Early Childhood Education Assistant Program
The Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) program prepares students to work with young children in a variety of early learning settings. The program provides students with the foundation for the stimulation and development of children’s intellectual, physical, and emotional growth within a child-centered environment.
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
One of the requirements 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. The Early Childhood Education Assistant program offered by Kootenay Columbia College is not recognized by the ECE Registry. This means that upon graduation, students will have to apply for certification through the ECE Registry’s equivalency process. Only one of the courses is required to apply for an ECEA with the ECE Registry.
For more information about the process, visit the ECE Registry website.
Program Hours: Program Months: | Program Weeks: |
The Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) Certificate program prepares students to work with young children in a variety of early learning settings. The program provides students with the foundation for the stimulation and development of children’s intellectual, physical, and emotional growth within a child-centered environment.
80 hours – Child Growth and Development
This course allows students to learn how children grow and develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. There will be an emphasis on needs at any given age and stage, and strategies on how these needs can best be met.
80 hours – Guiding and Caring
This course focuses on the skills needed to guide young children positively in a childcare setting.
80 hours – Health and Nutrition
This course will provide students with the theoretical principles of health, safety, and nutrition, which they will be able to apply to the early childhood
curriculum.
40 hours – Professional Communication
This course explores the fundamental principles of effective communication within the classroom setting. Students will examine the importance of listening skills, analyze the influence of teachers on student engagement, and understand the various roles educators play in fostering a positive learning environment. Through practical insights and theoretical foundations, participants will develop essential communication strategies to enhance their teaching effectiveness.
20 hours – Certifications
Students will earn skill certificates (First Aid/CPR) that are assets in Early Childhood Education.
What is an Early Childhood Education Assistant?
An Early Childhood Education Assistant supports early childhood educators by helping care for and engage young children in learning and play-based activities.
What does an Early Childhood Education Assistant do?
Early Childhood Education Assistants help with daily routines, support children’s development, assist with activities, and contribute to a safe and nurturing learning environment.
What skills are important for an Early Childhood Education Assistant?
Important skills include patience, communication, organization, teamwork, and a caring, supportive approach.
Does the role of an Early Childhood Education Assistant involve teamwork?
Yes. Early Childhood Education Assistants work closely with educators and other staff to support children and program activities.
Do I need prior experience working with children to enroll?
No previous experience is required. The program is suitable for beginners interested in early childhood education.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand the theoretical basis for an intercultural approach to early childhood education and care.
- Explain how an intercultural approach to early childhood education enriches the experience of children and educators.
- Identify the skills, responsibilities, and challenges of working as an early childhood educator.
- Show an understanding of how to provide sensitive, culturally responsive care for children and their families.
- Design environments that enhance children’s wellbeing and affirm their identity.
- Identify factors that impact a child’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
- Apply skills in observing and recording behaviors of young children.
- Build a positive approach to guidance and care in early learning settings.
- Apply professional communication skills in a childcare setting and among colleagues.
- Students are required to be 19 years of age prior to the start of the program or possess a high school diploma (or equivalent), and provide evidence of one of the following English proficiency requirements:
- Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8- 12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages.
- 2 years of full-time post-secondary education* have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS).
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – Minimum overall score of 5.5
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT – Minimum overall score of 46
- Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – Minimum overall score of 40
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5
- Duolingo English Test (DET) – Minimum overall score of 95
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic – Minimum overall score of 43
- Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) – Minimum overall score of 160 or “C”
- Cambridge Linguaskill – Minimum overall B2 level
- LANGUAGECERT Academic – Minimum overall B2 level
- The Michigan English Test (MET) – Minimum overall B2 level
- iTEP Academic – Minimum overall score of 3.5
- EIKEN – Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1.
- Accuplacer:
- Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined above, and
- Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, and
- Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
- Reading: 230, and
- Writing: 230, and
- WritePlacer: 4
| American Samoa | Dominica | Lesotho | St. Kitts & Nevis |
| Anguilla | Falkland Islands | Liberia | St. Lucia |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Fiji | Malta | St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Australia | Gambia | Mauritius | Tanzania |
| Bahamas | Ghana | Montserrat | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Barbados | Gibraltar | New Zealand | Turks & Caicos Islands |
| Belize | Grenada | Nigeria | Uganda |
| Bermuda | Guam | Seychelles | United Kingdom |
| Botswana | Guyana | Sierra Leone | US Virgin Islands |
| British Virgin Islands | Ireland | Singapore | USA |
| Canada | Jamaica | South Africa | Zambia |
| Cayman Islands | Kenya | St. Helena | Zimbabwe |
Upon successful completion of this program, students can expect to work as:
- Early Childhood Education Assistants
- Daycare Assistants
- Childcare Centre Assistants
One of the requirements 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. The Early Childhood Education Assistant program offered by Kootenay Columbia College is not recognized by the ECE Registry. This means that upon graduation, students will have to apply for certification through the ECE Registry’s
equivalency process.
Only one of the courses is required to apply for an ECEA with the ECE Registry.
For more information about the process, visit the ECE Registry website.
Programs
