In 1985, David King, former Minister of Education, dissolved the Board of Teacher Education and Certification (BTEC) and established the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards under Ministerial Order 78/85.

The function of the BTEC was to advise the Minister of Education and the Faculties of Education of provincial universities, on matters relating to the preparation and certification of teachers. BTEC was constituted in 1945 by Order in Council in response to a need to identify and address issues directly affecting teacher training and certification. At that time, five members of the Board, including the Chief Superintendent and the Director of Curriculum represented the Ministry of Education. The remaining six members included the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the University of Alberta, and the Director of Education of the Calgary Campus of the University of Alberta; three members representing the Alberta Teachers' Association, including the President and the Secretary-Treasurer of the ATA; and one member from the Alberta School Trustees Association. The Ministry's Chief Superintendent of Schools was appointed the Chair the Board.

When the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards was established in 1985 the original eleven members of the Council were:

Gerry Heck (College of Alberta School Superintendents)

Parminder S. Basahti (teacher member)

Cameron McDonald (teacher member)

Kimberly McLean (teacher member)

Lawrence Turner (teacher member)

Armin Wilcer (teacher member)

David Jeary (Alberta Teachers' Association)

Sandra Weidner (Alberta School Boards Association)

Lorna Cammaert (Faculty of Education - University of Calgary)

Jim Hrabi (Alberta Education)

Marie J. Bobey (public member)

All Members were appointed for a two-year term.

The duties and functions of the Council included:

• To make recommendations to the Minister regarding teacher education programs required for Alberta teacher certification.
• To recommend to the Minister the types of certification of Alberta teachers and to recommend to the Minister the requirements for each type of Alberta teacher's certificate.
• To advise the Minister with respect to the application of the regulations governing certification and decertification.
• To advise the Minister with respect to policy, procedures and administration of practice reviews.
• To oversee the conduct of practice reviews and conduct appeals therefrom.
• To make recommendations to the Minister with respect to the suspension or cancellation of a teacher’s certificate.
• To recommend studies concerning any or all matters related to teacher education and certification.
• To recommend such professional development activities as may be deemed desirable.
• To recommend specific short-term projects which are designed to examine alternative ways of improving the preparation of teachers and/or certification requirements and to carry out or supervise any such projects if directed to do so by the Minister.
• To review policy, practice and outcomes in the area of teacher evaluation, and to assess the implications for teacher preparation programs and certification requirements.
• To make recommendations to the Minister with respect to program which recognize teaching excellence.
• Any other duties and functions as determined by the Minister.

In 1998, the Ministerial Order for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards was amended to have members hold three-year terms.