Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) | Infant and Toddler Educator Diploma

Diploma

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) Infant and Toddler Educator Diploma is designed to prepare you with the necessary skills, knowledge and learning dispositions to be provincially certified as an early childhood educator with a specialty in the care and education of infants and toddlers.

Curriculum is based on current best practices in early learning and care, reflecting the changing needs of children and families in the 21st century. The program focusses on transforming thinking about the education of young children away from the provision of set content to the process of nurturing creative thinking, problem-solving and relationships with and between children.

Theory is brought to life through experiential and place-based learning. The program draws on the strengths of individual learners as it provides a model for supporting the development of dispositions and practices which can, in turn, be supported in working with young children and their families. The program challenges learners to co-create curriculum with children and to design learning environments that embrace the diversity of all children and families including local First Peoples.

ECCE prepares you to apply for a BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate to practice in British Columbia. For more information, please refer to the BC Government ECE Website.

Duration of diploma program

The ECCE Diploma program is four semesters and spans two academic years. It is designed to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. There is an option to opt-out of the Diploma program after successfully completing the 15 courses required and be granted a CMTN certificate for ECCE Certificate Program.

There are a number of options for provincial certification. If successful, you can apply for an Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) Certificate after taking one of the required courses in either Semester 1 or 2. You can also apply for a provincial Basic Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate after the successful completion of all courses in Semesters 1, 2 and 3. By completing all semesters, Semester 1 through Semester 4, you are eligible to apply for a provincial Basic ECE Certificate as well as an Infant Toddler Educator (ITE) Certificate. (Under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, persons certified in BC as ECE or ITE can transfer your certification to practice to other provinces such as Alberta and Manitoba.)

BC ECE Assistant Certificate

Certification by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development allows students to work with young children in an early childhood setting (ages birth to 5 years), under the supervision of a qualified Early Childhood Educator.

Following completion of one of the courses listed below (ECCE 104 and ECCE 167), students may apply for the Early Childhood Education Assistant Certificate with the Early Childhood Registry. This allows students to work within the childcare system while continuing to complete the BC ECE Basic Certificate Program or other program of study.

ECCE 104 Health, Safety & Nutrition

ECCE 167 Guiding Young Children

For information about course and program planning contact an Educational Advisor.
For information about applying for the ECCE program contact Admissions.

Apply to CMTN

Visit Apply to CMTN for an Admissions Checklist and to apply online.

Our Educational Advisors are here to help if you have any questions or need guidance along the way.

Dates and locations

Dates and Locations
Intake	Location
ECCE Fall 2024	Blended Delivery Terrace and Online
ECCE Fall 2025	Blended Delivery Terrace and Online

Speak with an Educational Advisor or Trenna Johnson, the Program Coordinator, for assistance with course selection.

Study on a full or part-time basis. Courses will be delivered by online learning. Part-time students and students starting out of sequence will have longer program completion timelines than two academic years. Please consult the Program Coordinator or an Educational Advisor for out of sequence program completion information.

Students can opt out of the Diploma Program and after successfully completing the 15 courses required, be granted an CMTN certificate for ECCE Certificate Program. Courses required for the Certificate are marked with an asterisk (*).

Plan of Study Grid
Year One		Credits
ECCE 104	Health, Safety and Nutrition ^*	3
ECCE 163	Language & Literacies in the Early Years ^*	3
ECCE 141	Obs, Docu, Refl, and Research Practices ^*	3
ECCE 125	Field Placement I ^*	3
PSYC 101	Introductory Psychology I ^*	3
ECCE 167	Guiding Young Children ^*	3
ECCE 162	Nurturing Creativity in the Young Child ^*	3
ECCE 124	Interpersonal Communications (OR) ^*	3
SSW 112	Interpersonal Communication (OR)
EDUA 110	Interpersonal Communication
SOCI 206	The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective (OR) ^*	3
EDUA 115	Understanding Families
ECCE 126	Field Placement II ^*	3
	Credits	30
Year Two
ECCE 209	Place Based Environments ^*	3
ECCE 210	Science, Math, & the Outdoor Classroom ^*	3
ECCE 211	Field Placement III ^*	3
ECCE 220	Modes of Care for Infants and Toddlers ^*	3
PSYC 201	Developmental Psychology I (OR) ^*	3
EDUA 101	Child and Adolescent Development
ECCE 205	Inclusive Child Care	3
ECCE 208	Essential Skills for ECE Administrators	3
ECCE 221	Responsive Care & Education for Under 3	3
ECCE 222	Field Placement IV	3
ECCE 223	Journey to Professionalism	3
	Credits	30
	Total Credits	60

*: Courses required for the Certificate

Important documents

Requirements

High School Graduation or Mature Student
English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Equivalent
Criminal Record Check as required under BC Child Care Regulation
Two letters of reference confirming suitability for working with young children, written and dated within one year of the application
Up to date written submission of work history (Resume)
Proof of compliance with BC's Immunization and Tuberculosis (TB) Control
Comprehensive type written statement (approx. 500-800 words) outlining work and/or volunteer experience with children age birth to six, career goals, and reasons for taking the ECCE program

*Students who wish to complete only CMTN’s ECCE Certificate must meet the same admission requirements as those taking the ECCE Diploma program.

*Students applying to the ECE Assistant program require English Studies 11.

English proficiency is required for all students entering CMTN programs. Please visit our English Language Alternatives page to see how this requirement can be met.

Conditional acceptance

Students looking for special or conditional acceptance into the ECCE diploma program must write a letter explaining why, including the time frame needed to meet the outstanding requirement(s). Submit the letter along with your application to the Admissions Officer. Conditional or special circumstance acceptances occur on a case-by-case basis.

Need help with the application process? Contact an Educational Advisor.

Fees Vocational/Applied Programs
Fees	Domestic	International
Full Time:	30 Credits	30 Credits
Tuition:¹	$3,146.70	$13,373.40
Student Union Fees:	$109.28	$109.28
Mandatory Fees:	$240.00	$290.88
Health and Dental Insurance*:	$285.00	$602.04
Tuition Total:	$3,780.98	$14,375.60
Additional Costs:
Books: ²	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Supplies/Clothing:²	$800.00	$800.00
Fieldwork/Practicum:²	$700.00	$700.00
Total Program Costs:	$6,780.98	$17,375.60

Fees are effective as of August 1, 2024 for the 2024/25 Academic Year.

¹: These fees are an annual cost. Program takes two years to complete.
²: Please note that these are approximate costs and may vary depending on courses taken.

Note: Travel to weekend workshops may be required at students' expense.

* The Coast Mountain Students Union (CMSU) is pleased to offer Extended Health and Dental Insurance to all qualifying members. The plan is mandatory for all students enrolled in 6 or more credits or a trades program of 26 weeks or longer. Some students, including those studying overseas and those with existing extended health coverage, are eligible to opt out. Visit https://cmsu.studenthealthbc.ca/ to learn more about the plan or request to opt out. You will also receive a detailed introductory email no later than 6 weeks after your semester starts. For any inquiries about the plan, please contact the Students’ Union Organiser : Golnoosh Namazi, organiser@mycmsu.ca

* Basic Health insurance is mandatory for all international students. Health insurance costs will be charged every term until students provide proof of MSP.

Career opportunities

Early childhood educators are in high demand in BC and the rest of Canada. BC’s 2025 Labour Market Outlook Report ranks early childhood educators in the top 15 careers with greatest job openings.

ECCE graduates have the opportunity to find employment in a variety of settings:

Group daycares for children between birth and 12 years
In-home small group or family childcare
Preschools
Programs such as Aboriginal HeadStarts (on and off-reserve), School Districts’ StrongStart, Supported Child Development (Aboriginal & non-Aboriginal), Infant Development, Aboriginal Infant Development and Family Resource

You may also utilize your ECCE education to obtain employment as an Education Assistant in northern BC Kindergartens and Grade 1. Municipal Parks and Recreation recruit those with ECEA and ECE/ITE certificates for children’s programs as well as other community services such as Transition (Safe) homes, Children Who Witness Abuse programs, and respite care homes and services.

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