The Short Answer
Homeschooling is legal in BC, and you have two routes. You can register as a homeschooler with any participating public or independent school by September 30, which lets you teach your own program with no provincial curriculum, no testing, and no teacher oversight. Or you can enrol your child in an online learning school, where they follow the BC curriculum with a certified teacher and the school draws full funding. BC does not pay parents directly. A school that registers a homeschooler receives $250 if public, or $175 if independent, and many pass resources or a reimbursement to you.
Verified June 2026. Reflects the BC School Act and the Ministry of Education and Child Care homeschooling policy.
Homeschooling in BC at a Glance
| Notice required? | Yes. You register with a school of your choice by September 30 each year. |
|---|---|
| Testing or assessment required? | No for registered homeschoolers. The school must offer assessment free, but you can decline it. Online learning students are teacher-assessed. |
| Must you follow the BC curriculum? | No for registered homeschoolers. Yes for online learning students. |
| Funding available? | Not paid to parents. The registering school gets $250 (public) or $175 (independent) per child and often passes along resources. Online learning brings full funding and a larger allowance. |
| Number of legal routes | Two: registered homeschooling and enrolment in online learning. |
| Compulsory age range | 5 to 16 years old. |
The Two Routes, and Why the Difference Matters
Almost every question about homeschooling in BC comes back to this fork. The words sound interchangeable, but the law treats them as opposites. Pick the route first, because it decides your freedom, your funding, and your paperwork for the whole year. For a full side-by-side breakdown, see our guide on registered vs online learning in BC.
Route One: Registered Homeschooling
When you register as a homeschooler, you are not enrolling your child in a school program. You are filing a notification with a school of your choice and keeping full control of the education. You design the program, pick the resources, and set the pace. You are not bound by the provincial curriculum, you do not write standardized tests, you submit no report cards, and no certified teacher supervises you. This is the route for families who want to teach their own way.
The trade-off is that your child is not a graded student of that school. The registering school does have to offer you two things free of charge: assessment services to check your child's progress against kids of similar age and ability, and the loan of authorized learning resources. You can take those up or leave them. Many families register with an independent school that passes along curriculum money or a reimbursement, which is where BC funding reaches parents at all.
Route Two: Enrol in an Online Learning School
Online learning, once called distributed learning, is a different animal. Here your child enrols as a real student of a public or independent online school. A BC-certified teacher oversees the learning, your child follows the provincial curriculum, and the school issues report cards and tracks progress. The school draws full per-student funding, so families on this route usually receive a larger learning allowance for approved resources and activities.
This route suits parents who want structure, a teacher to lean on, official records, and a clear path to graduation. You give up some freedom in exchange for support and money. Plenty of BC families start here for the first year or two, then move to registered homeschooling once they find their footing.
Choosing the right curriculum gets easier when you know what to teach, what to skip, and where to start.
Get the GuideA simple step-by-step plan for getting started.
How to Start Homeschooling in BC, Step by Step
Step 1: Choose Your Route
Decide between registered homeschooling and online learning. If you want freedom and your own program, register. If you want a teacher, the provincial curriculum, official records, and more funding, enrol in online learning. You can change routes in a future year, so this is not permanent.
Step 2: Pick a School to Register With
BC lets you register with any participating school in the province, not just your local one. This matters more than new families expect, because independent schools compete for registered homeschoolers by offering resource loans, reimbursements, and support. Compare a few before you commit.
Step 3: Register by September 30
Complete your registration on or before September 30 of the school year. If you start homeschooling partway through the year, you register as soon as you begin. Registration is an annual job, so you do it again each year you home educate. For a full walk-through of where to register and what to send, see our guide on BC homeschool registration.
Step 4: Plan Your Program
On the registered route, you choose your own resources and approach. You are free to follow a boxed curriculum, build your own, or blend several. If you want a starting structure, our guide on how to choose homeschool curriculum helps you decide without the overwhelm.
Step 5: Use the Free Services You Are Owed
Take up the assessment services and the loaned learning resources your registering school must provide free of charge. Even families who want full independence often use the assessment once a year as a helpful check on progress. To get your own quick read on where your child sits, our free reading assessment gives you a clear starting point.
What BC Funding Really Looks Like
Here is the honest version, because BC funding gets oversold online. The province does not send money to parents. It sends a grant to the school that registers your child: $250 for a public school, $175 for an independent school. Whether any of that reaches you depends on the school you pick. Independent schools often pass along a resource allowance or reimburse approved purchases to attract families, so the registered route can still cover real curriculum costs if you choose well.
Online learning is where the larger money sits, because your child counts as an enrolled student and the school draws full funding. Those schools commonly offer a bigger learning allowance for curriculum, lessons, and activities. If funding is your main concern, compare the allowance each route and school offers before you register. Our guide on BC homeschool funding breaks down what you really get and how to get the most of it.
Graduation, Credits, and the Dogwood
Registered homeschooling does not lead to a BC graduation certificate on its own, since your child is not an enrolled student earning credits. Teens who want the Dogwood Diploma usually take online learning courses in grades 10 to 12 while staying registered, or enrol in an online school for the senior years. Both routes let a homeschooled teen earn real credits toward graduation. For the full requirements and how to plan it, see our guide on BC homeschool graduation and the Dogwood.
If university is the goal, plan the high school years early. Many BC homeschoolers move toward online learning courses around grade 10 so the credits and transcript are in place, then apply like any other graduate. Adults can also complete the Adult Graduation Program later, so a teen who skips the Dogwood still has a route to a diploma.
Val's Note: What This Really Means for You
If the registered-versus-online-learning choice has your head spinning, here is the shortcut I give friends. Ask yourself one question: do you want to be the teacher, or do you want a teacher? If you want to run the show, register and enjoy the freedom BC gives you, which is more than most provinces offer. If you want structure, records, and a bigger budget, enrol in online learning and let the school carry the official side.
For a nervous beginner, I lean toward starting with a supportive online learning school for year one. You get a teacher to ask questions, a real budget, and a soft landing. Once you trust yourself, register as a homeschooler and teach your own way with full freedom. Either choice is reversible, so make the call that fits this year, not forever.
Not sure where to start? This gives you a clear next step in minutes.
Start the Free AssessmentTakes about 10 minutes. Know exactly where to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homeschooling Legal in BC?
Yes. You can register your child as a homeschooler with a school of your choice, or enrol them in an online learning school. Registered homeschooling is a recognized right under the BC School Act.
What Is the Difference Between Registered and Online Learning?
Registered homeschooling means you teach your own program with no provincial curriculum, testing, or teacher supervision. Online learning means your child enrols as a student, follows the BC curriculum, and works with a certified teacher.
Does BC Pay You to Homeschool?
Not directly. A school that registers a homeschooler gets $250 if public or $175 if independent, and many pass resources or a reimbursement to families. Enrolled online learning students draw full funding and usually a larger allowance.
What Is the Deadline to Register?
You register on or before September 30 of each school year with the school you choose. If you start mid-year, you register as soon as you begin.
Do Registered Homeschoolers Have to Follow the Curriculum or Write Tests?
No. Registered homeschoolers do not have to follow the provincial curriculum, write standardized tests, submit report cards, or have a teacher supervise them. The freedom is the point of this route.
Sources
This guide was verified in June 2026 against the following primary sources. Funding figures and policy details can change, so confirm with the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care or your registering school.