BC ECE Basic Certificate

Close up of young caucasian boy with blue glasses and hearing aid

For Deaf/Hard of Hearing Individuals

The BC ECE Basic Certificate program stream has been adapted to support deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) individuals who wish to work in early childcare educational setting to support DHH children.

Priority will be given to learners who are DHH. However, we welcome applications from individuals who are hearing, have a connection to the DHH community, and have experience with young DHH children.

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.

Coursework is fully online, relies heavily on visually delivered content and is fully captioned and interpreted.

Practicum placements are in-person, and available throughout BC, with opportunities for placements in specialized early intervention programs that focus on DHH children.

Routine, accessible support will be available to learners in American Sign Language or English from an educator with experience in early intervention with children who are DHH.

Applications are now closed for Sept 2023 program start.

Program Start: September 2023
Length: 2 years | Part-time
Credits: 48 credits
Format: Hybrid | Part-time
Domestic Tuition: $10,309.70 CAD


Program Details

About

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 BC ECE Basic certificate is specific to ECED professionals practicing in the province of British Columbia only, and may not meet inter-provincial or international requirements. It is up to the individual to contact the specific Early Childhood Education credentialing body in the location where they wish to work to determine if this program meets their needs.

Students in the BC ECE Basic Certificate program will also complete the requirements to graduate with a Diploma in Early Years Education (EYED).

Proposed Schedule

This is the proposed schedule and is subject to change.
Date Course Title Course Code
September 2023 Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care ECED 400
September 2023 Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings ECED 438
January 2024 Supporting Young Children’s Health and Well-Being in Early Childhood Settings ECED 401
January 2024 Early Learning Curriculum in the Pre-School Years ECED 406
January 2024 Early Childhood Education Practicum and Seminar I ECED 490
May 2024 Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Young Children EPSE 406
May 2024 Family-Centered Practice for Children with Special Needs EPSE 348
September 2024 Supporting Early Learning in the Pre-School Years ECED 407
September 2024 Introduction to Teaching Children’s Literature LLED 441
September 2024 Early Childhood Education Practicum and Seminar II ECED 491
January 2025 History of Early Childhood Education ECED 420
January 2025 Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of their Communities ECED 442
January 2025 Early Childhood Education Practicum and Seminar III ECED 495
May 2025 Supporting Young Children through Home, School, and Community Relationships ECED 421
May 2025 Assessment of Infants and Young Children with Special Needs ECED 439
May 2025 Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education ECED 405

Program Fees

Tuition fees for Education undergraduate programs are found in the UBC Calendar: Post-baccalaureate Tuition. The information below is subject to change, and only information in the UBC Calendar is official.

Fees are in Canadian dollars, are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors, and are subject to change (typically 2% in May each year).

Domestic (Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident)

Application fee:
(non-refundable)
$ 74.50
Tuition – 13 online courses:
(cost per credit: $ 216.90, paid on a course-by-course basis)
$ 8,459.10
Tuition – 3 practicum courses (cost per credit: $ 216.90, paid on a course-by-course basis) $ 1,952.10
Criminal Records Check Fee:
(all individuals in the Faculty of Education who will be working with students and/or vulnerable adults are required to complete a criminal records check through the Faculty of Education, payable at the start of program)
$ 28.00
Estimated Total:
(not counting supplies or textbooks)
$ 10,513.70

Funding

Please note: The BC ECE Basic Certificate program is not eligible for funding through UBC or student loans.

Limited funding may be available through:

Admission Requirements

To be admissible to the BC Early Childhood Education Basic Certificate Program, you need the following:

  1. Be at least 19 years of age when the program starts.
  2. 2. Be a) deaf or hard of hearing OR b) hearing, with a connection to the DHH community and experience with young DHH children.
  3. Have high school graduation or equivalent.
  4. Meet the English language requirement through one of (pick one):
    • Completed at least four years of secondary or post-secondary studies in taught in English, OR
    • Completed a four-year undergraduate degree or graduate degree at a recognized university where English is the primary language of instruction, OR
    • Completed six credits of post-secondary English courses at a recognized university in an English-speaking country, OR
    • Taken either an IELTS Academic or TOEFL English assessment test and met the UBC required scores (see this webpage for minimum scores and other accepted language tests).

    If you have any questions about how to meet the English requirement, please contact us at eced.educ@ubc.ca.

  5. Have a minimum of 75 hours of experience working or volunteering with children (ages birth to 9 years) in a formal group setting (e.g., licensed childcare centre, pre-school, after school care, community centre, etc.), together with two letters of reference that can speak to the experience. Letters of reference should support the work/volunteer experience statement, and both must be from a professional reference who can speak to the ECE experience indicated on the application and the skills and/or assets they would bring to the program.
    OR
    Achieved third-year standing at an accredited post-secondary institution (i.e., you have completed your 2nd year in, or have graduated from, a four-year degree at an approved university, or have completed 60 credits in a two-year program at an approved university or college).
  6. Clear a Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) Check through the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP)
    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. The CRRA Check must be carried out by the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) through UBC. See Criminal Record Checks, Office of the University Counsel, for more information.If you are found to present a risk of physical or sexual abuse to children, or physical, sexual or financial abuse to vulnerable adults, as a result of the CRRA Check, you will not be permitted to register in the practicum. As practicum is required for this program, this means that you would not be able to complete the program and you may not graduate. Therefore, you should consider this requirement carefully before applying to, or continuing in, this program.

How to Apply

For information or assistance with admissions, please contact us. If you are a current or past UBC student, please include your UBC student number.

STEP 1: Confirm You Meet UBC’s English Language Proficiency Requirements

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English is the primary language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students, regardless of country of origin or citizenship status, are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English before they are admitted. This requirement can be met in several ways:

  • Have completed at least four years of secondary or post-secondary studies taught in English, OR
  • Completed an undergraduate or graduate level degree at a recognized university where English is the primary language of instruction, OR
  • Completed six credits of post-secondary English courses at a recognized university in an English-speaking country, OR
  • Taken either an IELTS Academic or TOEFL English assessment test and met the UBC required minimum scores (see this webpage for minimum scores and other accepted language tests).

If you have any questions about how to meet the English requirement, please contact us at eced.educ@ubc.ca.

STEP 2: Apply Online

Applicants should review the form and have all required information and documents ready to submit at the time of completion. If additional time is needed, applicants may elect to save entries and continue the form at a later date by selecting ‘Save & Continue Later’ at the bottom of form.

Please note: If you have previously applied to or attended UBC, please include your past UBC student number. If you do not remember your student number, indicate “unknown” in the Student Number field.

  • Upon submission of your application, you should receive an email from UBC acknowledging receipt of your application. Please check your spam/junk mail folder if you do not immediately receive the email. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please email us at eced.educ@ubc.ca.
  • Once your online application payment is successful, your application will be assessed. Should we require additional information, you will be emailed with further instructions.
  • Please monitor your email, as this is the method that UBC will use to communicate with students and applicants. Please include your UBC student number in all communications.

STEP 3: Transcripts

Applicants must provide an official transcript for every secondary/post-secondary institution they have attended. Applicants who attended a BC secondary school may order transcripts through the BC government website. UBC transcripts are not required.

To be considered official, academic records must be received in official envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution, or sent as secure electronic documents directly from the issuing institution.

Transcripts should be sent to:

Attention: Early Childhood Education
Professional Development & Community Engagement Office
Faculty of Education
University of British Columbia
1304 – 2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4

Secure electronic transcripts should be sent directly from the issuing institution to: eced.educ@ubc.ca.

Applications are now closed for the September 2023 program start. The program may be offered again in September 2024.


Please note that the University of British Columbia does not issue BC ECE Basic Certificates. Students must apply for the certificate through the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development using the coursework completed at UBC.

Contacts

For program content questions:

Lisa Meneian
Program Advisor
DHH Basic Certificate
lisa.meneian@ubc.ca

Over thirty years ago, Lisa began her journey into the world of education and early learning for Deaf and hard of hearing children. What began as a curiosity for American Sign Language quickly became a life-long passion for the people, language, culture, development and learning processes involved in raising and educating children.

Since that time, her enthusiasm and deep-rooted commitment to the field of education and child development have afforded her the opportunity to be involved in the lives of growing young children from a variety of backgrounds and exceptionalities.

In her capacity as Teacher of the Deaf, Vice Principal of the Provincial Outreach Program, Principal at the BC School for the Deaf, and Executive Director of Deaf Children’s Society of BC, she has supported children, families, and teams across the province from large urban centers to rural and remote one room school-houses.

Lisa holds a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education/Deaf Education from the University of British Columbia. She has travelled across North America and Europe participating in Early Learning Educational Conferences. Lisa is also a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She is an active volunteer in her community. When she is not focussing on her work, she enjoys yoga, hiking, gardening, dancing, cooking and spending quality time with her children and family.

For application questions or assistance:

Vicki Domansky
Team Lead, Senior Program Assistants
604-822-8638
eced.educ@ubc.ca