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 for detailed procedure.
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).
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
| Status | Does Not Require PTA Approval | |
| 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 | |
| Tuition & Fees | Domestic Students | International Students |
| Tuition: $990/Course | Tuition: $990/Course | |
| Application Fee: $250 | Application Fee: $250 | |
| Administration Fee: $350 | Administration Fee: $350 | |
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.