Professional Linking Program

PREPARING TO APPLY

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

1. SFU Undergraduate Admissions Application (You must complete this application even if you are a current SFU student or have previously applied/attended SFU.)
2. PLP Supplemental Application

 Important: You must submit your SFU Undergraduate Admissions application before you start the PLP 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 for the Fall intake or OCTOBER 1 for the Spring intake. Your application will not be processed until transcripts have arrived.

Key Elements of the PLP Supplemental 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
• 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 and the number of hours per week you worked 
• Include a detailed summary of your duties in each paraprofessional position (CYCW, SEA, CCSW, EA, etc.), the name of the schools/districts and contacts, the length of experience in each paraprofessional role and your total years of paraprofessional experience

When evaluating your resume, we look for evidence of knowledge and experiences that will prove useful to you if you were to become a teacher, including evidence of experience:

• Working with children/youth at the grade level you wish to teach
• Engaging in work or activities in an instructional setting
• Collaborating and working with others
• Showing leadership and/or initiative
• Demonstrating organization and time management skills
• Engaging with a diverse range of learners
• Engaging in novel situations and/or with a diverse range of individuals
• Using skills or knowledge related to the subject(s) you wish to teach

It is important to highlight your experiences as they relate to the above dimensions.

French Module applicants are encouraged to submit their resume in French and English; however, you must combine the English resume and French resume into one PDF, as the online application will only accepts 1 uploaded document.

Short Essay Questions

You will respond to short essay questions and will have a maximum of 300 words per answer. Your answers will be evaluated on:

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

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.

Important: 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.

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.

One of your recommendations must come from a school administrator supporting your PLP application. Your other two recommendations must come from educators who have observed you interacting with children/youth in a public and/or independent school.

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.
• 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 for the Fall intake
• SEPTEMBER 15 for the Spring intake

When completing your online application form, select:

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

Note: You will need your EducationPlannerBC application number to start the PLP 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/enrolment-services/get-help/hours-and-location

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 FEBRUARY 8 (Fall intake) or OCTOBER 1 (Spring intake).

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 is 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 the number of units (credits) you have completed towards your degree. For secondary applicants this letter should also confirm that your degree will be complete prior to the start of the PLP.  The academic advisor must email the degree confirmation letter to tea_office@sfu.ca by APRIL 1 (Fall intake) and OCTOBER 1 (Spring intake).

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

Step 3: Submit your PLP 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 Supplemental Application and create an account by clicking on the 'Register' button
2. Verify the account   
   You will receive a confirmation email.
3. Select 'PLP' 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. Complete the short essay questions
7. Enter the names and email addresses of your 3 recommenders   
   The application system will contact these people for their recommendations. Your recommenders must complete their recommendations for your application to be considered complete.
8. 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.