ECED coordinates two certificate* and two diploma programs that are designed to enhance, deepen, and enrich early childhood professional’s knowledge and skill in creating optimal and inclusive early learning environments, assessing children appropriately, communicating with families, and designing learning experiences to foster children’s development and learning.
Certificate programs are comprised of five 3-credit courses (15 credits total). Diploma programs are comprised of ten 3-credit courses (30 credits total).
All certificate and diploma courses are available as distance education (online) courses.
If you have questions about certificates or diplomas in ECED, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
* See the BC ECE Assistant Certificate Program and BC ECE Basic Certificate Program for certification to teach in early childcare settings.
Attention International Applicants
Apply by:
July 31, 2025
for a September 2025 program start
Additional Intake Dates & Deadlines
- July 31 (for September intake)
- November 30 (for January intake)
- March 28 (for May intake)
Certificate in Infant Development & Supported Child Development (IDSC)
This certificate program aims to provide students with a basic foundation of the knowledge and skills needed to work with young children (birth to 9 years) with special needs and their families especially in the Infant Development Program (IDP) and the Supported Child Development program (SCD).
Note: This program does NOT lead to Infant/Toddler post-Basic certification.
NOTE: Admissions for September 2025 are now open.
The 15-credit Infant Development and Supported Child Development Certificate (IDSC) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education, or related field, such as Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Psychology
- Post-secondary education in related fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, child development, etc.
- Relevant professional experience in related fields such as teaching, nursing, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, infant/child development consultant and/or supported child development consultant in childcare settings, etc.
This certificate requires that you take the following two courses (6 credits) at the beginning of the IDSC Certificate Program, in either order:
- EPSE 348 (3) Family-Centred Practice for Children with Special Needs
- EPSE 406 (3) Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Children
Followed by:
- ECED 439 (3) Assessment of Infants and Young Children with Special Needs
And two of:
- ECED 440 (3) Supporting Social and Communication Development in Infants and Young Children with Special Needs
- ECED 441 (3) Early Intervention for Infants and Young Children with Sensory Loss and Motor Impairments
- ECED 442 (3) Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of Their Communities
Certificate in Early Years Education (EYED)
This certificate program focuses broadly on developing ECE curricula and the principles of teaching and learning in the early years (preschool to Grade 3).
The 15-credit Early Years Education Certificate (EYED) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education, or related field, such as Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Psychology
- Post-secondary education in related fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, child development, etc.
- Relevant professional experience in related fields such as teaching, nursing, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, infant/child development consultant and/or supported child development consultant in childcare settings, etc.
Students complete a total of 15 credits, including the following core course:
- ECED 405 (3) Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
Plus any four (12 credits) 400-level ECED courses.
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 CAD |
| Tuition - 5 online courses: (cost per credit: $ 212.65, paid on a course-by-course basis) |
$ 3,189.75 CAD |
| Estimated Total: (not counting supplies or textbooks) |
$ 3,264.25 CAD |
International:
| Application fee: (non-refundable) |
$ 112.00 CAD |
| Tuition - 5 online courses: (cost per credit: $ 954.55, paid on a course-by-course basis) |
$ 14,318.25 CAD |
| Estimated Total: (not counting supplies or textbooks) |
$ 14,430.25 CAD |
* If a student chooses to take an on-campus course, then normal student fees would apply for that term.
Funding
Please note: Our certificate programs are not eligible for funding through UBC or student loans.
Program Completion
All 15 credits must be completed within 5 years from the commencement of the first applicable course. This five-year time period is counted from the date of the first course started. For example, Winter 2017, Term 1 is when you started your first course. Your completion date would be Winter 2022, Term 1.
For program advice please consult with the Teacher Education Office
To transfer the 15 credits to a Diploma in Education, apply for admission to the Diploma.
IMPORTANT: If you enrolled in a Certificate program before September 2019, upon successful completion of all required courses, you apply for your Certificate by filling out the Certificate of Completion Request Form.
If you enrolled in a Certificate program in September 2019 or later, you must make a formal application for graduation, as with Diploma students. For important application information, dates, and deadlines, please see the Student Services website: students.ubc.ca/enrolment/graduation.
Previous Certificates
If you are currently in one of these programs, you will be able to continue to completion. However, new admissions and registration are no longer available for these certificate programs.
Certificate in Educating Young Children (EYC)
This certificate program focuses broadly on developing ECE curricula and the principles of teaching and learning in the early years (preschool to Grade 3).
This certificate requires the following course:
- ECED 405 (3) Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
Plus any four upper-level undergraduate ECED courses (12 credits), or three upper-level undergraduate ECED courses (9 credits) plus one approved elective (3 credits) in a related field.
Enhancing Early Learning Certificate (EEL)
This certificate program focuses on the learning and teaching of children ages 3 to 5.
This certificate requires the three following courses (9 credits):
- ECED 405 (3) Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 406 (3) Early Learning Curriculum in the Pre-School Years
- ECED 407 (3) Supporting Early Learning in the Pre-School Years
Plus two electives (6 credits) from the following list:
- ECED 400 (3) Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care
- ECED 401 (3) Supporting Young Children's Health and Well-being in Early Childhood Settings
- ECED 420 (3) History of Early Childhood Education
- ECED 421 (3) Supporting Young Children Through Home, School, and Community Relationships
- ECED 425 (3) Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 438 (3) Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings
- ECED 442 (3) Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of Their Communities
- ECED 480 (3-12) Selected Topics in Early Childhood Education
The Certificate in Enhancing Early Learning Certificate does NOT qualify persons for a certificate to work in preschool and daycare settings as a qualified early childhood educator. For information regarding regulatory requirements for registration see The Early Childhood Education Registry.
Kindergarten Instruction Certificate (KIND)
This certificate program focuses on learning and teaching in the kindergarten.
Note, this program is designed for teachers, early childhood educators, and other early childhood professionals and does not lead to certification as a kindergarten teacher. Learn more about the BC Teaching Certificate through the UBC Teacher Education Office.
This certificate requires the three following courses (9 credits):
- ECED 405 (3) Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 416 (3) Kindergarten Curriculum
- ECED 417 (3) Supporting Learning in the Kindergarten Year
Plus two electives (6 credits) from the following list:
- ECED 401 (3) Supporting Young Children's Health and Well-being in Early Childhood Contexts
- ECED 420 (3) History of Early Childhood Education
- ECED 421 (3) Supporting Young Children Through Home, School, and Community Relationships
- ECED 425 (3) Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 438 (3) Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings
- ECED 442 (3) Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of Their Communities
- ECED 480 (3-12) Selected Topics in Early Childhood Education
Diploma in Infant Development and Supported Child Development (IDSC)
The IDSC Diploma Program aims to provide professional and academic guidance to Infant Development (ID) and Supported Child Development (SCD) consultants, to raise their skill and knowledge levels beyond the introductory level, to enhance their level of practice, and to assist them in providing leadership (focus on ages birth to 9 years).
Note: This program does NOT lead to Infant/Toddler post-Basic certification.
NOTE: Admissions for September 2025 are now open.
The 30-credit Infant Development and Supported Child Development Diploma (IDSC) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education, or related field, such as Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Psychology
- 15-credit Certificate in Infant Development and Supported Child Development (CIDSC) granted by the University of British Columbia
- Post-secondary education in related fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, child development, etc.
- Relevant professional experience in related fields such as teaching, nursing, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, infant/child development consultant and/or supported child development consultant in childcare settings, etc.
This diploma requires that you take all Infant Development and Supported Child Development Certificate Courses (18 credits)
First (in either order):
- EPSE 348 (3) Family-Centred Practice for Children with Special Needs
- EPSE 406 (3) Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Children
Followed By:
Followed by (in any order):
Plus four approved elective courses (12 credits).
Note: One of the four electives must be taken through UBC, but the other three may be taken from approved courses offered through UBC or through other Universities or University Colleges. Approved elective credits may include, but are not limited to, courses from this listing ECED Pre-Approved Undergraduate Elective Courses. Please contact the Teacher Education Office for approval of any non-ECED electives which are not on the pre-approved list.
Diploma in Early Years Education (EYED)
This diploma is designed for teachers, early childhood educators, and other early childhood professionals who are interested in enhancing their professional practice with young children (pre-school to grade 3).
The 30-credit Early Years Education Diploma (EYED) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education, or related field, such as Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Psychology
- 15-credit Certificate in Early Years Education (CEYED) granted by the University of British Columbia
- Post-secondary education in related fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, child development, etc.
- Relevant professional experience in related fields such as teaching, nursing, social work, child and youth care, occupational therapy, infant/child development consultant and/or supported child development consultant in childcare settings, etc.
This diploma consists of the following four core courses (12 credits):
- ECED 405 (3) Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 420 (3) History of Early Childhood Education
- ECED 421 (3) Supporting Young Children Through Home, School, and Community Relationships
- ECED 438 (3) Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings
Plus a minimum of three electives courses (9 credits) from the following list:
- ECED 400 (3) Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care
- ECED 401 (3) Supporting Young Children's Health and Well-being in Early Childhood Settings
- ECED 406 (3) Early Learning Curriculum in the Pre-School Years
- ECED 407 (3) Supporting Early Learning in the Pre-School Years
- ECED 415 (3) Supporting Learning in The Primary Years
- ECED 416 (3) Kindergarten Curriculum
- ECED 417 (3) Supporting Learning in the Kindergarten Year
- ECED 425 (3) Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Education
- ECED 442 (3) Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of Their Communities
- ECED 480 (3-12) c Selected Topics in Early Childhood Education
Plus three additional ECED electives or approved Faculty of Education elective courses in related fields (9 credits). Approved elective credits may include, but are not limited to, courses from this listing ECED Pre-Approved Undergraduate Elective Courses. Please contact the Teacher Education Office for approval of any non-ECED electives which are not on the pre-approved list.
Elective Credits
Approved elective credits may include, but are not limited to, courses from this listing ECED Pre-Approved Undergraduate Elective Courses. Please contact the Teacher Education Office for approval of any non-ECED electives which are not on the pre-approved list.
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 CAD |
| Tuition - 10 online courses: (cost per credit: $ 212.65, paid on a course-by-course basis) |
$ 6,379.50 CAD |
| Estimated Total: (not counting supplies or textbooks) |
$ 6,454.00 CAD |
International:
| Application fee: (non-refundable) |
$ 112.00 CAD |
| Tuition - 10 online courses: (cost per credit: $ 954.55, paid on a course-by-course basis) |
$ 28,636.50 CAD |
| Estimated Total: (not counting supplies or textbooks) |
$ 28,748.50 CAD |
* If a student chooses to take an on-campus course, then normal student fees would apply for that term.
Funding
Please note: Our certificate programs are not eligible for funding through UBC or student loans.
Program Completion
If enrolled in the Diploma program, you have 5 years to complete all 30 required course credits. This five-year time period is counted from the date of the first course started. For example, Winter 2017, Term 1 is when you started your first course. Your completion date would be Winter 2022, Term 1.
Consult with the Teacher Education Office to confirm successful completion of 30-credits of your diploma program.
Every candidate for a degree must make formal application for graduation. For important application information, dates, and deadlines, please visit the graduation information available on the Student Services website.
Full details are posted on UBC’s Graduation website.
Learn more about UBC’s stream leading to a Basic ECE Certificate.
Learn more about the BC Teaching Certificate through the UBC Teacher Education Office.
Attention International Applicants:
Please be advised that these certificate and diploma programs are NOT eligible for a Study Permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) since they are distance learning programs.
If you are interested in working in Canada after completing your studies, you may apply to an academic program on the post-secondary level that is designed with at least 8 months of full-time study in Canada and leads to a certificate, diploma or degree, so that you will be eligible for a PGWP.