4011-NOC

College and other vocational instructors

(NOC 41210)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$75,603
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
University Degree
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
5,520

Career Overview

College and other vocational—or career-related—instructors teach applied arts and academic, technical and vocational subjects to students at community colleges, Quebec CEGEPs, technical and vocational institutes, language schools and other college-level schools.

This group includes department heads and trainers who work for companies, community agencies and governments to deliver in-house training and develop courses.

Duties

In general, college and other vocational instructors:

  • Teach students using lectures, demonstrations, discussion groups, laboratory work, shop sessions, seminars, case studies, field assignments, and independent and group projects
  • Develop curriculum and prepare outlines and teaching materials for courses
  • Prepare, administer and mark tests and papers
  • Advise students on educational programs and careers
  • Supervise independent and group projects, field placements, laboratory work and hands-on training
  • Give one-on-one tutorials and instruction
  • Supervise teaching assistants
  • Keep subject matter current

College and other vocational instructors may specialize in particular fields of study such as visual arts, dental hygiene, welding, engineering technology, policing, computer software, management or early childhood education.

Some instructors serve on committees that deal with budgets, curriculum, administration, and course and diploma requirements. Some may offer consulting services to government, businesses and other organizations.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$75,603

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$64.08/hr
Median$36.25/hr
Low$21.60/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

11,460

% Employed Full Time

57%
Source: 2021 Census

College and other vocational instructors typically teach in clinical, classroom or lab settings. They usually work during regular daytime hours, but may have some evening work. They must also be available to students during designated hours, either in person or by email, telephone or video conference. They have flexibility in terms of scheduling their time for course preparation, grading and research. Online courses also offer flexibility.

Adult education instructors often teach during evenings or on weekends. Those who work as corporate trainers or training officers must cater to the schedules of the client’s workplace and its workers. They may need to travel and perform administrative tasks.

Instructors may share offices. They may also teach at more than one school, which can mean travel between workplaces.

Technology is changing the work environment for instructors. Both public and private colleges are increasing online learning options for students. As a result, instructors need to be familiar with the associated technology.

Career Pathways

Recent graduates often find temporary positions as instructors or instructional assistants. With experience, they may move to regular part-time and then full-time positions.

College and other vocational instructors with long-term experience may progress to administrative positions. Those with strong academic qualifications may fill senior administrative positions such as department head, associate dean, dean or vice-president of academics or education.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Social
Social

Job Titles

College teacher
Commercial art instructor
Community college teacher
Company trainer
Computer training instructor
Department chairperson - college
Department head - general and vocational college (CEGEP)
Firefighting instructor
General and vocational college (CEGEP) teacher
Instructor - technology institute
Language school instructor
Lecturer - college
Legal assistant program teacher
Teacher - institute of technology
Training officer - company
Vocational institute teacher

Education, Training and Skills

College instructors must have a college diploma or a bachelor’s degree. Academic positions require a master’s degree. Vocational instructors must, at minimum, have demonstrated skill in their field. Trades instructors need to have completed an apprenticeship program and have industry/trade certification, such as Red Seal. They must also complete the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program.

Other requirements may include:

  • A certificate, diploma or degree in adult education
  • Additional teaching training
  • Teaching experience at the post-secondary level

 

Education programs in B.C.

EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

80%
Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

78%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

77%
Learning Strategies

Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

75%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

75%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

74%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

71%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

71%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

65%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

63%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

11,460
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 355 3.1%
Kootenay 400 3.5%
Mainland/Southwest 7,525 65.6%
North Coast and Nechako 170 1.5%
Northeast 115 1.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,070 9.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,825 15.9%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

5,520
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 150 0.9%
Kootenay 190 1.5%
Mainland/Southwest 3,580 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 20 0.6%
Northeast 120 1.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 450 1.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,010 1.3%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Educational Services4,040
Health Care And Social Assistance400
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services290
Public Administration180
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services130
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Since this is a very large occupational group, many openings are expected. But the trend toward part-time and part-year employment, including session and contract work, means that workers may not get full-time employment immediately. This trend will have less of an impact on vocational instructors, many of whom already teach part time while also working in the field.

College and vocational instructors are in demand in all regions of the province. Colleges located outside of the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island tend to have more difficulty recruiting instructors, especially in areas such as health and trades. As a result, there may be more opportunities for instructors who are willing to work in northern and rural regions.

Demand for college and other vocational instructors also varies based on the area of specialization. For example, increasing demand by businesses for skills upgrading, particularly in technical and applied technology fields, will increase demand for instructors in these areas.

The number of private post-secondary institutions that provide technical, vocational and language training has grown considerably. These schools often offer part-time work and contract positions, which usually pay less than equivalent positions in the public sector.

Resources