Frequently asked questions – Prime Minister’s Awards

Nomination packages must be submitted to the Prime Minister's Awards by January 14, 2026 — 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Submit your completed nomination packages by:

Email at: primeministersawards-prixdupremierministre@ised-isde.gc.ca

Before submitting your nomination on-line, please ensure to:

• Download the nomination form and save it to your computer
• Complete all required sections of the nomination form
• Ensure you have included all required attachments by selecting the Add Attachments feature

Mail: If you would like to submit your nomination by mail, please email the Prime Minister's Awards program: primeministersawards-prixdupremierministre@ised-isde.gc.ca.

After submitting the nomination, you will receive a confirmation email that your nomination was received. If you do not receive a confirmation within 72 hours please contact the Prime Minister's Awards program: primeministersawards-prixdupremierministre@ised-isde.gc.ca.

No. The PMA program office does not currently accept any multimedia materials with nominations. The PMA program is looking at ways to accept multimedia files in the future.

We recommend signing-up for email updates and checking the website for the most recent information.

Yes. All applicants will be notified of their results by telephone or in writing. Notifications will be sent in the days leading up to the announcement of award recipients.

The Prime Minister's Awards aim to present at least one Certificate of Excellence or one Certificate of Achievement for each of the following regions, provided standards of excellence are met:

• British Columbia
• the Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba)
• the North (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut)
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador)

While it is not always possible to have award recipients from every province and territory, depending upon the nominations received, there is generally representation from across the country each year.

The Prime Minister's Awards aim to present at least one Certificate of Excellence or one Certificate of Achievement to top-ranked Indigenous educators, provided standards of excellence are met.

Contact the Prime Minister's Awards Program Office for more information about the awards at primeministersawards-prixdupremierministre@ised-isde.gc.ca or 1-800-328-6189. To receive the latest news about the Prime Minister's Awards, we encourage you to sign up for email updates.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence have honoured exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1994, with over 1,800 teachers honoured to date.

Recipients are recognized for their leadership and exemplary teaching practices as well as for their commitment to help the next generation of Canadians gain the knowledge and skills they need for future success in a world inspired by ideas and driven by innovation.

The Awards are administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development on behalf of the Prime Minister, in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence in STEM recognizes inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) teachers at the elementary or secondary school level who keep students engaged in STEM learning and who help develop the culture of innovation that Canada needs today, and in the future.

Teachers at an elementary or secondary school in Canada who teach in all disciplines can be nominated.

The awards honour the overall accomplishments of a single teacher or a team of up to three teachers. At the time of nomination, all nominees must meet the following criteria:

• nominees must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• nominees must be certified to teach in a public or private school in a Canadian province or territory
• nominees must teach at least 2.5 days per week in a classroom setting, or as defined by provincial or territorial guidelines
• nominees must have taught school in Canada for at least three years

For the complete list of the eligibility criteria, refer to the Prime Minister's Award Guidelines — Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellence in STEM.

Teachers at an elementary or secondary school in Canada who teach at least one subject related to STEM can be nominated (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Teachers must also meet the same eligibility criteria as the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Yes. Because eligible teachers must qualify for the same criteria for both award streams, educators who apply but do not receive a Teaching Excellence in STEM award may still be eligible for the Teaching Excellence award, provided standards of excellence are met. Applicants must not be past Certificate of Excellence recipients for Teaching Excellence or Teaching Excellence in STEM. Certificate of Achievement recipients are not eligible to receive another certificate of Achievement for Teaching Excellence or Teaching Excellence in STEM.

The PMA program will accept an employer letter confirming that the teacher's certification remains in good standing at the time of nomination.

Yes. Principals, guidance counsellors, and librarians are eligible for an award if they hold a valid teaching certificate and teach at least 2.5 days per week in a classroom setting and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Prime Minister's Award Guidelines — Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellence in STEM.

Educational assistants are eligible for an award if they hold a valid teaching certificate and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Prime Minister's Award Guidelines — Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellence in STEM.

Yes. Certified Kindergarten teachers can be nominated for a Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence or Teaching Excellence in STEM.

Yes. Teams of up to three teachers can be nominated for an award. Each member of a team must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Prime Minister's Award Guidelines — Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellence in STEM. Letters of support should endorse the accomplishments of all team members.

Any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee's contribution (i.e. parents of students, colleagues, principals, board members, and students) can make a nomination.

Self-nominations or nominations received from a nominee's immediate family member are not accepted. Posthumous nominations are also not accepted.

Prime Minister's Award (PMA) recipients are selected using a two-tier process that involves volunteers from education stakeholders across Canada, including teachers' federations, parent-teacher associations, and post-secondary institutions.

The program has recruited over 100 volunteer representatives from various education stakeholders. This large number is required because each nomination package is reviewed by up to four regional evaluators. After an initial screening for basic eligibility, copies of the nomination text and letters of support are sent to our regional evaluators for review. The regional evaluators look for evidence that nominees have excelled in all of the following five selection criteria:

1. Digital and creative literacy in the classroom
2. Innovative and exemplary teaching practices
3. Support student success and skills development
4. Global citizenship and community involvement
5. Commitment and leadership

Applications for the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and for Teaching Excellence in STEM are judged on the same selection criteria. Nomination packages are evaluated and ranked based on how well each nominee meets the selection criteria for the awards.

The program also has a National Advisory Committee (NAC) comprised of national level education organizations. NAC provides an oversight and advisory function. After being reviewed by the committee, a final list of the top-ranked candidates is recommended to the Minister who informs the Prime Minister. Up to 35 awards (10 Excellence, 25 Achievement) are offered for Teaching Excellence and up to 17 awards (2 Excellence, 15 Achievement) for Teaching Excellence in STEM. Provided standards of excellence are met, the PMA aims to present at least one Certificate of Excellence or Achievement to outstanding Indigenous educators.

Based on the number of nominations received and provided standards of excellence are met, the PMA aims to have an annual cohort of recipients that reflect the diversity of the country with appropriate gender, Indigenous, visible minority, and geographic representation.

Regional evaluators and National Advisory Committee members are all volunteers who give their valuable time and expertise at no cost to the program. The PMA program could not function without the generous support of our volunteer evaluators and committee members.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education have honoured outstanding early childhood educators since 2002, with over 350 educators honoured to date.

Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education recipients are recognized for their leadership, exemplary early childhood education practices, and their commitment to help build the foundation children need to make the best possible start in life.

The awards are administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development on behalf of the Prime Minister and in partnership with Employment and Social Development Canada, Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Early childhood educators who work in a licensed early childhood education setting can be nominated. This requirement is waived for nominees who work in Aboriginal Head Start sites on- and off-reserve or in early childhood education facilities on-reserve where there is no applicable provincial or territorial government licensing.

The awards can honour the overall accomplishments of a single educator or a team of up to three educators. At the time of nomination, all nominees must meet the following criteria:

• nominees must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• nominees must have successfully completed training in early childhood education and care as follows:
  • degree, diploma or certificate in early childhood education and care
  • official certification as an early childhood educator in the province or territory where the nominee is working
  • successfully completed a training program in family child care
• nominees must provide hands-on, direct education and care to young children at least 15 hours per week in a licensed Canadian early childhood education setting, as defined by provincial or territorial government regulations
• nominees must have worked in a Canadian early childhood education setting for at least three years

For the complete list of the eligibility criteria, please refer to the Prime Minister's Awards Guidelines — Early Childhood Education.

No. Certified junior and senior kindergarten teachers should be nominated for a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

Yes. Childcare centre directors are eligible for an award if they provide hands-on, direct education and care to young children at least 15 hours per week in a licensed Canadian early childhood education setting and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Prime Minister's Awards Guidelines — Early Childhood Education.

Yes. Early childhood educators are eligible for a Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education award if they provide hands-on, direct education and care to young children at least 15 hours per week in a Canadian kindergarten setting and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Prime Minister's Awards Guidelines — Early Childhood Education. For nominees working in a kindergarten setting, a letter from the principal confirming the type of school-based early learning program is required instead of a setting's operating license.

If the nominee is the owner/operator of the early childhood setting, endorsement of a representative of the nominee's professional association or an occupation-based guarantor is required. An occupation-based guarantor must practice in one of the following occupations: medical doctor, dean/head of university or college, dentist, judge, lawyer/notary, notary public, pharmacist, police officer, signing officer of a bank or trust company or financial institution that offers a full range of banking services, or veterinarian.

If the nominee is an owner/operator of an ECE centre the statement of employment, confirming direct education and care to young children at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of three years in a licensed Canadian ECE setting, may be signed by a colleague or guarantor who is able to attest to the number of hours the educator has worked for the last 3 years.

If the nominee is an owner/operator of an ECE centre, three letters of support are written by individuals with direct knowledge for the nominee's accomplishments, for example, parents of children, peers, a guarantor and representatives of professional associations. In this case, a letter from the nominee's supervisor or director is not required.

Any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee's contribution (i.e. parents of children, co-workers, supervisors, board members) can make a nomination.

We do not accept self-nominations, nominations received from a nominee's immediate family member or posthumous nominations.

Prime Minister's Award (PMA) recipients are selected using a process that involves volunteers from major education stakeholders across Canada, including post-secondary institutions, early childhood education associations, and past recipients.

The program has recruited over 30 volunteer representatives from various education and early childhood education stakeholders, including provincial and territorial officials. This large number is required because each nomination package is reviewed by up to four regional evaluators. After an initial screening for basic eligibility, copies of the nomination text and letters of support are sent to our regional evaluators for review. The regional evaluators look for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in all of the following four selection criteria:

1. Support of child development
2. Innovation
3. Involvement with parents, families and the community
4. Commitment and leadership in the field

Nomination packages are evaluated and ranked based on how well each nominee meets the selection criteria for the awards.

A final list of the top-ranked candidates is recommended to the Minister who informs the Prime Minister. Up to 15 awards (5 Excellence, 10 Achievement) are offered for the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

Based on the number of nominations received and provided standards of excellence are met, the PMA aims to have an annual cohort of recipients that reflect the diversity of the country with appropriate gender, Indigenous, visible minority, and geographic representation.

Regional evaluators are all volunteers who give their valuable time and expertise at no cost to the program. The PMA program could not function without the generous support of our volunteer evaluators.