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In this 11-months certificate program, students prepare for a rewarding career in early childhood education field. Students will gain foundational knowledge about the field of early childhood education (ECE) in a program that is infused and centres Indigenous Knowledges and ways of being. Students will acquire the necessary skills and competencies for successful and multidirectional career paths in ECE. Course content includes Indigenous approaches to childrearing; thinking with the BC Early Learning Framework (ELF) and the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework (IELLC) into practice; and how to support and promote Indigenous children’s identity development and connections with their Nation’s cultural practices and traditions.
This program is Full-time, Monday to Friday, 11 months long.
Classes are in-person in Vancouver B.C.
If you do not have your High school transcript, and CAAT assessment documents, you can do the exams at NEC
| Program Tuition: | $6,820.00 |
| Registration: | $75.00 |
| Graduation: | $30.00 |
| Student Association: | $30.00 |
| Student Record and Student Card Fee: | $15.00 |
| Transportation – Upass | $506.00 |
| ECE Lab Fee | $200.00 |
| Food Safe | $110.00 |
| First Aid | $110.00 |
| *Books & Supplies (w/tax) | $1,267.35 |
| *Laptop (w/tax - optional) | $1,050.00 |
| TOTAL: | $9,163.35 |
| TOTAL:(with laptop & backpack) | $10,213.35 |
Once students complete one of three courses (either ECE 101, ECE 111 or ECE 113), applications for Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certification can be submitted to the ECE Registry. This license allows students to work as an Assistant to a licensed Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in a daycare or preschool with 3-5-year-olds.
Once students complete all the required courses and graduate from the IECE Certificate program, complete 500 hours of working experience, applications for Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certification can be submitted to the ECE Registry. This license allows students to work independently in a daycare or preschool with 3-5-year-olds.
Students can choose to pursue further certification with NEC’s IECE Diploma program, where they gain their Infant-Toddler Education (ITE) and/or Special Needs Educator (SNE) certification.
Students who complete the IECE Certificate program can transfer into the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP). Students transfer into the second year of their Bachelor of Education degree.
Students from other institutions and ECE certification programs are welcome to transfer to NEC to complete their coursework, including practicum.
Indigenous people, Canadian citizens and permanent resident can apply to scholarships available
Eligibility to apply for licensure from the Ministry of Education and Child Care
High-opportunity occupations with higher demand and pay in a rewarding career positively change the lives of children.
Upon completion of Indigenous Early Childhood Educator Certificate, learners will be proficient in the following areas:
Connect Indigenous children to cultural practices, traditions, and knowledges related to their Nations and Peoples
Create engaging lesson plans and activities that connect with inquiry-based and play-based practices
Communicate effectively and professionally, building relationships with children and other Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, mentors, and staff
Think critically about the ongoing history of settler-colonialism in ECE, and learn how to decolonize the practice of caring for and working with children
Respond to, develop, and design emergent curriculum based on children’s interests and aligned with the BC Early Learning Framework and Early Learning and Child Care Framework (IELLC)
Become skilled at creating and sparking dialogue around pedagogical narrations as a documentation practice · Support children’s language and literacy development, particularly Indigenous languages, and vocabulary
Term 1: September 3- November 8, 2024
ECE 101 Child Growth & Development 1
ECE 102 ECE Theoretical Foundation
ECE 120 Pedagogical Narration/BC ELF
ECE 121 Interpersonal Communication Skills in ECE
Term 2: November 12, 2024- February 7, 2025
ECE 111 Guiding & Caring
ECE 112 Child Growth & Development 2
ECE 113 Health, Safety & Nutrition
ECE 122 Curriculum 1
Term 3: February 10-Arpil 17, 2025
ECE 103 Children’s Art & Artistic Language
ECE 123 Language & Literacy
ECE 116 Practicum & Seminar 1
Term 4: April 22-July 4, 2025
ECE 124 Curriculum 2 ECE 128
ECE Advocacy
ECE 126 Practicum & Seminar 2
All classes are offered at the NEC campus. Classes are scheduled from 9am-4pm, with a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break and a 1-hour lunch break every day.
Students are responsible for commuting to practicum placement locations, but student preference for practicum locations will be considered. Practicums within Indigenous communities is encouraged. Ideally, students spend the same amount of hours per day at practicum as they would in regular class.