Professional Development Program

PREPARING TO APPLY

Applying to the PDP requires you to complete TWO separate applications:

1. SFU Undergraduate Admissions Application (even if you are a current SFU student or have previously applied/attend SFU, you must complete this application.)
2. PDP-Broad-Based Supplementary Application

 Important: You must submit your SFU Undergraduate Admissions application before you start the PDP Broad-based Supplemental Application. 

Key Elements of the SFU Undergraduate Admissions Application

• Online application via EducationPlannerBC (EPBC)
• Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended

ALL TRANSCRIPTS MUST ARRIVE AT THE SFU UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE BY FEBRUARY 8. 
Applications will not be processed until transcripts have arrived.

Key Elements of the PDP Broad-based Supplementary Application 

• Online application accessed via your goSFU Checklist (after you complete your SFU Undergraduate Admissions Application)
• Your EducationPlannerBC reference number and SFU Student Number
• Your current resume
• Short essay question answers
• Your letter of intent (For IPTEM applications only)
• Contact information for your three recommenders

Resume

Your resume should:

• Be no longer than two single-sided pages
• Be detailed, but in an outline rather than a narrative form
• Include your contact information, education, work and volunteer experiences, and any honours, awards, special talents, skills, or training 
• List the length of time you were in each position, the number of hours you worked or volunteered in the position, and your duties
• Provide evidence of your knowledge and experience that would support you in becoming a teacher

Work/volunteer experience with children/youth could include:

• Classroom volunteer, EA, support worker, teacher (teaching on a letter of permission)
• Coaching groups or camps 
• Faith-based group teaching or leading
• Cultural/Indigenous community work 
• Group tutoring

Work/volunteer experience that is recognized as beneficial but is not considered as relevant as the experience listed above:

• Nannying, babysitting, parenting
• Online tutoring or tutoring in a one-to-one setting 
• TA in undergraduate classrooms

You may not have experience in all the areas listed above, but it is important to highlight the related experiences you do have. 

PDP French Module applicants are encouraged to submit their resume in French and English. Combine the English resume and French resume into one PDF. The online application has only one document upload button for the resume.

Short Essay Questions

You will respond to the following short essay questions. You will have a maximum of 300 words for each answer.

1. Teaching carries a serious responsibility, and it allows the influence of and access to children and youth in our province. Why should you be a teacher?
2. Describe two essential characteristics of effective teachers and outline examples from your resume of when you have embodied these qualities.  
3. What is your understanding of teaching and learning in B.C.'s current context? How do you see yourself specifically contributing to the future of education in our province?  

If you refer to other people (especially children and youth) in your answers, change their names and describe your experience with them in such a way that you respect their privacy rights.

HOW WE EVALUATE YOUR SHORT ESSAY ANSWERS

• overall writing quality (TIP: carefully proofread your answers)
• evidence of critical reflection
• how well you demonstrate your potential for and interest in education

Note: If you want to do your practicum in French and/or take the EDUC 404 (summer) courses in French, we encourage you to submit your answers in French.

Letter of Intent (IPTEM applicants only)

If you are applying to the Indigenous Perspectives in Teacher Education Module (IPTEM), you must submit a letter of intent.

Your letter of intent should: 

• explain your interest in and suitability for this module
• be one page long and no more than 500 words 
• use a 12-point font with 1” margins on all sides

Note: If you apply to and are offered a spot in either IPTEM or ITEM and decide you would rather participate in a general module, your offer will be revoked, and your application will be added to the general pool and there is no guarantee of admission to a different module. After you accept your offer to IPTEM or ITEM, you cannot transfer to a general module.  

Recommendations

You are required to submit the names and work email addresses for three individuals willing to complete a recommendation for you. The system will then automatically send these individuals an email requesting they fill out an online recommendation form. Recommendations may only be submitted via the online system.

Two of your recommendations must come from a professional with experience working with children/youth and who have observed you working in group settings with the grade/age you wish to teach, preferably in the last two years

Notes:

• Recommendations from friends, co-workers or relatives (including in-laws and step-family) are not acceptable even if they are educators and will render your application ineligible for consideration
• Recommendations from your secondary teachers are not encourage, even of you volunteered in their classroom post-graduation
• We reserve the right to contact recommenders to verify the submitted information.

Tip: Provide your recommenders with a copy of your resume and the PPS Recommendation Form Questions, so they can prepare to write your recommendations.

Step 1: Apply to SFU Undergraduate Admissions

Apply to SFU Undergraduate Admissions via EducationPlannerBC by JANUARY 31.

When completing your online application form, select:

• FACULTY: Education
• PROGRAM: Professional Development Program (this is only available when applications are open).

Note: You will need your EducationPlannerBC application number to start the PDP Broad-based Supplemental Application.

SFU Undergraduate Admissions Questions

The Teacher Education Admissions Office does not handle SFU Undergraduate applications. For more information regarding admission to SFU, contact SFU Student Services:

Phone: 778-782-6930 
Email: reginfo@sfu.ca 
Website: sfu.ca/students/admission-requirements

Step 2: Submit your Transcripts

• Request official academic transcripts from every college and university that you've attended, including withdrawals, incomplete, failed, repeated studies and attendance as an exchange student. 
• SFU students do not need to order their SFU transcripts, as we have access to those records. 
• You must include original transcript(s) for College Board - Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or any transfer credits (i.e. exchange program and college transfer) where applicable.
• Submit ALL transcript(s) directly to the SFU Undergraduate Admissions office by JANUARY 31.

Note: Due to high volumes, allow 4-6 weeks for SFU to indicate that they have received and processed your documents in your Student Centre. Your application will not be cancelled if your document was submitted by the deadline. 

Reminders: 

• You must submit official transcripts from institutions where you are currently taking courses. 

• If your transcript does not show degree conferral, you must submit a letter from an academic advisor at your institution confirming your degree will be complete prior to the start of the PDP (end of August). The academic advisor must email the degree confirmation letter to tea_office@sfu.ca by APRIL 1.

Tip: If you are requesting transcripts from institutions outside of B.C., you should start this step as far in advance of the deadline as possible. 

Step 3: Submit your PDP Broad-based Supplemental Application

The system is used for several teacher education programs at SFU. You will need to do the following to complete your online application:

1. Go to goSFU Checklist, click the link for the Teacher Education Broad-based Supplemental Application and create an account by clicking on the 'Register' button
2. Verify the account   
   You will receive a confirmation email.
3. Select 'PDP' as the program you are applying to
4. Complete the online application form   
   You will need your current EducationPlannerBC application number for Fall 2027 to complete this form.
5. Upload your resume
6. Upload your letter of intent  
   For IPTEM applicants only.
7. Complete the short essay questions
8. Enter the names and email addresses of your 3 recommenders   
   The application system will contact these people for their recommendations.
9. Submit your application   
   This is only possible after all three of your recommendations have been received.

Tip: You may start your application early and work on it over time. You may review, edit or change your application at any time until you click the final submit button. After that time, you cannot change your application or any of your submitted materials. Your application form, resume, short essay questions, and recommendation forms must all be complete before you can press the final "submit" button.