Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA)

Overview

Program Overview

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) play a critical role in providing education and care for young children. ECE Assistants work alongside ECEs and/or Infant Toddler Educators in licensed child care programs for children.

This program provides knowledge and skills contained in selected courses in: child growth and development; guiding behaviour; and, health safety and nutrition.

PLEASE NOTE THAT

To apply for a Early Childhood Educator Assistant license and graduate from the program, a minimum of one course of a basic early childhood education training program must be completed:

(i) ECEA 1 – Child Growth and Development

This course provides students with a understanding of important theories of child development relevant to facilitating growth and development of the child during the first six years of life.

Students will learn how children grow and develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Students will also explore related strategies that can be used in an ECE setting to meet the individual needs of students.

(ii) ECEA 2 – Child Health, Safety and Nutrition

This course provides an overview of the health, safety, and nutritional needs of young children. Emphasis is on the development and implementation of policies and practices that promote the well-being of children.

This course will introduce the students to best practices in the area of health, safety and nutrition, and will examine these areas within the context of early childhood settings that provide care for children (birth to school age).

Students will explore the regulations and practices that protect the health and safety of young children, and in developmentally appropriate ways.

Students will explore how best to work in partnership with parents to protect the health and safety of their children.

(iii) ECEA 3 – Child Guidance

This course will examine the guidance approach within a ECE setting.

This course introduces students to perspectives and best practices related guiding children’s behaviour; encouraging a healthy emotional and social development.

As RMC is not registered with the ECE Registry, graduating students will be required to submit documentation for review prior to being licensed by the province (case by case). Please refer to the Certification Procedure tab and the ECE Registry website for detailed procedure.

Requirements

Admission Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent (ie GED)
18 years of age
Applicants must successfully complete an admissions interview to determine if they are:
- of good character
- have the personality, ability and temperament necessary to manage or work with children.
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through with prior education in English at grade 10 level or higher or through an English language assessment (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent).

Outline

Course Outline

COURSE #	COURSE NAME	HOURS
ECEA1	Child Growth and Development	100
ECEA2	Child Health, Safety and Nutrition	60
ECEA3	Child Guidance	60

Tuition and Duration

Tuition and Duration


Status	This program does not require approval by the Private Training Institutions Branch
Credential	Certificate
NOC Code	NOC 4214 - Early childhood educators and assistants
CIP Code	Not Applicable
Duration	ECEA1 Hours: 100 Weeks Full-Time: 5 Weeks Part-Time: 6.5 ECEA2 Hours: 60 Weeks Full-Time: 3 Weeks Part-Time: 4 ECEA3 Hours: 60 Weeks Full-Time: 3 Weeks Part-Time: 4
Schedule	Full Time or Part Time
Delivery Method	In-Class Online Blended
Language of Instruction	English
	Domestic Students	International Students
Tuition	$990/Course	$990/Course
Application Fee	$250	$250
Administration Fee	$350	$350

Certification Procedure

After successful completion of the program, to work in BC as an ECE assistant, the applicant must:

(a) submit an application to the director of the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Registry.
(b) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that the applicant
- is of good character
- has the personality, ability and temperament necessary to manage or work with children
- has the training and experience, completed within the previous 5 years, to be an early childhood educator assistant, and
- demonstrates the skills necessary to be an early childhood educator assistant.
(c) submit the course outline to the director.

This fulfills the requirement under section 28 of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

This certificate needs to be renewed every 5 years.

Please note that this program does not count for the renewal for an ECE Assistant License to Practice.

Other Canadian provinces may have different requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When does the course start?
- ECEA courses start every week. Students can enroll within days.

How long does the course take?
- We offer three ECEA courses with varying durations:
  - ECEA 1 Child Growth and Development: 100 hours (5 weeks)
  - ECEA 2 Child Health, Safety and Nutrition: 60 hours (3 weeks)
  - ECEA 3 Child Guidance: 60 hours (3 weeks)

How long does it take to obtain the graduation certificate after completing the course?
- Students typically receive their graduation certificate and official transcript within 2-3 weeks after submitting all assignments.

What is the delivery method? What is the schedule like?
- Courses can be offered in-person, online, or hybrid

Can I take the course if I am outside Canada?
- Yes, the course is open to students worldwide as it can be delivered remotely.

Can I apply for an ECEA license after completing the course?
- After completing one of the three ECEA courses, students are eligible to apply for ECE Assistant license with ECE Registry. RMC will provide guidelines for the application process. For more information, please click here.

How long does it take to obtain the license?
- The processing time for ECE Assistant license application varies but typically takes 1-3 months, depending on the volume of applications received by the ECE Registry. For accurate processing time, please contact ECE Registry.

What are the other fees I need to pay besides tuition?
- Application fee and administration fee. Textbook is included in tuition.

Is Royal Metro College recognized by ECE Registry?
- Students who complete ECEA courses at RMC can apply for ECE assistant license. Our courses are approved by ECE Registry.

Can I work in daycares after completing the course?
- Yes, obtaining an ECE Assistant license is the first step that enables graduates to work in daycares. Beside the license, there may be other requirements such as first aid, non-criminal record, depending on the regulation of the workplace.

Financial Aid

BC Student Loan

StudentAid BC empowers qualified students to pursue their post-secondary dreams by providing financial assistance through student loans, grants, and scholarships. They also offer support programs to help with loan repayment.

Check basic eligibility requirements.
- be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or have protected person status
- have a valid Canadian social insurance number
- be a resident of British Columbia
- be enrolled in an eligible program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution
- be able to demonstrate financial need
- make academic progress and achieve satisfactory scholastic standing in each period of post-secondary study
Is your institution designated?
How to apply for a loan?
- Create a StudentAid BC Account using a BC Services Card account as your digital ID. All applicants need to set up a BC Services Card account to access the student loan application via the StudentAid BC Dashboard. Go to the StudentAid BC Login page and click “Login with a BC Services Card account” and it will guide you through the process.
- Choose the post-secondary school you want to attend and determine the study period (registration period) for which you need funding.
- Check to make sure your school is designated for StudentAid BC funding.
- Figure out how much money you need to attend school:
  - Use the financial need formula
  - Complete a budget worksheet
  - Check your eligibility for the maximum funding limits
- Apply online through the StudentAid BC Dashboard. Log in with a BC Services Card account, complete and submit the online StudentAid BC application. Prior to submitting your application, you will be asked to read the terms and conditions of the StudentAid BC Declaration and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Consent for income verification then tick the consent boxes.