The Journey to Becoming a TDHH

Students who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing may require unique language and learning supports that are best provided by knowledgeable, qualified and aware teachers. There is a strong demand for this specialized educator commonly referred to as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDHH).

Step 1: Become a teacher

You must be a certified, general education teacher before you can become a TDHH. In Canada, this is typically obtained through a Bachelor of Education degree.

Step 2: Gain experience in the field

If you do not already have lived experience as a person who is d/Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and/or experiences with individuals who are DHH, you may want to gain some volunteer or job shadowing experiences.

Most Canadian programs require knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) or langue signée du Québec (LSQ).

Please look up your chosen program for minimum requirements.

Step 3: Get specialized training

Specialized training can be obtained from the following institutions in Canada:

University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

  • Master’s of Education (M.Ed.), Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing concentration

  • Master’s of Arts (M.A.), Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing concentration, thesis track

York University (Toronto, ON)

  • Post-Baccalaureate Diploma, Additional Qualification “Teaching Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing”

Mount Saint Vincent University (Halifax, NS)

  • Master’s of Education (M.Ed.), Educational Psychology, Deaf and Hard of Hearing concentration

Step 4: Find a job

Search for job openings in the province/territory where you live or plan to live.

Job titles that you can search for include:

  • “Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing”

  • “Teacher of the deaf”

  • “Teacher for students with hearing loss”

  • “Hearing Resource Teacher”

  • “Itinerant teacher”

To find job postings, you can refer to the links for each province/territory listed in the Certification tab or search in your preferred job search site.

Note: A TDHH is NOT the same job as:

  • Listening and spoken language specialist

  • Speech-Language Pathologist

  • Educational Interpreter

  • Educational Deaf Interpreter

  • Deaf Interpreter