Program Overview

Introduction to the BC ECE Basic Certificate Program

The BC ECE Basic Certificate program is designed to provide students with a basic foundation of the knowledge and skills needed to work in early childhood educational settings (ages birth to 5 years). Graduates from this program can work as Early Childhood Educators once they apply for and are granted a certificate from the BC ECE Registry in the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

Program Details

Program Structure

The BC ECE Basic Certificate program consists of 39 credits (13 courses) of prescribed online courses and 9 credits of in-person practicum courses held at BC-licensed early childcare centres (48 credits total). The program is designed to accommodate working students and can be completed in 32 months on a part-time schedule. Students may opt to expedite the program with a full-time schedule to complete the program earlier (minimum completion time is 16-20 months).

Program Requirements

• Students must complete all 13 online courses and 3 practicum courses to graduate.
• Practicum courses are held at BC-licensed early childcare centres and require students to complete a minimum of 90 hours of practicum experience.
• Students must successfully complete all required coursework for a given practicum before the practicum begins.
• Students must successfully complete all required assignments and hours to successfully pass a practicum and proceed to the next practicum in the sequence.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the BC ECE Basic Certificate program can be found on the program's website.

Tuition Fees

• Domestic Tuition: $10,937.70 CAD (not counting supplies or textbooks)
• International Tuition: $53,186.02 CAD (not counting supplies or textbooks)
• Tuition fees are subject to change and are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors.

Funding

The BC ECE Basic Certificate program is not eligible for funding through UBC or government student loans. Limited funding may be available through ECEBC.

Practicum Requirements

• Students must have a completed Criminal Record Check on file with ECED by the end of their first term, and before they apply for practicum placement.
• Students may only complete one practicum per term as per the Practicum Timeline.
• Students must successfully complete all required coursework for a given practicum before the practicum begins.
• Students must successfully complete all required assignments and hours to successfully pass a practicum and proceed to the next practicum in the sequence.

Criminal Record Checks

• UBC is subject to the requirements of the Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA), which means that all students who are enrolled in programs that include a practicum component involving work with children or vulnerable adults will have to undergo a criminal record check before they will be permitted to register in the practicum.
• A Criminal Record Check should be completed by the end of the first semester of the program.

International Applicants

• Please be advised that this program is NOT eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) since this is a distance learning program.
• As a distance education program, the program is NOT eligible for a Study Permit. However, since the program has three practicum courses which are required to be done in person at BC-licensed early childcare centers, you must apply for a study permit for the time period that you will be in Canada.
• You will also need to apply for a co-op work permit for your practicum. You can apply for a co-op work permit together with your study permit application.

Courses and Practicums

The ECE Basic Certificate requires that you take the following courses:

• ECED 400 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care
• ECED 401 - Supporting Young Children's Health and Well-Being in Early Childhood Settings
• ECED 405 - Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
• ECED 406 - Early Learning Curriculum in the Pre-School Years
• ECED 407 - Supporting Early Learning in the Pre-School Years
• ECED 420 - History of Early Childhood Education
• ECED 421 - Supporting Young Children Through Home, School, and Community Relationships
• ECED 438 - Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings
• ECED 439 - Assessment of Infants and Young Children with Special Needs (Prerequisites: EPSE 406 and EPSE 348)
• ECED 442 - Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of Their Communities
• EPSE 348 - Family-Centred Practice for Children with Special Needs
• EPSE 406 - Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Children
• LLED 441 - Introduction to Teaching Children's Literature (note: only offered in winter term 2 (January))
• Practicum courses:
  • ECED 490 - Early Childhood Education Practicum & Seminar I (Prerequisites: ECED 400 and 438)
  • ECED 491 - Early Childhood Education Practicum & Seminar II (Prerequisites: All of ECED 400, 401, 438, 490 and EPSE 406 (or other approved course))
  • ECED 495 - Early Childhood Education Practicum & Seminar III (Prerequisites: All of ECED 400, 401, 406, 407, 438, 490, 491 and EPSE 406 (or other approved course))