About Our Early Childhood Education 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. A requirement to work as an Early Childhood Education Assistant in a licensed childcare facility in BC is to be certified by the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Registry. Stenberg College’s ECE Basic Program students can request a transcript upon completing the Early Childhood Education Assistant courses offered within our ECE Registry-recognized ECE Basic Program and apply for certification through the ECE Registry’s equivalency process. For more information about the process, visit the ECE Registry website.
NOTE: Stenberg College does not have a stand-alone recognized Early Childhood Education Assistant program with the ECE Registry or PTIRU. However, we offer a fully recognized ECE Basic Certificate Program, an ECE Post-Basic Infant Toddler Early Childhood Educator Program, an ECE Post-Basic Special Needs Early Childhood Educator Program, and a Combined Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Special Needs Early Childhood Educator program.
Admission Requirements
Pre-requisites:
- Completion of grade 12 or mature student status
- Successful completion of a Grade 11-level English course or higher, or the following in lieu:
- English challenge exam – only applicable to those that have met Option 1 of the Language Proficiency Requirement
- IELTS General or Academic: Overall band score of 6.0, with no component less than 5.5
- CLBPT: Overall score of 7, with no component less than 6
- Duolingo: Overall score of 95, with no sub-score less than 85
- Versant: Overall 51, with no component less than 46
- Smrt: 130-level test with a minimum score of 75%
- Successful completion of the online Computer Skills Entrance Test (minimum 70%)
- Completion of Stenberg College entrance informational interview
- Completion of a Criminal Record Consent Form under the Criminal Record Review Act
* Other assessment test options may be available. Refer to our English Language Proficiency chart for all applicable tests and scores. For regulated programs, permitted tests and scores dictated by the regulatory body will supersede all else.
Prior to Program Admission, Program Advisors will outline practice education requirements for the program. Upon enrollment, students will be informed of next steps and timelines. Non- compliance could result in program dismissal. Requirements for practice education placements include:
- Acceptable Criminal Record Review with Vulnerable Sector Check by the Ministry of Justice
- Additional site-specific orientation/training may be required
Program Advisors will work with students to obtain the following:
- Proof of 50 hours of volunteer work/paid work experience with children aged 3-5 or have parented a child aged 3-5. This requirement can be met whilst parenting own
- Reference letter stating suitability to work with children
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT
English is the language of instruction at Stenberg College. Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency to ensure success in their chosen program and courses by meeting one of the following two requirements:
- Evidence that 3 years of full-time Secondary (Grades 8-12), or 2 years of Post-Secondary education have been completed in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages. (Language courses cannot be included in this calculation)
OR
- Submit the results of one of the accepted English language proficiency tests at the score level specific to the program as listed in the admission requirements.
A transcript can be used as evidence of meeting requirement option 1. Those educated in BC may be able to access transcripts using their personal education number (PEN). We understand that obtaining a transcript as evidence may prove challenging for some applicants. In such cases, the applicant can complete the English Language Declaration form and outline their education history to validate meeting the requirement.
Please note that this program is not eligible for the post-graduate work permit program.
