Any parent anxiously waiting for their toddler to secure a spot at daycare knows how in-demand Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are in Canada. ECEs play a vital role in child development, teaching fundamental skills to children during their most formative years. Working in a variety of settings including daycare centres, classrooms, and other support programs through school boards, as well as for individual families in private care settings, Early Childhood Educators are in demand.
According to the federal government’s Job Bank, Canada will have more than 100,000 job openings ECEs between 2022-2031, with strong job prospects in most provinces across the country as the federal government continues to roll out its universal childcare program.
The average salary for an ECE varies depending on where you work, in terms of geography and employer. Indeed reports the average hourly rate for an ECE in Canada at $22.64, or $59,203 annually; according to the Government of Canada, the territories have some of the highest hourly rates for ECEs, between $25-29/hour, while Quebec has the highest average of the provinces ($24/hour). Pay is generally higher at workplaces such as publicly funded school boards.
The other factor most likely to influence your earning potential as an ECE: your level of education and certification. Completion of a college program in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor’s degree in child development will grant you increasing levels of competency and command higher salaries.
The length of an ECE program will vary depending on the learning institution and provincial regulations and requirements. On average, most programs will take about two years to complete, including the time it takes to obtain job placement experience.
CourseCompare’s annual ranking of ECE programs comes, in part, from direct experience matching learners to ECE courses and ECE certification opportunities across Canada. That experience is further grounded in the work of our editorial team, which surveyed colleges and universities, employers and recent graduates, and carefully considered the breadth of certificate, diploma and degree programs on offer at institutions, to determine which schools are best positioned to shape the future of Early Childhood Education in the years to come.
Conestoga College
Conestoga College is a leader in polytechnic education, delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity across Ontario.
What Students Are Saying
Kristen Chan, Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development (Honours)“Lots of work-integrated (WIL) learning and amazing community feel to this program at Conestoga. Invaluable experience in a kindergarten classroom topped off excellent classroom training by first-rate professors in this bachelor's degree program. Highly recommended. ”
What You’ll Learn
The two-year Early Childhood Education diploma program at Conestoga prepares students for professional practice in the field of early learning and child care. Through interactive classroom learning and work-integrated learning experiences, students develop skills that enable them to work in collaboration with families, colleagues and communities for the purpose of designing, implementing and evaluating inclusive play-based early learning program.
Students will work in partnership with college-operated child development centres, kindergarten classrooms, licensed early learning and care programs and community agencies to integrate classroom theory and practice in meaningful and engaging ways. Courses include Introduction to Early Learning and Care; Foundations of Curriculum, Play and Pedagogy; Health Safety & Nutrition; Child Development: The Later Years; and Partnership with Families.
Program Options
In addition to the two-year diploma, Conestoga also offers a four-year Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development with paid co-op degree. This honours degree provides students with an applied understanding of developing early learning programs at the classroom and community levels. The program prepares graduates for a number of progressive careers that support children, youth and families in the areas of curriculum implementation and co-ordination, program development and co-ordination, and social policy work.
If you have an ECE diploma, or are an RECE currently working in the field, you may be eligible to bridge into the last two years of the full or part-time Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development program. Bridging applicants must contact the program area to determine eligibility and entrance options, as all applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Locations
Kitchener, Ontario
Humber Polytechnic
Humber Polytechnic (formerly Humber College) was founded in 1967 and has two campuses in Toronto, offering advanced academic credentials and direct industry experience while employing the latest technology and teaching methodologies in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms that simulate a real-world working environment.
What Students Are Saying
Mina M., Children's Mental Health“This was a great online course for an ECE working during the day. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but kids have struggled due to social isolation. Learning more about mental health issues facing my kids has made me a much better educator and allowed me to create thoughtful new programming at my childhood centre in Toronto. ”
What You’ll Learn
Humber’s Early Childhood Education diploma program prepares students to work with children from birth to 12 years of age. Students are expected to attain the required knowledge, skills and attitudes that employers are seeking from ECE graduates in supporting children, families, and their communities by engaging in innovative learning and simulation experiences.
ECE students at Humber learn how children learn and develop as well how to create responsive, inclusive play-based learning environments, and natural play spaces. Courses include Responsive Relationships in Inclusive Environments; Children, Play and Creativity; Child Development: Prenatal to 2 ½ years; Understanding Children through Observation; Child Development: 2 to 6 years; Curriculum Design; and Two-Eyed Land-based Play and Co-Learning. The latter course uses the guiding principles and pedagogy of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing in the Mi’kmaq language) to explore land-based play and co-learning through both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of being, seeing, knowing, and doing. The course takes place on the lands of the Humber Arboretum and regional landscapes. Co-learning engages Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty, Elders, Knowledge Holders and students in the learning process.
The program features an on-site inclusive child-care facility for kids from birth to four years of age, a natural play space for children, a hands-on, interactive classroom designed to inspire creativity and inquiry, and an ECE Resource Centre.
The program includes work placement; students are required to complete 500-600 work placement hours over three semesters. During these three semesters, students may have field practicums such as working with families and children in licensed child care or preschool settings, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, various community programs, full-day kindergarten, or home-based child care programs. Securing a different placement for semesters 2, 3, and 4 ensures a range of experiences prior to graduation and equips students with a range of networks within the community to explore employment in the future.
Program Options
Students who start their studies in January are enrolled in a fast-track option. This allows for completion of the full diploma program in four consecutive semesters, including the summer term. Those who enrol in May will complete the full diploma program in approximately 20 months with one summer break between the third and fourth semesters. Students beginning their studies in September complete the program in two academic years with one summer break between the second and third semester.
Humber’s ECE program offers a semester abroad program that gives students the opportunity to study in Odense, Denmark and completed academic credits can be transferred to a Humber credential. Students can also pursue work placement outside Canada and may be eligible to receive a bursary from Humber to complete their studies.
Locations
Toronto (North Campus), Ontario
University of Guelph-Humber
The University of Guelph-Humber is a collaboration between the University of Guelph and Humber Polytechnic that has been operating in Toronto since 2000. With a student population of 4,700, the institution offers unique programs designed to blend the best of a college and university education into one unified experience, while granting both diplomas and degrees from the respective partner schools.
The University of Guelph-Humber offers a leading Early Childhood Studies program which grants an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Humber Polytechnic.
What You’ll Learn
The four-year Early Childhood Studies program trains students to become professionals who support and positively impact children’s lives. Students learn about the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development from prenatal stages to age 12; how environments and relationships influence growth and well-being; to create safe spaces of belonging and support mental health; and how to integrate safe technology into play. They’re taught to foster inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments and advocate for children’s rights.
The program includes 800+ hours of workplace experience, starting in first year and continuing all the way through. Placements can include experience at children’s mental health centres, inclusive early learning and care centres, primary school classrooms, therapeutic environments, hospital child life units, and community-based family organizations, among others.
Program Options
In your third year of the Early Childhood Studies program at Guelph-Humber, you have the option to focus your studies through one of three specializations (those who don’t specialize select courses from each area):
Children’s Futures: Learn to anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of children through innovative, ethical, and future-focused strategies. This specialization is the first of its kind in the world. Courses include Ethics & Privacy with Children, Technology & Innovation, and Designing for the Future.
Infant & Child Mental Health: Learn to support the emotional and psychological well-being of children by understanding the complex factors that shape their mental health from infancy through early childhood. Courses include Developmental Neuroscience, Social Epigenetics, and Grief & Loss.
Pathway to Child Life: Prepare for a fulfilling career as a Certified Child Life Specialist, completing the coursework required to gain the expertise needed to support and empower children and families in pediatric healthcare environments. Courses include Development in Adolescence, Introduction to Child Life, and Grief & Loss.
Locations
Toronto, Ontario
Algonquin College
Algonquin College is one of Ontario’s largest, training over 18,000 full-time students on its three campuses in Ottawa and nearby Perth and Pembroke. The Early Childhood Education Ontario College Diploma program at Algonquin College, delivered in three different format options, prepares students to become an educator of young children in a variety of early learning settings.
What Students Are Saying
Jennifer C., Early Childhood Education (Intensive)“I studied at the Pembroke campus where I found my calling! The community of professors and students is close and the curriculum balances the practical and theoretical side of things very well with in-class lectures and many workshops. I also loved that I got three field placements, which is more than other programs. Everyone is working to support your success here and send you off into a secure and in demand job where you get to care for and help develop children. Dream come true. ”
What You’ll Learn
The ECE program empowers students to design, execute, and evaluate play-based curricula while fostering enriching environments centred around children, through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical learning opportunities.
The program includes two field placements dedicated to working with children aged from birth to 12 years. These hands-on experiences enable you to integrate theoretical concepts with professional practice in early learning programs.
As part of your role as an ECE, you contribute to guiding children while actively participating in the planning, implementation, and assessment of programs. Through these placements, you acquire invaluable practical skills and experience, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the varied roles, settings, and responsibilities associated with being an Early Childhood Educator.
Program Options
You can earn an ECE Diploma at Algonquin College through three delivery options: Classroom (on campus in Ottawa or Pembroke), Full-time Online, or Part-time Online.
Algonquin also offers a four-year honours Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development, where students learn to work with children and families in both the community development and educational sectors. The program combines theory and practice, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to to create and implement community and school-based programs that support early learning and development.
Locations
Ottawa, and Pembroke, Ontario
Centennial College
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, founded in 1966, focuses on preparing graduates to enter the workforce ready to apply what they have learned, and the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program has a strong track record of producing grads who do just that every day in a variety of settings.
Centennial is the oldest publicly funded college in Ontario with campuses situated on the east side of the city in Scarborough. The college offers industry-recognized full- and part-time programs at five Toronto campuses. Whether in the classroom, state-of-the-art labs or the community, Centennial students experience the real world before they even graduate, ensuring they’re job-ready.
What Students Are Saying
Mélissa Lee,“Best college experience one could ask for. Terrific faculty and selection of programs for individuals looking to reach their highest potential and develop /sharpen very practical skills, all in the heart of Scarborough. Priceless. ”
What You’ll Learn
The ECE program at Centennial College is committed to ensuring students are prepared to enter this rewarding profession possessing the skills and tools needed to succeed. With the program consistently receiving key performance indicator distinction awards for employer satisfaction, graduates are known and respected as professionals.
As a student in the ECE program, you’ll learn to provide high standards of care to children and their families. The program will teach you to take responsibility for observing the needs of individuals and groups of children, and create well-planned, stimulating and responsive programs. You’ll come to understand the needs of infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.
Classroom experiences, provided by professors employing a variety of strategies, will offer you a range of opportunities to understand the content, and practice and apply what you’re learning. Supporting this program are Centennial College’s two state-of-the-art early childhood education centres. Used as lab schools, these centres, located in East York at the Ashtonbee Campus and in Scarborough at the Progress Campus, will allow you to observe and/or practice in a high-quality childcare setting.
Program Options
Centennial College offers its two-year Early Childhood Education program through the School of Community and Health Studies in a full-time or part-time format.
Locations
Toronto and Scarborough, Ontario
Toronto Metropolitan University
Founded in 1948, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) is a public research university located in the heart of downtown Toronto. The School of Early Childhood Studies (formerly the School of Child & Youth Care) was launched in 1989 as the first degree-granting child and youth care program in Ontario. The school was created in response to the growing demand from the child and youth care sector and the Toronto District School Board for advanced education in child and youth care.
What You’ll Learn
TMU’s Early Childhood Studies Bachelor of Arts degree program provides in-depth knowledge of child development from birth through age eight. Students study physiological, psychological and social perspectives and develop understanding and skills pertaining to family support, early childhood education, arts, literacy and disabilities in young children. Field education each year, as well as international placement and research opportunities will prepare you to work with children, families and professionals in a variety of settings.
Field placements provide the opportunity to put theory into practice. You’ll gain experience in a variety of settings such as childcare programs, public schools, special needs programs, family resource centres and children’s hospitals. TMU is also home to two research centres related to learning and child development including the Early Learning Centre – the school’s licensed laboratory early learning and child care centre, and the Gerrard Resource Centre which works in partnership with the School of Early Childhood Studies.
You’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to:
- Plan early learning environments where all children thrive
- Adapt programs to support children with disabilities
- Investigate, assess and evaluate children’s development
- Implement therapeutic interventions such as music, art, speech, and physical and occupational therapies
- Lead, advocate and resolve conflicts
Program Options
Students have five pathways to choose from when completing a BA in Early Childhood Studies at TMU. Students direct from high school can enrol in a full-time four year program. Graduates of accredited ECE diploma programs can opt for direct entry, either full-time or part-time, completing the final two years of the ECS program at TMU to obtain their bachelor’s degree. TMU has a specific partnership with George Brown College, where students can enrol directly into the bridged program, taking their first two years of study at George Brown immediately followed by two years at TMU. These students graduate with both an Early Childhood Education diploma from George Brown and a bachelor of arts from TMU.
Toronto Metropolitan University is the only university in Ontario to offer a collaborative 16-month consecutive BA/BEd program with a combined Early Childhood Studies (ECS) and Primary/Junior specialization. This Collaborative BA/BEd program is run in partnership with York University. Students complete their BA in Early Childhood Studies at TMU, followed immediately by 16 months of full-time study at York for their BEd. Graduates will enter the job market a full year earlier than their counterparts at other institutions.
TMU also offers a Master’s of Early Childhood Studies for those interested in pursuing graduate education.
Locations
Toronto, Ontario
George Brown
Located in downtown Toronto, George Brown College offers diploma programs in Early Childhood Education, as well as partnered degree programs in conjunction with Toronto Metropolitan University.
The college has been preparing Early Childhood Educators for more than 20 years. The College’s School of Early Childhood offers Ontario’s largest network of school owned and operated child care centres, 13 centres that model best practices the college teaches in classrooms and provide training for students as well as care for the children and families it serves. With over 150 partners across the Greater Toronto Area, George Brown has well-established partnerships that extend into a variety of sectors that include public and private childcare centres, school boards, community organizations, hospitals, and government.
What Students Are Saying
Jane Kim, Early Childhood Education Program (Accelerated)“This program is all hands-on all the time. The lessons and strategies I learned in the classroom helped prepare me for the exact challenges I faced in the classroom. Instructors were dedicated and empathetic. Best of all, there were more available field placements than there were students. Early childhood educators can't go wrong at George Brown in my opinion. ”
What You’ll Learn
George Brown’s programs combine classroom learning, with practical, hands-on experiential learning opportunities at one of the 13 college-managed child care lab schools or with one of our Greater Toronto Area service agency partners. These field placement opportunities help students build confidence and provide the practical experience in a real-world setting.
Program Options
George Brown offers seven Early Childhood Education programs through its School of Early Childhood.
Early Childhood Education: This two-year program stream is for those in high school or mature students with no previous post-secondary credential. There are in-person and online versions of the program available.
Early Childhood Education (Accelerated): Apply to this condensed program stream to complete your studies in 16 consecutive months.
Early Childhood Education (Fast-track): Apply to this fast-track program stream if you have a diploma or degree in a related field. Program is 10 months plus a two-week orientation course.
Early Childhood Education (Consecutive Diploma/Degree): Apply to this program stream if you want to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education. Students graduate with a diploma from George Brown College and a degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Early Childhood Education (Consecutive Diploma/GBC Degree): Apply to this program stream to earn a George Brown College degree in Early Childhood. You will pay lower college-level tuition fees in years 1 and 2 (vs. higher university-level fees). Students in this program graduate with a diploma and a degree from George Brown College.
Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership: Apply to this Fast-Track program stream if you have a diploma in Early Childhood Education and would like to pursue a degree that focuses on leadership as it relates to the Early Childhood sector.
Locations
Toronto, Ontario
Mohawk College
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public college located in Hamilton, Ont., founded in 1966. The college is fully accredited and funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and is a member of the Association of Community Colleges of Canada. The college’s ECE program features a “living lab” that provides for hands-on learning.
What You’ll Learn
ECE students at Mohawk will learn how to develop the whole child through an understanding of child development and intentional planning. As well, they will learn collaborative skills to support children and their families through responsive relationships. Other core skills will include:
- Observation, pedagogical documentation and reflection of best practices.
- Current legislation and guiding principles of the Early Years System.
- Implement an integrated community approach to engage with children, families and professionals.
Courses include Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers; Child Development & Behaviour; Parent Teacher Child Relationship; Health, Safety and Nutrition; Family Dynamics and Philosophy; and Curriculum Design. There are opportunities for specialized work placements.
Program Options
Students have three options when completing their ECE diploma at Mohawk: A standard two-year program; a “fast-tracked” approach to the two-year program, which allows students to study for 16 months consecutively with no summer break; or a one-year intensive option that condenses the regular studies into two semesters instead of four.
Locations
Hamilton, Ontario
Canadore College
Canadore College is a college of applied arts and technology located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1967 as a campus of Sudbury’s Cambrian College, and became an independent institution in 1972. Canadore College has three campuses in North Bay, Ontario, and one campus in Parry Sound, Ontario.
What Students Are Saying
Nancy Leblanc, Early Childhood Education Intensive (Accelerated)“A wonderful local option for anyone in northern Ontario. Very good facilities, excellent teachers and I had no trouble finding a field placement and a job after graduation. With degree inflation, some of the students had BA's in education and came to Canadore to get certified. Something to keep in mind for those of you unsure about which path to take. I have since moved into a management role at a private centre. ”
What You’ll Learn
Canadore’s activity-based ECE programs are taught using a holistic approach in which the stages of a child’s developmental growth are emphasized including cognitive skills and socio-emotional development.
Graduates of Canadore’s program will learn infant, toddler, pre-school, kindergarten and school-aged curricula, language and literacy development, health, safety and nutrition, special education, and outdoor/environmental learning.
Program Options
Canadore offers the traditional two-year Early Childhood Education diploma, that requires no previous experience. But the college also offers a unique accelerated Intensive program for graduates of any Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Arts program, which can be completed in just one year, including a 175-hour field placement.
Canadore also offers a Child Development Practitioner Apprenticeship.
Locations
North Bay, Ontario
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world.
UBC’s Faculty of Education offers a program of courses that lead to the BC Early Childhood Education (ECE) Assistant and Basic Certificates. These credentials are required by the Ministry of Children and Family Development to work in early childhood settings (ages birth to five years) in BC. Upon completion of the courses in the program, graduates apply to the BC ECE Registry for certification.
What You’ll Learn
UBC’s Faculty of Education offers several undergraduate and graduate programs focused on the early years (children from birth to age nine). ECED programs allow teachers, early childhood educators, and other early childhood education professionals to inquire into their work with young children and offers opportunities to explore issues in early childhood research, theory, and practice.
UBC’s BC Early Childhood Education Assistant & Basic Certificate program is offered 100 percent online, with practica in the Lower Mainland, allowing students the flexibility to work and manage other responsibilities while preparing for their career in Early Childhood Education.
Program Options
UBC offers several different programs including programs that allow for explore issues in early childhood research, theory, and practice.
The BC ECE Basic Certificate is the core certificate that equips students to become certified ECED professionals in the province of British Columbia. It consists of 39 credits (13 courses) of prescribed online courses and 9 credits of in-person practicum courses held at BC-licensed early childcare centres (48 credits total).
UBC offers two certificates and two diplomas in early years education, and infant development and supported child development, respectively. Students can also opt for a minor in education, with an early childhood education specialization; this does not qualify you to become a certified ECE, but the courses may be applied against the coursework required for the BC ECE Basic Certificate. Finally, the school offers three related Master’s programs.
Locations
Online, Vancouver, British Columbia
Georgian College
Georgian College works with industry and community partners to offer relevant, cutting-edge curriculum, quality work placements and co-op experiences with top employers. Students graduate with the skills and the mindset to be innovative thinkers and changemakers who can transform their workplaces and communities.
What Students Are Saying
Tania Walker, Early Childhood Education“Great school! The best school I've attended. Awesome program choices and great professors. Very friendly staff! Completed the ECE program and found work before I even graduated. ”
What You’ll Learn
Students learn to facilitate the development of children from birth to 12 years while encouraging their feelings of self-worth and social-emotional resiliency. Learning includes the design and implementation of play-based experiences, focusing on children’s interests through indoor and outdoor play opportunities. Students learn the importance of being responsive caregivers while respecting diversity, identity and the rights of children and families.
Partnerships with families, other professionals, and community programs form the foundation of working in the field of early learning and care. Field placements provide students with the opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills as they engage with children and adults. Students are offered a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Program Options
The two-year Early Childhood Education Ontario College Diploma program includes two field placement and classroom studies such as Children’s Health and Wellness, Ethics and Advocacy for ECE, Adapting Play/ Learning Strategy, Foundations in ECE, Partnerships with Families, Social/Emotional Health/Behaviour and more.
Locations
Orillia, Orangeville, and Owen Sound, Ontario
Loyalist College
Loyalist College is located on more than 200 acres in the Bay of Quinte region, located between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal. The college offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades.
What You’ll Learn
Loyalist’s ECE program consistently ranks high in student and graduate satisfaction, combining theory with practice. Available as a two-year program, distance or apprenticeship studies, Loyalist’s ECE program will teach you how to design and implement curriculum to meet the diverse learning needs of children at different stages. Learning emphasizes inclusive practices, partnerships with families, multiple intelligences and evidence-based practices. Learner can expect a range of experiences in community early learning programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.
Program Options
Loyalist’s Early Childhood Education diploma program is offered in-person and online. They also offer a Child Development Practitioner (CDP) apprenticeship certificate, as well as a Child and Youth Care diploma.
Locations
Belleville, Ontario
Red Deer Polytechnic
Red Deer Polytechnic, known as Red Deer College until 2021, has been operating in central Alberta since 1964. The school offers apprenticeships, certificates, diplomas, and micro-credentials, and became a degree-granting institution in 2018.
What You’ll Learn
Red Deer Polytechnic offers a two-year diploma program in Early Learning and Child Care. Each course you take focuses on a different topic important to those who work with young children – from child development, to guiding behaviour, to planning snacks and bulletin boards, to planning and participating in play experiences, to interacting with children who have special needs.
The ELCC department operates in partnership with college and community programs serving children from birth to twelve years of age. Students complete two practicum placements in these partner programs as a method of integrating theory and practice, and many often find permanent post-graduate employment in their placement programs.
Program Options
Red Deer Polytechnic has a variety of delivery options designed to accommodate full-time students and working professionals alike. The Diploma in Early Learning and Child Care is offered part-time through online study or on-campus courses, and full-time through on-campus study or by enrolling in a blend of on-campus and online courses. Those wishing to complete the Diploma in one year (three consecutive terms) should enrol in the full-time on-campus or blended coursework program.
Students taking online courses complete their courses and practicums in their community. The blended online/on-campus program is offered through a combination of online independent study materials, on-site learning, and computer-facilitated support. Students taking online courses complete their courses and practicums in their community.
Red Deer also offers the Early Learning and Child Care Workplace Advancement Specialization, equivalent to the second year of the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma program. It’s designed for students who have already completed the one-year Early Learning and Child Care Certificate, or the first year of the Diploma, and are already working in the field. While completing the Workplace Advancement Specialization, students will continue to work in an ELCC Centre where their outcomes, skills, and competencies will be assessed. Students complete more than 51 percent of their certificate in the workplace and less than 49 percent in an online learning environment.
Locations
Red Deer, Alberta
Bow Valley College
Calgary-based Bow Valley College is a public, board-governed college operating as a comprehensive community institution under the Post-Secondary Learning Act of Alberta. It is located in the University of Lethbridge Calgary Campus. The branch campuses are Airdrie, Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, High River, Okoktoks, and Strathmore.
What You’ll Learn
The full-time 16-month (four-term) Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma program prepares students to provide high-quality childcare in a wide variety of settings and plan emergent play experiences for children. You will gain knowledge in child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centered learning experiences.
This program combines theory and practice, and graduates are eligible for Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor) certification from the Alberta Government.
The ECED learning lab combines classroom space with interactive children’s learning centres that include an artist studio, a reading centre, a dramatic play centre, and a sensory motor centre. This innovative and engaging environment supports the transition of theory to practice as students have an opportunity to engage with children in the lab space.
Program Options
The ECED diploma program at Bow Valley College is offered full-time or part-time with a variety of delivery options including traditional classroom and online learning. There are daytime and evening classes scheduled throughout the week. The practicum, however, must be completed physically onsite at a licensed childcare program in Alberta. Program delivery is blended which includes a combination of online and in-person learning.
Locations
Calgary, Alberta
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College serves the greater London region by providing flexible learning and experiential education opportunities. As one of Ontario’s largest colleges – with four campuses in London, Simcoe, St. Thomas and Woodstock – Fanshawe serves close to half a million people.
What Students Are Saying
Phyllis Carter, Early Childhood Education (Fast Track)“When I signed up for this program, I wasn't sure if becoming an ECE was going to be the best fit for me. I was worried that there would be so much to learn. The professors made everything so interesting and I learned so much. They helped to bring the confidence out in me. The program showed me how my creative side can be a huge benefit to working with children. I found work in my new career within a weeks of graduating. ”
What You’ll Learn
Fanshawe’s Early Childhood Education program provides the skills and hands-on experience to get your career started working with children in the early years. The program combines theory and coursework with experience in the field. Students will develop knowledge and skills in child development via the diverse courses and learn about the valuable and specialized role educators play in the community. Graduates will gain diverse skills for the evolving world of childhood education and be qualified to work in a range of jobs including child care centres, early learning and family centres, before and after school programs and with school boards.
Work placement opportunities expose students to a variety of age groups and multiple organizations. You will gain a variety of experiences that will make you more valuable to the Early Childhood Education profession.
Program Options
Fanshawe offers four Early Childhood Education programs: The two-year Ontario College Diploma program is available in-person on-campus, online, and as a fast-track or accelerated program.
Graduates of the program, once they have completed a bridge program, can enter Level 5 of the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership Degree program at Fanshawe College. This four-year honours degree program is intended for students who want to seek leadership roles in the ECE profession. Students will learn a solid foundation in child development, pedagogy, human relationship, curriculum development, and leadership skills. You will participate in applied learning, case studies, research and field placements in the community. All this culminates in one 14-week-internship before your final year of studies, followed by your final year capstone research project.
Locations
Online, London, Clinton, St. Thomas, and Woodstock, Ontario
Sheridan College
Founded in 1967, Sheridan is one of Ontario’s leading postsecondary institutions, educating more than 40,000 students every year on three campuses in Oakville, Brampton and Mississauga, Ontario.
What Students Are Saying
Shweta Nanda, Early Childhood Education (Intensive)“Whenever we call at sheridan college, they respond quickly and always assist us properly. Teachers and staff are very cooperative and helpful. ”
What You’ll Learn
Sheridan’s curriculum room supports learning by providing hands-on experiences in a simulated early learning classroom, showcasing best practices for supporting young children’s learning and development.
Students will learn current issues and theories of child development, the roles and responsibilities of the early childhood educator, curriculum theory and approaches, programming for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, professionalism and advocacy in early childhood education. Students put their learning into practice by completing three different mandatory field placements, which could include Sheridan’s highly acclaimed childcare centres, before and after school care, kindergarten classrooms, or other early learning settings.
Program Options
Sheridan’s Early Childhood Education diploma program is offered as a standard two year program or as an intensive one-year program, where the curriculum is condensed into just two semesters.
Sheridan also offers an Honour’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership, a five-semester program focusing on preparing ECEs for leadership roles. While students can enrol in the bachelor program without any previous education, Sheridan recommends students interested first get their ECE diploma, apply the diploma credits to the degree, take four mandatory courses and then automatically progress to Year 3 (Semester 5).
Locations
Brampton, and Oakville, Ontario
Seneca Polytechnic
Seneca Polytechnic (formerly Seneca College) is a multiple-campus public college in the Greater Toronto Area, and Peterborough, Ontario regions. It offers full-time and part-time programs at the baccalaureate, diploma, certificate and graduate levels.
What Students Are Saying
khaula khakwani, Early Childhood Education (Accelerated)“My experience with Seneca College was Ok. It has multiple programs and program delivery options which made it easy to fix my schedules. the instructors are great, very understanding, and knowledgeable. My skills and management were enhanced and became very professional. However, the service hub and other departments made navigation complicated but you can solve your problem by communicating regularly. Lack of organization and communication can make the whole experience very difficult. So my studies went smoothly. I am happy to be part of Seneca team and the community is very supportive especially SSF and other student organizations. ”
What You’ll Learn
In the Early Childhood Education diploma program, students will learn about the physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs of children. You will understand how to develop and implement inclusive programming to support the healthy development of children ranging in age from infancy to school-age. Studies will include courses in child development, curriculum, philosophy of education, communication, working with families and administration.
Seneca offers two lab schools, which are model child care centres that provide opportunities for observation and programming.
Program Options
Seneca offers the Early Childhood Education diploma program in standard two-year and accelerated one-year options. If you choose to take the standard program but study in the summer, you will have the option to earn your ECE diploma in 16 months.
As a graduate of this program who meets GPA requirements, you are eligible to pursue other opportunities at Seneca, including the Honours Bachelor of Child Development, a four-year degree that prepares you for expansive opportunities across the health, education, and social service sectors. Graduates can pursue careers in family support services, recreation, early learning and education, infant mental health, and early intervention for children and youth with diverse abilities.
Locations
Toronto, and Peterborough, Ontario
Niagara College
Located in the heart of the Niagara Region, Niagara College offers more than 130 innovative programs between its campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
What You’ll Learn
The two-year Early Childhood Education diploma program at Niagara College includes more than 600 hours of practical field placement experience with course work. Students will develop their abilities creating learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families, and communities, while designing and maintaining inclusive early learning environments. They’ll develop the skills to create and facilitate inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children’s learning, holistic development and well-being.
Students can graduate with three additional certificates: the Hanen Learning Language and Loving It certificate; the Quality Child Care Niagara certificate; and the Red Cross Anti-Bullying Certificate.
Program Options
Niagara College offers a two-year diploma program with four work placements that take place concurrently as well as an advanced stream one-year program (with two work placements) for those who already have a Bachelor of Education degree with a primary junior focus. Students interested in international employment or field placements can take advantage of the college’s partnership with programs in Thailand.
Niagara College also has a partnership with Six Nations Polytechnic, offering Niagara’s Early Childhood Education diploma program at Six Nation’s Brantford campus, where students will learn the skills needed to work with children, families, and communities in both Indigenous and Canadian contexts.
Those interested in a career that focuses on the well-being and development of children and youth can also explore Niagara’s three-year Child and Youth Care diploma program.
Locations
Welland, and Brantford, Ontario
Capilano University
Capilano University attracts students from around the world and enrols approximately 11,600 students each year, 8,300 in for-credit programs and 3,300 in non-credit courses.
What You’ll Learn
The Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma at Capilano gives students the competencies and knowledge required to work with children under the age of five in licensed preschools and childcare centres.
Students will learn to use ethical pedagogical practices that demonstrate an understanding and sensitivity to local and global issues related to Early Childhood Care and Education and engage in pedagogical practices that demonstrate mastery of the competencies required to be licensed and employed as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia.
Education courses in the diploma program meet the requirements of the Early Childhood Educator Registry for the ECE Certificate to Practice; Infant/Toddler Certificate to Practice and/or the Special Needs Certificate to Practice. Students who successfully complete an ECCE diploma are eligible to apply to the degree program.
Program Options
In addition to the Early Childhood Care and Education diploma, Capilano University’s School of Education and Childhood Studies offers a Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education Degree, Early Childhood Care Education Post Baccalaureate Diploma, four specialized certificates, and a pathway for international students enrolled in English for Academic Purposes.
Locations
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College is a public community college in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1965, it is the largest and oldest community college in British Columbia, with two campuses in Vancouver.
What You’ll Learn
In VCC’s certificate program, students take an active role and learn by observing early childhood programs during field trips and off-site field studies, as well as in-class. Students are exposed to new ECCE resources, including the Science of Early Child Development.
The class time includes the use of the ECCE Lab, a combination of classroom space and several mock learning centres. The instructors incorporate the practical application in their lectures.
Practicum students receive on-site support and supervision from college instructors and sponsors who are qualified early childhood educators.
Program Options
Vancouver Community College’s Early Childhood Care and Education certificate fulfills British Columbia’s certification requirements for ECEs in the province. The program is delivered both online and in-person at the downtown Vancouver campus.
Locations
Vancouver, British Columbia
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is one of the top teaching and research universities in Canada, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences.
What You’ll Learn
The Centre collégial de l’Alberta offers two programs in early childhood education. The ECE programs at Campus Saint-Jean in Edmonton are offered in French, and based on the application of the latest findings in child development research. The University of Alberta’s curriculum focuses on teaching the child as an individual learning to appreciate, understand and master their environment. The program is specifically adapted to the francophone minority context and focused on the child’s language development in a multicultural francophone context. The program’s teachers will also be able to offer you the benefit of their many years of experience in Francophone daycare services or in an early childhood center in a minority setting.
Program Options
The Centre collégial de l’Alberta offers two programs in early childhood education and you can choose in-class or online studies. There is a one-year program that leads to the Government of Alberta’s Child Development Worker certification. There is also a two-year program (the first year of which consists of the same courses as the certificate program), which leads its graduates to the Government of Alberta’s Child Development Supervisor certification.
The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies – Early Childhood Education – provides foundational and practical knowledge in teaching and learning for young children in various contexts focusing on play-based pedagogy, creating inclusive and supportive environments for all learners, and developing early mathematics and literacy. Emphasis will be placed on generating new meanings by critically examining the content and engaging with theoretical approaches and practice-based perspectives. The courses will focus on how pedagogical decisions and the creation of inclusive learning environments can contribute to improving learning outcomes for young children.
Locations
Edmonton, Alberta
York University
As one of the top Faculties of Education in the country, York provides an environment for students to explore their interests in education and find how they can play a role in the education system. One of the largest public research universities in Toronto, York sees an annual enrolment of about 55,700 students, and has 7,000 faculty and staff, and over 325,000 alumni worldwide. The university offers a broad range of programs, research initiatives and partnerships.
York is home to the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, which supports research in health, education, relationships and development of infants, children, adolescents, as well as adults and families. Additionally, York hosts the Alexander F. Chamberlain speaker series, which features lectures and seminars from leading scholars in the Childhood and Youth Studies field.
Program Options
The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education gives formal recognition to those graduate students who have undertaken concentrated research and study concerning the education of young children (birth to age eight). This diploma does not lead to ECE certification.
To be eligible to take the Diploma concurrently with a Master’s or Doctoral degree, candidates must first be admitted to the graduate program in education. For Direct Entry (stand-alone diploma), candidates must be admissible to the Graduate Program in Education.
York also offers a humanities-based program called Children, Childhood and Youth studies. The program’s interdisciplinary and humanities-based approaches include courses from sociology, psychology, literature, history, anthropology, and human rights and equity studies. Students gain knowledge, skills, and experience for working in child- and youth-focused settings and organizations. This program also opens doors to further study, including advocacy work, counselling, education, health and wellness, international development and much more. Courses include: Introduction to Children, Childhood and Youth Studies; Global Cultures of Children and Young People; Research with Children and Young People; Honours Research Project; Internships / Practicums.
Locations
Toronto, Ontario
Editorial Team
Right here is the perfect website for anyone who hopes to find ECE programs.Thank you for your guidance.
I’ll be starting in Conestoga’s Bachelor program in the fall. Thanks again for connecting me!
Hello, any information for ECE in Cambrian College? Thank you.
Hi Gem,
We would be happy to help you with information. If you would like to email us at [email protected], we can arrange for you to speak to a Learning Advisor.
Thanks,
Nicole
Learning Advisor