When to sit the EETC and how to register through CEETC

The EETC is mandatory — and the timing is tied to your internships

If you’re completing an English-sector teacher education programme in Quebec, the EETC is not optional. It has been a condition for teacher certification under Quebec’s Regulation respecting teaching licences since 2008, with no exemptions. As set out in CEETC policy, every candidate must pass both parts before advancing to the designated stage of their programme.

The timing rules are tied directly to your internship schedule, and they differ depending on where you’re studying.

When you need to pass

Undergraduate teacher education programmes

You must pass the EETC before entering your final two internships. That means clearing the exam well before the end of your programme — usually by your second or third year, depending on when your internship sequence begins. Check your programme’s internship schedule and count backwards.

Graduate programmes at McGill

McGill’s graduate teacher education programmes apply a stricter rule: you must pass the EETC before your first internship. If you’re in a McGill graduate programme, the exam comes early — don’t wait.

First attempt timing

According to the 2016 CEETC policy, most candidates sit the EETC for the first time around the end of their first semester. This gives you a buffer — if you don’t pass a part on the first attempt, you have time to rewrite before the internship deadlines.

Note: programme-specific timing requirements can change. Confirm the exact rules with your faculty of education and with CEETC.

How registration works

The EETC is administered by CEETC — the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification, a consortium of Quebec’s three English universities (McGill, Concordia, and Bishop’s) in partnership with the Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec. Registration goes through CEETC, not through your university directly.

In practical terms:

• Your faculty will typically inform you about registration periods and deadlines for your cohort.
• CEETC’s website (ceetc.ca) lists preparation resources and registration details.
• There is a registration fee. If you need to rewrite a failed part, there is also a rewrite fee.

The specific exam dates, session deadlines, and fee amounts are set by CEETC and can change year to year. Always go directly to CEETC or your faculty for the current details — don’t rely on older guides or unofficial sources.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

The consequences are serious: you won’t be able to proceed to your internship, which delays your programme completion and, in turn, your eligibility for a teaching licence. There are no exemptions to the requirement, and no workaround. This is a hard gate on your path to certification.

Missing a registration window — even if unintentional — can set you back a semester or more. Build the exam into your academic calendar early, treat the registration deadline as non-negotiable, and give yourself enough time to rewrite if needed.

If you’ve already failed a part

Since January 2013, CEETC policy allows candidates who fail one part to rewrite only that part — you don’t retake the whole exam. There is also a reread provision for Part Two (the writing tasks), available within 20 days of results for a fee. See our post on rewriting a failed section for more on how to approach this strategically.

The time to prepare is before the first attempt

Given the timing constraints — especially at McGill, where you need to pass before your first internship — there’s very little room to absorb a failed attempt and still stay on schedule. A thorough first attempt is the lowest-stress path through this requirement.

Start with our free EETC diagnostic to see where you stand across both parts. No registration, no card, instant results.

Take the free EETC diagnostic →

— The people of SN Academy