Retirement for teachers in Quebec: complete guide 2026

RREGOP and teaching staff

Teachers in Quebec's school service centres (formerly school boards) and CEGEPs are covered by RREGOP. Universities generally have their own pension plans (e.g., RRUQ for the Université du Québec network): check for a client in the university sector. The plan guarantees a lifetime pension under the formula: 2% x years of service (max 40) x average of the 5 best-paid years (SMF5).

Teachers present a distinct profile for the advisor. Their salary scales are public and predictable, which facilitates projections. However, several particularities deserve attention: years of supply teaching early in career (to be checked on the statement), deferred salary sabbatical leaves, involuntary part-time in early career, and salary progression that plateaus at the top step.

As a rough guide, the base salary for a secondary school teacher ranges from approximately $53,000 (first step) to $95,000 (top step) in 2026; the exact amounts are those of the collective agreement scale in force. The teacher's SMF5 will generally be close to the top of the scale if they have been at maximum step for at least 5 years before retirement.

Summer months and service accumulation

A common question from teachers: do summer months count toward RREGOP service? The answer is yes. A teaching position has a 200-day remuneration base set according to the school calendar, and the salary is paid over 12 months (or 26 pay periods).

A full-time teacher who completes the work year accumulates one full year of service, not 10 months out of 12. Because the school year straddles two calendar years, the service may be split between two years on the participation statement; special cases (partial contracts, absences) should be checked with Retraite Québec.

Service buyback for supply teaching

Many teachers began their careers with several years of supply teaching (occasional replacement or short-term contracts) before obtaining a permanent position. Since 1988, such casual work is in principle subject to contributions and credited under RREGOP (the plan has no qualification period); casual service from June 30, 1973 to January 1, 1988 was not subject to contributions and can be bought back (RREGOP Act s. 115.1).

Buying back uncredited periods (casual service before 1988, absences without pay) can be a powerful tool. Each year bought back adds 2% of the SMF5 to the lifetime pension, but also increases the coordination at 65 (about 0.7% x $69,180 ≈ $484 per year if total service stays under 35 years). The cost paid with personal funds is fully deductible for post-1989 service, but the deduction is limited for pre-1990 service (generally $3,500 per year), which is the case for supply teaching before 1988.

The advisor should have the client check with Retraite Québec which periods are eligible for buyback and at what cost. A buyback of 3 years could add $5,700 per year to the pension before 65 (2% x 3 x $95,000), or about $4,247 per year after coordination at 65 ($5,700 - 3 x $484.26). Whether it pays off depends on the cost set by Retraite Québec and must be calculated case by case.

Impact of sabbatical leave

The deferred salary sabbatical leave is popular among teachers. The typical model is 4/5: the teacher receives 80% of salary for 4 years, then enjoys one year of leave paid at 80%. As a general rule, all 5 years are credited to RREGOP and the pensionable salary is based on the regular scale salary rather than the reduced amount actually paid (details to be confirmed with Retraite Québec according to the agreement).

In contrast, an absence without pay is not credited. The s. 74 "90 days" are not a bank: up to 90 contributory days are added automatically at pension calculation, only for absences without pay before 2011 or related to parental leave. A buyback (200% of contributions if requested within 6 months after the absence ends) can compensate for this loss. The advisor must distinguish these two situations when analyzing the participation statement.

Example: secondary teacher, age 58, 33 years of service

Pierre, 58 years old, secondary school mathematics teacher, at step 17 for 12 years. Estimated SMF5 of $93,000. He has 33 recognized years of RREGOP service and wants to plan his departure.

Unreduced retirement analysis:

Age 61: in 3 years. Factor 90: 58 + 33 = 91, already reached. But the minimum age is 60. At age 60: 60 + 35 = 95, factor 90 is well exceeded. 35 years of service: in 2 years (at age 60). Factor 90 and 35 years of service will therefore be met at the same time, at age 60 (in 2 years). If he left now, at 58, his pension would be permanently reduced by 24 months x 0.5% = 12%.

Pension calculation at age 60 (35 years of service):

Pension before coordination: 2% x 35 x $93,000 = $65,100 per year ($5,425/month). At 65, QPP coordination: 0.7% x 35 x the lesser of the SMF5 ($93,000) and the average MPE ($69,180) = 0.7% x 35 x $69,180 = $16,949. Pension after coordination: $65,100 - $16,949 = $48,151 per year (amounts before indexation). QPP will compensate for part of this reduction.

Recommended strategies:

Check if supply teaching years are eligible for buyback to increase the pension or reach 35 years sooner. Maximize TFSA during the last 2 working years. Plan RRSP decumulation from age 60 (conversion to a RRIF by December 31 of the year the client turns 71). Explore phased retirement for the last 2 years. Choose when to claim QPP (between 60 and 72) based on health and other income: coordination applies at 65 regardless of when QPP is claimed. Evaluate survivor pension option.

Strategies for the advisor

The teaching clientele is loyal and well-informed. Teachers generally know about RREGOP but rarely master its subtleties. The advisor can add considerable value by addressing: buyback of uncredited periods, precise impact of QPP coordination at 65 on net income, optimal decumulation strategy among RREGOP, RRSP, and TFSA, protection against purchasing power erosion due to partial indexation, and analysis of the survivor pension option combined with life insurance.

The Retraite Quebec participation statement is the foundational document. Without it, any projection remains approximate. The advisor should request it at every planning meeting.

Frequently asked questions