening devices in a classroom setting. Some teachers will need additional qualifications to support students who need services after they have had cochlear implantation surgery.

Depending on the school’s philosophy, a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing may work with students in the general classroom or in a smaller room under a Support and Resource model.

In the 2011 school year, districts posted 11 opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing teachers on makeafuture.ca. In total, the province employs approximately 1,795 special education teachers.

Qualifications and Certification Requirements

Teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing are certified by the BC Ministry of Education’s Teacher Regulation Branch. Teachers employed in this role are generally required to have a master’s degree in Special Education with a focus on the education of the deaf and hard of hearing or a graduate diploma in a related area.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing teachers may be certified by the Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CAEDDH). The association has established professional standards—delineating the specific knowledge areas and skills recommended for educators working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

In some cases, teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing may have sign-language training.

Special Education teachers may also be members of the Special Education Association of BC.

Teacher Salary

BC teachers are paid an annual salary according to their assigned TQS category/level.  This category is determined by the Teacher Qualification Service, an agency responsible for evaluating a teacher’s qualifications and years of education for salary purposes.

Depending on a teacher’s level of experience, and their district of employment, their salary may fall below or above these ranges. Below is an average minimum and maximum salary range for each TQS category.

Remote and Rural Allowance

There are some additional allowances paid to some teachers in certain districts. In many districts, allowances are paid to teachers who hold positions of special responsibility, such as department head, head teacher, a teacher in charge, or teacher coordinator.

In addition, teachers in some districts are paid a remote and rural allowance to aid in the recruiting efforts of districts in remote communities and to recognize the difficulty of working in a remote community. The allowance is $2,761 per FTE annually as of July 1, 2021. When paid monthly, for example, a full-time continuing employee would receive an additional allowance of $276 per month for 10 months or $230 per month for 12 months. Teachers teaching on call (TTOCs) are not eligible to receive this allowance.

To view districts’ individual salary grids, and to find out which offers these allowances, check out the Salary Finder tool.

Training and Educational Programs

Start your career as a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing students by enrolling in a Master’s program in Special Education.

Employment Opportunities

Find special education and teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing jobs on Makeafuture.ca under the ‘teachers and administrators’ position category.

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