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your ece journey

ECE Courses and Programs

Choosing Your ECE Courses and Programs

This page is designed to help you find and select the best ECE Courses and programs for you. Completing a quality post-secondary education program in Early Childhood Education opens a variety of career opportunities. Most importantly, you will become an ECE and be able to work with children in early learning and child care programs–with children ages 0-12 years. You may also be able to find career opportunities as a preschool teacher, nursery programs, parent drop-in programs and in other child resource programs (and this is just to name a few).

An ECE degree or diploma could also be a stepping stone to go further in your education journey to study and practice in ECE research, child psychology, art therapy for children, social services for children and families or social work. Such a higher education in Early Childhood Education can help you steer the pedagogy, practice and policy for the field.

How Do I Select an ECE Program?

With the variety of ECE courses and programs available to you online and in your area, the choice may be overwhelming. You may want to consider:

  • Attending an open house information session, in person where offered, or online.
  • Requesting the program’s welcome package and reviewing the curriculum.
  • Attending one of our webinars and asking a professional.
  • Contact a local child care program, or ask a member on our Facebook Page
  • Looking for online reviews of the program (Google, Reddit, etc.)
  • Deciding what your career goal in child care is, and trying to match that goal with the programs available.

Education and Certification

The level of education and certification you get increases your salary earning potential as an ECE. Completion of a two, three, or four year college program in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor’s degree in child development will take you to different levels of competency and determine higher salary ranges depending on the region you wish to work in Canada.

ECE Course or Program

The length of the course or program you take will vary greatly from each learning institution and each province’s regulations. Some programs allow you to earn your certificate in a shorter time period while others take two years or more. For higher learning ECE programs there are Master’s programs and even a PhD in Early Childhood Education.

Online Programs

Online programs might be your best choice if you are already working or the educational institution is not in your home town or city. Check the institution and program you are interested in to see if it is offered online. Some Master’s level programs are offered completely online.

Click the + to Select a Province or Territory to Explore all the ECE Courses and Programs Available Near You.

Yukon College, Whitehorse
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Aurora College, Inuvik
Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Development
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Childcare Diploma

Nunavut Arctic College, Igloolik
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education 
Prerequisite: Grade 10

Camosun College, Victoria
ECE Program: 
Early Learning and Care Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Capilano University, North Vancouver
ECE Programs:
Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education – 4 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree
Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Basic Early Childhood Care and Education Basic Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Specialized Courses:
Early Childhood Care and Education Infant and Toddler Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Care and Education Special Needs Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

College of the Rockies, Cranbrook
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Certificate – 1 year (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Special needs educator
Infant/Toddler

Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education Infant and Toddler Educator Diploma (Part-time)
Prerequisite: ECE Certificate
Early Childhood Education Special Needs Educator Diploma (Part-time)
Prerequisite: ECE Certificate
Early Childhood Education Certificate
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

College of New Caledonia, Prince George
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Certificate – 1 year (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Diploma Program

Douglas College, New Westminster
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Certificate Program
Infant/Toddler

Langara College, Vancouver
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 3 semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

North Island College, Comox Valley and Port Alberni
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma – 3 years (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Northern Lights College, Fort St. John
ECEC Programs:
Early Childhood Education and Care Diploma – 2 years  (
Full time or part-time options available)

Prerequisite: English 12 or First Peoples 12 or a post-secondary English, or an English Writing Assessment

Early Childhood Education Diploma – Educacentre Partnership (full or part-time options available)

Prerequisite: French 12 or a post-secondary French, or a French Writing Assessment

Coast Mountain College, Terrace
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years

Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Early Childhood Education Basic Level Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Selkirk College, Castlegar
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate – 3 semesters (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby
ECE Programs:
Undergraduate Degree – Minor in Early Learning
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Early Learning 
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Degree

Stenburg College, Surrey
ECE Program:
Post-Basic Early Childhood Education (Diploma) – 28 Weeks
Prerequisite: Completion of Basic ECE Program

Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops
ECE Programs:
ECE Diploma overview
Full time
Part time

Specialized Courses:
Infant/Toddler Educator Post-Diploma Certificate – 1 semester
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma
Special Needs Educator Post-Diploma Certificate – 1 semester
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

University of British Columbia, Vancouver
ECE Programs:
Basic certificate
ECE Assistant
Educating Young Children
Enhancing Early Learning
Kindergarten Instruction

University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford
ECE Programs:
Diploma
Certificate

Vancouver Community College, Vancouver
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma – 2 years (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Bow Valley College, Calgary
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diplom

Grande Prairie Regional College, Grand Prairie
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Distance Learning

MacEwan University, Edmonton
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Curriculum Studies (Full- or part-time)
Four year/two year programs; full-time study, Degree or diploma exit
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Keyano College, Fort McMurray
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Educational Assistant program

Lakeland College, Vermilion
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Lethbridge College, Lethbridge
ECE Programs:
One year certificate and two-year diploma as well as distance learning
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Mount Royal University, Calgary
ECE Programs:
Bachelor of Child Studies, ELCC Major

Northern Lakes College, Admissions Office Slave Lake
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate (Part-time or Full-time)
Prerequisite:  High School Diploma

Diploma program (online only)

Portage College, Lac La Biche
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Educational Assistant

Red Deer College, Red Deer
ECE Programs:
Early Learning and Child Care Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Learning and Child Care Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Educational Assistant Certificate

University of Alberta, Edmonton
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate Program

Carlton Trail Regional College, Humboldt
ECE Programs: 
Early Childhood Education Certificate – Level 2 – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Course Catalogue

Great Plains College, Swift Current and Warman
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Certificate or Diploma – Full-Time and Part-Time

Prerequisite:

  • High School Diploma with English Language Arts A30 and B30

Parkland Regional College, Melville
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Certificate (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Orientation
 
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (includes distance option)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Certificate of Achievement

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, Saskatoon
ECE Programs:
First Nations Child Care Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
First Nations Child Care Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Specialized Courses:
First Nations Orientation to Daycare – 5 weeks
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
First Nations Orientation to Headstart – 5 weeks
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Southeast Regional College, Weyburn
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Certificate (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Assiniboine Community College, Brandon
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Human Resources Program:
Early Childhood Program Management Post-Diploma Certificate (Part-time via Distance Delivery)
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Université de Saint-Boniface, Saint-Boniface
Programme en éducation de la jeune enfance :
Diplôme en éducation de la jeune enfance – 2 ans
Exigences d’admission : Diplôme d’études secondaires

Programme en ressources humaines :
Diplôme avancé en leadership pour la jeune enfance – 1 an
Exigences d’admission : Diplôme en éducation de la jeune enfance

Red River College, Winnipeg
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Workplace Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

University College of the North, The Pas
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Workplace Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg
ECE Program:
BA in Developmental Studies – Child Development and Child Care 
Prerequisite: High School Diploma or ECE Diploma

Human Resources Program:
Advanced Diploma in Leadership in Early Childhood Care and Education
Prerequisite: ECE II

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ottawa, Perth and Pembroke
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Intensive Diploma – 1 year
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma

Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education Diploma (Full-time Online)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma (Part-time On Campus and Online)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Anishinabek Educational Institute, North Bay
ECE Program:
Native Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Cambrian College, Sudbury
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Alternate Delivery – 5 semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Native Early Childhood Education Diploma (Oshki) – 5 semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Canadore College, North Bay
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Intensive – 1 year
Prerequisite: Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Arts

Carleton University, Ottawa
ECE Programs:
Child Studies – B.A. Honours – 4 years
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma
Child Studies – B.A. General – 3 years
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Centennial College, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Ashtonbee – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Progress – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Assistant Certificate – 1 year
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Resource Consultant (Special Needs) Part time post-diploma

Charles Sturt University, Burlington
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Honours 
2 years full-time on campus or part-time on campus
Admission requirements: Canadian students who have completed a Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE) at an accredited Ontario college, and have an average in the low to mid 70s / B or B+, are eligible to apply.

Collège Boréal, Sudbury
Programmes en éducation de la jeune enfance :
Educateur / Éducatrice de la petite enfance – Apprentissage
 
Exigences d’admission : Diplôme d’études secondaires

Conestoga College, Kitchener
ECE Programs:

Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development – 4 years
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education – Fast Track Post Graduate Diploma – 1 year 
Prerequisite: University Degree in Social Sciences
Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Certificate – 3 years (Part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Confederation College, Thunder Bay
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Durham College, Oshawa
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 5 semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Fanshawe College, London
ECE Programs:

Early Childhood Education

Accelerated 

Fast track 

Fast track weekend

Honours Bachelor, Leadership

Fleming College, Peterborough and Lindsay
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

George Brown College, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Full time
Part time
Consecutive Diploma/Degree
Accelerated
Honours Bachelor

Human Resources Programs:
Early Childhood Leadership, Bachelor of Applied Arts Degree – 4 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Daycare Early Childhood Management Certificate – 6 courses
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Georgian College, Orillia and Owen Sound
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Humber College, Toronto
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Specialized Course:
Early Childhood Education Advanced Studies in Special Needs – Post Graduate Certificate – 1 year 
Prerequisite: University Degree in related area

La Cité collégiale, Ottawa
Programme en éducation de la jeune enfance :
Diplôme Éducation en services à l’enfance – 2 ans
 
Exigences d’admission : Diplôme d’études secondaires

Lambton College, Sarnia
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Loyalist College, Belleville
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Accelerated Program – 1 year
Prerequisite: College Diploma in social work field
Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education Diploma (Distance Education)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Mohawk College, Hamilton
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education (Intensive) Diploma – 8 months
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma
Early Childhood Education – Leadership and Administration – Continuing Education
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma
Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting – Continuing Education
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma

Mothercraft College, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma
 – 1 year (4 semesters accelerated)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma or equivalent or Mature Student (CAT test will apply)

Specialized Courses:
Home Based Child Care Certificate
 – 24 hours
Prerequisite: Previous training or related experience

Early Learning Framework (ELF) Post-Diploma Certificate – 24 hours
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Niagara College, Welland
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

ECE Advanced Staffing

Specialized Course:
Child Development Practitioner – Apprenticeship
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Human Resources Program:
Early Childhood Education Administration – Post Diploma Certificate
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Northern College, South Porcupine
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Ryerson University, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education B.A. Degree – 4 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Studies M.A. Degree
Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
B.A. in Early Childhood Education – George Brown Degree Completion – Third Year Direct Entry
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma completed at George Brown College
B.A. in Early Childhood Education Degree Completion – Part-time
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma

Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Seneca College, North York
ECE Programs:
Diploma program
Accelerated program
Honours Bachelor
Apprentice/Practitioner
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Child Development
Role of ECE/Kindergarten

Specialized Courses:
Role of ECE in Full-Day Kindergarten Workshops
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma or University Degree
Early Childhood Education Administration Graduate Certificate
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma and experience working in the child care field

Sheridan College, Oakville
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years or 16 continuous months (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma Intensive – Fast Track – 1 year
Prerequisite: College Diploma or related post-secondary education
Early Childhood Education Internationally Trained 
Prerequisite: Admission to the Access Program by the AECEO
Early Childhood Education Supervision and Administration Graduate Certificate
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma or recognized equivalent

St. Clair College, Windsor
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma Accelerated – 1 year
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma in a related field
Native Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education – Concurrent BA/B.Ed/ECE – 5 years
(Partnership with the University of Windsor)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

St. Lawrence College, Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Post Grad Fast Track – 12 months
Prerequisite: University Degree or College Diploma in a related field

University of Guelph-Humber, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood & Diploma in Early Childhood Education
 
Prerequisite: High School Diploma
Early Childhood Degree Completion – Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood
Prerequisite: ECE Diploma and minimum three years experience in the child care field

University of Guelph, Guelph
ECE Program:
Family and Child Studies B.A. Honours Program – 4 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

University of Windsor, Windsor
ECE Program:
Concurrent BA/BEd/ECE – Arts & Education and Early Childhood Education – 5 years
(Partnership with St. Clair College)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

York University, Toronto
ECE Programs:
Early Childhood Education Graduate Diploma (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Degree
Children’s Studies BA
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep@distance, Couvre tout le Québec
ECE programme: AEC

Cégep de Beauce-Appalaches, Beauce
Programme: DEC et AEC

Cégep de Drummondville, Drummondville
Programme: DEC.

Cégep de Granby-Haute-Yamaska, Région de Granby
Programme: AEC


Cégep de Jonquière
, Jonquière
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de Rimouski, Région de Rimouski
Programme:  DEC et AEC

Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup, Rivière-du-Loup
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Sainte-Foy
Programmes :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance programme RÉGULIER – 3 ans
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance programme INTENSIF – 21 mois 

Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, Saint-Jérôme
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Collège de Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de Vieux Montréal, Montréal
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep Heritage College, Gatineau
Programs:

Early Childhood Care and Education – 1 year AEC

Early Childhood Care and Education – 3 years

Cégep Marie-Victorin, Montréal
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep régional de Lanaudière, L’Assomption
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep St-Félicien, Lac St-Jean
Programme: AEC

Cégep de l’Outaouais, Gatineau
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Cégep de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Collège CDI, Laval
Programme:  DEC et AEC

Collège Édouard-Montpetit, Longueuil
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Collège LaSalle, Montréal
Programme :
Techniques de l’éducation à l’enfance – 2 ans (Attestation d’études collégiales)

Collège Montmorency, Laval
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Collège Shawinigan, Shawinigan
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Collège TAV :
Programme: DEC

Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
Programme :
Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance – 3 ans

Concordia University, Montréal
Programs:
Early Childhood and Elementary Teacher Certification Program (ECEE) – 4 years
Child Studies B.A. Major – 3 years
Child Studies MA

Institut Teccart, Région de Montréal
Programme:  DEC et AEC

Vanier College, Saint Laurent
Programs:
Early Childhood Education – 3 years
Early Childhood Education Fast Tracking – 2 years

College of the North Atlantic, Corner Brook
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education by Distance Education
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Collège communautaire du Nouveau Brunswick- CCNB
Campus de Campbellton et Campus de Dieppe
Programme d’éducation à l’enfance
Certificat 1 ans
Préalable- diplôme d’études secondaires

New Brunswick Community College, Saint John, Miramichi and Fredericton
Advocacy, Leadership and Management

ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Certificate – 1 year 
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Oulton College , Moncton
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma 
Prerequisite: High School Diploma, Admissions Meeting

University of New Brunswick, Fredericton
ECE Program:
Bachelor of Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education – 11 months
Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree

Certificate program

For information about Nova Scotia’s classification requirements for child care staff click here

CBBC Career College, Sydney & Dartmouth, NS
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – Accelerated 48 Weeks (Full-Time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma or Alternate Admissions – Wonderlic SLE12

Jane Norman College, Truro
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Specialized Course: Level Three Classification 

Mount Saint Vincent University Child and Youth Study DegreeHalifax
Bachelor of Arts (Child and Youth Study)
– 4 years (full or part-time; on-campus or on-line)
Pre-requisite – High School Diploma or ECE Diploma

Master of Arts (Child and Youth Study) – thesis requirement, full or part-time (on-campus)
Pre-requisite: 4-year undergraduate degree in the related area

Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education, Halifax
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years (Full- or part-time)
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Nova Scotia Community College, Yarmouth, Springhill, Sydney and Kentville
ECE Program:
Early Childhood Education Diploma – 2 years
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Distance/Online Learning:
Early Childhood Education Diploma
Prerequisite: High School Diploma

Université Sainte-Anne, Pointe-de-l’Église
Programme à distance/en ligne :
Diplôme en éducation à la petite enfance – 2 ans
Exigences d’admission : Diplôme d’études secondaires

Further Steps in your ECE Journey

Higher learning in ELCC

Beyond the basics, an extensive program at the Master’s level will launch you into the world of early childhood learning research that will inform pedagogy and how child care is practiced. Your knowledge and research can influence how quality child care is valued, approached and practised in Canada and beyond. You will also open possibilities in advocating for quality child care and children’s rights.

ECE Salary Information

Salary Information Where you Work

Find regional information
Learn More

ECE Provincial & Territorial Data

Valuable Information For ECEs

Browse our provincial data page
Learn More

Discover Canadian ECE Programs

Programs Sorted Regionally

Find the perfect program. Start your career in ELCC today!
Learn More
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Supporter membership rate $45 CAD. Join now!

Annual Membership rate $0 CAD with the code from your local affiliate. Join now!

Anyone working in licensed child care has to apply for certification. You will find certification information for your province or territory on our child care certification page.

With your resume and cover letter ready (we’ll provide guides for this soon), contact child care centres and introduce yourself! You can call, email, or even message them on social media. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a reply. Try again a few days later to give them your resume in person. Remember that due to safety reasons you need to call first. Tell them you live in their area, and that you’re looking for a position.

On our provincial and territorial map we link to child care associations in your area. Follow the link to your association and join today. The associations provide valuable information to anyone starting out in their career. Even experienced ECEs can benefit. You’ll also enjoy valuable member benefits like discounts, meet other ECEs, and become a part of the child care movement in Canada.


If you join your provincial or territorial affiliate, you’re automatically also a member of the CCCF.

All licensed and regulated quality child care programs in Canada require these for the safety and security of children and families.

If you’re just starting out:

  1. Get certified!
  2. Find the requirements for your province or territory
  3. Write your resume and begin your job search. We’ll provide tips on this soon. 
  4. Get your vulnerable sector check and first aid training

Join our Facebook Group and meet other ECEs who may be able to answer your questions

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are incredible professionals that have rewarding, important and demanding careers. They work with young children (and their families), ages 0-12, nurturing and educating them, observing and planning for their growth and development while ensuring that they are healthy. They create interactive and dynamic learning environments where children develop social skills, develop cognitive skills and foster lifelong learning. ECEs work in child care centres, classrooms, home child cares, preschool, and parent drop-in programs. You do not need a teaching degree to be an ECE, but you do need your ECE diploma.

Annual Membership rate $90 CAD.
Join now!

Annual Membership rate $65 CAD.
Join now!

Annual Membership rate $65 CAD.
Join now!

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