College and Other Vocational Instructors

Nature of work

College and other vocational instructors teach adults in a wide variety of subject areas. These include vocation, technical, business or services training, trades, academic upgrading, and university transfer courses. They work for community colleges, agricultural colleges, technical and vocational institutes, language schools, and other college level schools. This group also includes trainers who are employed by private training organizations, companies, community agencies, and governments to deliver internal training or development courses. College teachers who are heads of departments are included in this group. These instructors specialize in fields or areas of study like visual arts, dental hygiene, welding, engineering technology, policing, computer software, management, and early childhood education.

Job duties

College and other vocational instructors:

• Teach students using a systematic plan of lectures, demonstrations, discussion groups, laboratory work, shop sessions, seminars, case studies, field assignments and independent or group projects.
• Develop curriculum and prepare teaching materials and outlines for courses.
• Prepare, administer, and mark tests and papers to evaluate students' progress.
• Advise students on program curricula and career decisions.
• Provide individualized tutorial or remedial instruction to students who require it.
• Supervise independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work or hands-on training.
• Supervise teaching assistants.
• May provide consultation services to government, business, and other organizations.
• May serve on committees for budgets, curriculum revision, and course and diploma requirements.

Sample job titles

• college instructor
• college lecturer
• college teacher
• company trainer
• department chairperson - college
• department head - college
• department head - private training institute
• English as a second language teacher (ESL) - college level
• training consultant - industry
• tutor, correspondence school

Skills

• You should be patient, imaginative, objective, and resourceful. Leadership skills and the ability to motivate students are important. You must be able to communicate ideas in a clear, concise, and interesting way. Planning and organizational skills are also necessary. Instructors must be knowledgeable about their subjects and keep informed about new material or methods of teaching.

Job requirements

• A bachelor's degree, a college diploma, or demonstrated expertise in the field of instruction is required.
• A master's degree in the field of instruction may be required.
• A certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required.
• For instructors of trades, completion of apprenticeship training and industry or trade certification are required. Additional courses in teaching or a provincial teaching certificate may be required.

Other considerations

• About half of the workers in these jobs work full-time and for the full year. Individuals in these fields generally work regular hours, although some evening work may be required. Progression to administrative positions in postsecondary education is possible with experience.

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

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