Early Childhood Education (One Year)

Entrance Requirements
(opens in new tab)Entrance Requirements

High School Diploma Or Equivalent Credential (Adult Basic Education, Graduate Equivalency Diploma, Canadian Adult Education Credential).

Additional Entrance Requirements Early Childhood Education students must meet the following requirements. Obtain two professional/academic reference letters(opens in new tab). Obtain a Certificate of Conduct with Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Protection Record Check(opens in new tab). For students living in an RNC jurisdiction: RNC Request(opens in new tab) For students living in an RCMP jurisdiction: Court Check Link (note that you will be required to contact the RCMP for your vulnerable sector check)(opens in new tab). Applicants must also attend a personal interview.

View entrance requirements for all programs.

Funding Your Education

Tuition for the Early Childhood Education (One Year) program is $13,050 + $860 for books (approx.) + A Recurring Fee of $30 Per Semester. (Based on the 2026-2027 School Year).

Funding may be available to ECE students and graduates in Newfoundland and Labrador.

• ECE Trainee Bursary: $250 for each ECE course you successfully complete.
• ECE Recruitment and Retention Bursary: up to $2,500 per year for 3 years for qualifying graduates.
• Recruitment and Retention Grant: $2,500 when you become certified and $2,500 at each three-year renewal, up to $7,500 in total.

For other ways to pay for your studies, see Funding your Education.

Questions about funding? Contact admissions.

Program Description

Academy Canada's Early Childhood Education (One Year) program is a 41-week diploma that prepares you to work with children aged 2 to 12 and to apply for Level I Child Care Services (CCS) certification.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Level I certification (usually a one-year post-secondary certificate) qualifies you to work as a caregiver in a licensed child care centre, which must have at least one Level I caregiver assigned to every homeroom. Certification must match the age range of the children you work with.

Through classroom instruction and practicum placements, you will learn how to:

• create and deliver programs and learning environments suited to children's ages and stages of development;
• promote children's social and emotional development;
• keep a healthy, safe, welcoming and supportive environment that respects diversity and culture;
• build warm, responsive relationships with individual children and with groups.

Program Courses

• Curriculum and Program Development
• Play and Development – Language Arts
• Child Guidance
• Observation and Assessment
• Practicum Preparation
• Practicum 1
• Child Development – Prenatal to Toddler
• Family Issues
• Play and Development - Creativity
• Communications ECE
• Practicum 2
• Play and Development – Exploration Child Development – Toddler to Early School Age
• Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• History & Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
• Practicum 3 Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• Standard First Aid

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may work (depending on specific hiring practices) in publicly funded child care, regulated child care centres, privately operated child care, home-based child care and family resource programs, as Early childhood educators and assistants. Progression to management or senior positions as well as self-employment is possible with experience.

The Federal Government reports the following median hourly salaries for this occupation across Canada:

• National $22.30
• Newfoundland & Labrador $20.00
• Alberta $19.00
• British Columbia $24.00

Please note that salaries will vary depending on the company, experience levels and job type.

Source: Canada Job Bank

To work toward Level II certification, continue with the 26-week Early Childhood Education (Two Year Bridging) program.

Why ECEs Are Needed

In July 2021, the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announced an agreement that will transform early learning and child care in the province starting in 2022.

This plan has multiple components that include increasing access to regulated child care by creating nearly approximately 5800 child care spaces, reducing cost of regulated child care, further increasing inclusivity by creating more spaces, funding and ECE training for diverse populations, increasing bursary funding for ECEs, as well as increasing the number of fully certified ECEs working in the child care sector by 15 percent by the end of 2023 and to at least 60 percent by the end of 2025.

Source: https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2021/exec/0728n08/

Work Term Information

This program includes 2 practicums, 5 weeks each. Work terms and/or placements are required, unpaid, formally arranged on-site training experiences completed at designated points throughout the program. These placements provide students with practical, real-world experience that supports skill development, professional confidence, and readiness for employment.

What To Expect

Students are expected to attend according to the host's schedule and must report any absences to both the host supervisor and the program instructor. Missed days are added to the end of the placement, where applicable. Attendance and performance are monitored through ongoing communication, including check-ins and formal mid-placement and final evaluations. Successful completion of all approved, authorized work terms and/or placements is required for graduation.

Your Responsibilities

Students are responsible for maintaining professional conduct, attending as scheduled, complying with host policies, promptly reporting absences or concerns, and completing all required documentation.

The College's Responsibilities

The College is responsible for approving placements, providing guidance and support, monitoring progress, and determining successful completion. Work term hosts are responsible for supervision, attendance reporting, providing appropriate learning opportunities, and completing required evaluations.

Students who do not meet placement requirements may be removed from their placement and may be required to complete a new placement in order to graduate.