All teachers under contract with school jurisdictions and charter schools in Alberta are required to contribute to their pension plan, as per the Teachers’ Pension Plans Act. The Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund (ATRF) administers these plans.
It’s never too early to think about retirement
Retiring is one of the most important decisions you will make—start planning as early as you can!
Retirement/Pension workshops
The ATA offers several workshops about retirement and financial planning. These workshops occur throughout each school year and are listed on the events calendar
Early Service Teachers: Understand Your Pension
Online evening workshop
This evening retirement information session offers general information on the Alberta teachers’ pension plan, planning personal savings, Federal benefits and other retirement income sources for early service teachers. The session’s focus is on forward planning early in a teacher’s career, while emphasizing debt reduction and savings planning. Pension partners are also encouraged to attend.
Pre-Retirement Workshop
Full-day Saturday sessions
Together, teachers and their pension partner will explore planning for retirement, the changing character of retirement and the process of making important decisions. Teachers will learn about financial and lifestyle planning before, during and after retirement from a teacher’s perspective. They will investigate various aspects of retiring, including building a financial plan, the Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plan, wills and estates, benefits and lifestyle planning for a successful and rewarding retirement.
Workshops for 2026-27 appear below. NOTE: a link to register will be posted here and in Events approximately one month prior to each workshop date.
November 7 - Edmonton Public teachers only
December 5 - Calgary Catholic teachers only
December 12 - All regions' teachers
January 9 - Edmonton Catholic teachers only
January 23 - Calgary Public teachers only
January 30 - All regions' teachers
March 13 - All regions' teachers
Women's Wellness and Financial Empowerment Program
The Women's Wellness and Financial Empowerment Program guides participants through a journey toward building both a personalized wellness plan and a personalized financial plan. Educators will craft the foundation of their wellness plan, which is then expanded and strengthened. The financial plan begins taking shape in session 2 and is developed and finalized by the end of the program. Together, these progressive milestones create an actionable roadmap that supports female educators in nurturing their well‑being and strengthening their financial confidence.
There are 4 sessions, 2 in each semester. Each session is 2 hours long. Hour 1 will be run by a speaker with expertise in the field and hour 2 will involve a cohort application lab where working groups will strive to build their selfcare blueprint.
Please note that this program will be held virtually.
Tentative dates and times are as follows:
- 2026 10 01, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- 2026 11 03, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- 2027 02 09, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- 2027 04 06, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Please contact Teacher Employment Membership Support for information on how to sign up TEMS@ata.ab.ca.
Financial Wellness with Capital Planning and MNP Debt Management
Online workshops
Stay tuned for dates in the 2026-27 school year.
Considering early retirement?
One year from your planned retirement date
- Run your pension estimate by logging into MyPension with your pension provider, the Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund (ATRF). MyPension Online Portal - Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF)
- The information in your pension estimate under MyPension should be up-to-date (dependent upon your employer’s download of data to the ATRF). While there, play with different dates and determine what your best retirement date will be. Pension Information Statements - Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF)
- If your pension amount isn’t what you expect, contact ATRF to determine why those discrepancies exist. For example, perhaps you had some leave periods (parental, maternity or other leaves) or other gaps where your years of service don’t mesh with your own numbers. Find out how/if you can purchase that service back.
- Determine if you need to purchase service or arrange a service transfer, for example, if you have service with another defined benefit plan, such as a federal or provincial government body. These take time to finalize. Make sure you’re aware of the deadlines. Contact ATRF for help. Transferring Pension Service - Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF) | Purchasing Service - Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF)
Start planning with ATRF
120 to 45 days prior to retirement
Review and complete the Steps to Retirement checklist
- Before you apply for your pension, you must resign from your teaching contract. The Education Act requires you to give your employer at least 30 days’ written notice of your intention to resign. The 30 days’ notice must be received during the school year. If you intend to retire by August 31, you must give your notice by June 1.
- Apply for retiree benefits from one of the retiree plans: Alberta Blue Cross, ASEBP or the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA). If your division offers another retirement plan, do your own comparison of the plans to choose the best one that suits your needs. Please note that most benefits providers require 45–50 days for this process. You cannot complete the benefits application without involving your employer.
- Contact ATRF to apply for your pension. Applications are processed in the order received, so you are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible but no more than 120 days before your pension commencement date.
