Become an Early Childhood Educator

Teach, inspire and nurture young minds.

46-week certificate program including an 8-week practicum
Work with young children as a paid ECE Assistant during the program
Earn up to $25/hour
There is a growing demand for qualified childcare professionals in Canada
100% of our grads are employed as Early Childhood Educators within 6 months of program completion

About the Program

To become a Certified Early Childhood Educator in B.C., you are required to complete a training program from an approved educational institution, such as Stenberg College. Graduates of our ECE Basic certificate program will be registered with the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development’s ECE Registry.

Our ECE Basic certificate is 46 weeks and includes eight weeks of practicum experience. Graduates are prepared to support the learning and development of children between the ages of three and five. After only two months in the program, you will receive your ECE Assistant License and be able to work part-time as an ECE Assistant.

This program has an articulation agreement with BCIT. Graduates of our Early Childhood Education program are granted access to BCIT’s Advanced Diploma in Business Management. Upon completion of Stenberg’s Early Childhood Education program, with an additional 8 months full-time at BCIT, you can acquire an Advanced Diploma in one of Canada’s largest business schools. This is the ideal option for those who dream of operating their own daycare.

After completing BCIT’s Business Management Advanced Diploma, students have the option to enroll in BCIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), earning a prestigious degree from a highly regarded institution.

About the Career

Early Childhood Educators (ECE) teach children during their formative years, from birth to age five. They develop and implement educational programs that stimulate children’s intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth.

Graduates find employment in:

Profit or non-profit childcare centres

Parent participation preschools

Private nursery schools

Kindergartens

Inclusive childcare preschools

Before and after school care centres

Group daycares

Family daycares

Other child-minding services

Key Information

Delivery: In-class

Duration: 46 weeks, including 8 weeks of practicum

Starts: Three times per year (January, April & September)

Credential: Certificate

Wages: Earn up to $25/hour

Recognized By: Early Childhood Educator Registry

Credit Transfer (Articulation): Graduates are granted transfer credits toward BCIT’s Business Management Advanced Diploma. Upon completion, they can continue to BCIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration

Why Choose Stenberg College

Our Grads Are Our Difference
For over 25 years we have specialized and excelled in health care, education, and human services education, and offer a variety of programs in a combined delivery format. Stenberg faculty is comprised of industry experts and qualified educators with extensive experience. We achieve excellence in education through our sustained commitment to program quality, outstanding student services, and the professional development of our faculty, staff and alumni.

Reviews

“There’s no price tag on the emotional rewards you get knowing you contributed to a child’s life in a positive way. That is a gift and you get to go to sleep every night knowing you did good. There’s nothing better than that. Nothing.”
– Melanie Cannon, Stenberg Grad

“Did you know that 90% of what you will learn in your entire life is learned between birth and the age of six years? Early childhood education provides an amazing opportunity to mold and shape the minds of children, instilling a passion for knowledge and values that will truly make a difference in our world.”
– Cari Shorrock, Associate Director of Wind & Tide Preschools