· Quebec EETC · 4 min read
The EETC, explained: Quebec's English teacher language certification
The English Exit Test for Certification (EETC) is the mandatory English-language proficiency examination for teacher certification in Quebec's English-language education sector.
What is the EETC?
The English Exit Test for Certification (EETC) is the mandatory English-language proficiency examination for teacher certification in Quebec’s English-language education sector. As set out in CEETC policy, it has been a condition of certification under Quebec’s Regulation respecting teaching licences since 2008.
In plain terms: if you are completing a teacher education program in Quebec’s English sector and you want to be certified to teach, you must pass the EETC. There are no exemptions — not for native English speakers, not for candidates with other language qualifications, not for experienced teachers. The requirement is universal within the English sector.
The parallel exam: TECFÉE
Quebec runs two parallel language certification exams — one for each of the province’s official language sectors. The EETC covers English; the TECFÉE covers French. The Minister of Education recognises one exam per sector. As an English-sector candidate, the EETC is your exam.
Who administers the EETC?
The EETC is administered by CEETC — the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification — a consortium jointly run by Quebec’s three English-language universities (McGill University, Concordia University, and Bishop’s University) together with the Quebec Ministry of Education. Registration for the exam goes through CEETC directly.
The consortium structure means the exam is built and managed by the English education community itself — the people who train English-sector teachers and understand what professional language competence looks like in Quebec classrooms.
Who must sit the EETC, and when?
The EETC applies to English-sector teacher-certification students completing their programs at Quebec universities. As set out in CEETC policy:
- Undergraduate programs: You must pass the EETC before your final two internships. Most candidates sit it for the first time toward the end of their first semester.
- McGill graduate programs: You must pass the EETC before your first internship.
The timing means the EETC is not a final hurdle at the end of your program — it is a mid-program checkpoint. Passing it is a condition for progressing to the practical teaching placements that are central to your teacher education.
What happens if you do not pass first time?
Since January 2013, if you fail one part of the EETC, you are required to rewrite only the failed part — not the entire exam. This is a meaningful change from earlier policy, and it reduces the cost and burden of an unsuccessful first attempt.
There is also a provision for a reread of your Part Two writing within 20 days of receiving your result (a fee applies). This is not an appeal of the marking judgment, but a second reading of your writing by a different assessor.
Note: current CEETC policies and any updates to sitting conditions should be confirmed directly with CEETC, as our information is based on official policy documents from 2016 and the exam may have been updated since then.
Why does the EETC exist?
Quebec’s teacher language certification exams reflect a clear policy position: teachers are language models for their students, and their written and grammatical competence in the language of instruction matters. In a bilingual province with two distinct education sectors, that standard is applied formally to both English- and French-sector candidates.
For English-sector teachers, the EETC sets a professional benchmark for English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing — the same language skills your students are expected to develop under your guidance.
What does the exam test?
The EETC has two parts. Part One is a multiple-choice assessment of English grammar and language rules, marked out of 30. Part Two is two written tasks, each assessed as Pass or Fail against a detailed marking rubric. You must pass both parts to be certified. We cover the full format and the marking criteria in our companion post.
How SN Academy can help
SN Academy’s Quebec EETC preparation course covers both parts of the exam — the objective grammar and language-rules section and the professional writing tasks — with practice questions, example writing, and a free diagnostic test to show you where you stand before you sit.
Take the free diagnostic test at SN Academy →
— The people of SN Academy
