College and Other Vocational Instructors

(NOC 4021)

in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

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 Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 295 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

  • Estimate 1830 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5515 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$21.79

Minimum

$31.00

Median

$46.15

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,123

Minimum

$55,271

Median

$90,506

Maximum

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Hourly Pay

$16.30

Minimum

$30.00

Median

$51.30

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5,616

Minimum

$44,335

Median

$92,599

Maximum

About the job

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.

By the numbers

Quick look

2,315

employed in 2016

81.0%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

49.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
51%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
50.2

median age

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

55,420

employed in 2016

76.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

64.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
36%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.5

median age

Where will I likely work?

49.2%

Halifax

$47,747 median annual income
15.3%

North Shore

$76,549 median annual income
13.2%

Annapolis Valley

$61,106 median annual income
12.5%

Cape Breton

$68,621 median annual income
9.7%

Southern

$48,946 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

65.1%

Educational services

8.2%

Public administration

7.9%

Health care and social assistance

5.9%

Professional, scientific and technical services

3.1%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

45-54

24.0%

55-64

23.0%

35-44

13.0%

25-34

10.0%

65+

3.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

24.2%

35-44

22.7%

45-54

21.4%

25-34

17.2%

55-64

8.4%

15-24

Top levels of education

32.2%

Bachelor

$50,031 median annual income
22.0%

College Diploma

$69,646 median annual income
20.3%

Master

$68,585 median annual income
8.0%

High school

$39,391 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$53,715 median annual income

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

28.9%

Bachelor

$45,929 median annual income
21.2%

College Diploma

$35,398 median annual income
16.8%

Master

$71,043 median annual income
14.6%

High school

$29,055 median annual income
4.6%

Doctorate

$100,443 median annual income

Education & training

Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching

College or University Program

These programs prepare individuals to teach adult students in various settings, including basic and remedial education programs, continuing education programs, and programs designed to develop or upgrade specific employment-related knowledge and skills.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Biology/Biological Sciences

College or University Program

This includes any general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. These programs include courses in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Child Development

College or University Program

This program engages students in practical training and theoretical explorations in child and youth work, early childhood education, as well as early intervention and inclusive development.

Institutions providing this program

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Curriculum and Instruction

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the curriculum and related instructional processes and tools and prepares students to serve as professional curriculum specialists. They include courses in curriculum theory, curriculum design and planning, instructional material design and evaluation, curriculum evaluation, and applications to specific subject matter, programs or educational levels.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Education - General

College or University Program

These programs focus on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, the art of teaching, the planning and administration of educational activities, school safety and health issues, and the social foundations of education.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Educational Statistics and Research Methods

University Program

These programs focus on applying statistics to the analysis educational research problems, and the development of technical designs for research studies. They include courses in mathematical statistics, research design, computer applications, instrument design, research methodologies, and applications to research problems in specific education subjects.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Educational/Instructional Media Design

College or University Program

These programs focus on the principles and techniques of creating instructional products and related educational resources in various formats or combinations like film, video, recording, text, art, computer software, virtual reality technology, and three-dimensional objects, and that prepares individuals to function as instructional media designers. They include courses in the techniques specific to creating in various media, the behavioural principles applicable to using various media in learning and teaching, the design, testing and production of instructional materials, and the management of educational/instructional media facilities and programs.

Institutions providing this program

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

English as an Additional Language (Canada)

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the development of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English for those for whom English is not their mother tongue. They include courses in the use of basic communication skills to develop and transmit ideas and thoughts in English as well as specialized programs that focus on the development of proficiency in English sufficient to meet specific occupational or academic demands.

There are no schools in Nova Scotia offering this program.

Teaching English to Speakers of Another Language

College or University Program

These programs focus on the principles and practice of teaching English to students who are not proficient in English or who do not speak, read or write English, and that prepares individuals to function as teachers and administrators in such programs.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

East Coast Language College

Halifax, NS

Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education

College or University Program

These programs prepare individuals to teach technology education/industrial arts programs at various educational levels.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Advanced Education, Private Career Colleges
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Community College
Various, NS

Additional resources