Career Prospects
- Early Childhood Educators with BC ECE Registry certification* may be employed as educators, supervisors, managers, directors, or administrators of licensed group childcare centres; in Aboriginal early care and learning programs; or in strong start programs, young parent programs, drop-in programs, home visit programs, licensed family centres, out of school care, or preschool programs.
- Early Childhood Educators have also found employment as supported child development workers, holiday destination children’s program workers, nannies, and respite providers.
- With additional relevant education (e.g., a Child and Youth Care Degree, Social Work Degree, or an Early Childhood Education graduate degree), Early Childhood Educators may find work as child development counsellors, family resource centre coordinators, child care resource and referral consultants/co-ordinators, licensing officers, ECE researchers, or ECE instructors. Please consult with the ECEC Department Chairs for additional information.
Students planning on transferring to further post-secondary programs are encouraged to complete ENGL 100 Academic Writing in addition to the Diploma requirements.
*For up-to-date information on BC ECE Registry requirements, please visit their website.
Location:
Distance/Online: Through the use of webinar and online delivery students remain in their home communities and complete practicum placements in early learning environments approved by NLC that provide opportunities to explore diverse experiences and philosophies. Students unable to locate suitable practica placements in their home community may need to relocate to another community for one or more of the practica.
On Campus: Face-to-face course offerings are available within the Northern Lights College region or other provincial regions depending on student enrollment or special-project funding.
Students and/or their employers are advised to review NLC’s ECEC Admissions web page or contact ECECPracticaPlanning@nlc.bc.ca for more information on workplace practica options and criteria.
Length:
Completion of program requires 16 academic/theory courses (720 hours) and 4 practicum courses (650 hours) for a total of 1370 hours.
Minimum of 48 theory course credits and 14 practicum credits, if full time, taken over 2 years.
Start:
Fall, Winter, Spring
Admission Requirements
1. English - one of the following:
- BC Language Arts 12 course with a “C” or higher, or equivalent.
- English 050 with a “C” or higher, or equivalent.
- English 099 with a “C” or higher, or equivalent.
- 100-level English course with a “C” or higher, or equivalent.
- NLC Writing Assessment with 100-level course placement.
- IELTs score of 6.0 overall with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent English placement test and score.
2. Submission of a completed Program Questionnaire
3. Applicants who hold an ECEA or ECE Certificate from the BC ECE Registry must provide a copy of the certificate.
4. All applicants currently residing outside of Canada and intending to study in Canada, must submit a Police Certificate (see Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) in English, for every country in which they have been a resident for the previous five years (not including Canada). The Police Certificate must be received before a Letter of Acceptance will be issued.
Post-Admission Criminal Record Check:
Clearance letter from the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General for a Schedule B Criminal Record Check (works with Children) or (works with Children and Vulnerable Adults) must be received prior to registration. Students who have completed a valid Schedule B CRC for another organization may share their results with Northern Lights College by completing the Sharing Form. Note that CRCs must be renewed if they expire before the program is completed.
Under no circumstances are students permitted to complete any practical work without having a CRC on file with NLC’s Office of the Registrar. Failure to ensure a valid CRC is on file with the Office of the Registrar may result in a requirement to withdraw from the program. Students are obligated to report any Schedule B criminal convictions that occur after they authorize a CRC but are still enrolled in NLC’s Early Childhood Education and Care Program.
Please see NLC’s Criminal Record Check procedures for instructions on how to complete a CRC.
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