Certificates & Diplomas

Certificates & Diplomas

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.

Application Deadlines:

  • February 28 for a May start
  • May 31 for a September start
  • November 30 for a January start

 

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).

Admission Requirements

See the UBC Calendar for admission requirements.

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).

Admission Requirements

See the UBC Calendar for admission requirements.

Required Courses and More Information

Students complete a total of 15 credits, including the following core course:

Plus any four (12 credits) 400-level ECED courses.

Program Fees

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.

Application fee (non-refundable):

Domestic (Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident): $ 71.75 CAD
International: $ 108.00 CAD

Domestic Tuition (cost per credit: $204.41, paid on a course-by-course basis):

5 Online courses (3-credits per course): $ 3,066.15 CAD

International Tuition (cost per credit: $882.54, paid on a course-by-course basis):

5 Online courses (3-credits per course): $ 13,238.10 CAD

Additional fees:

Distance Education Administration Fees
Student fees do not apply when taking only online courses; instead, there is a non-refundable distance education administrative fee of $53.25 CAD per course.

Distance education administration fees for 5 Online courses: $ 266.25 CAD

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

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 Program Coordinator Keith McPherson.

To transfer the 15 credits to a Diploma in Education, apply for admission to the Diploma.

Requesting Your Certificate

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)

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:

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)

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):

Plus two electives (6 credits) from the following list:

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)

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):

Plus two electives (6 credits) from the following list:

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).

Admission Requirements

See the UBC Calendar

The 30-credit Infant Development and Supported Child Development Diploma (IDSC) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:

  • BA, BEd, BSc or related degree from a recognized university
  • Diploma in Early Childhood Education from an approved community/university college program, or equivalent
  • 15 credit Certificate in Infant Development and Supported Child Development (IDSC) granted by the University of British Columbia
  • Some college or university course experience and relevant professional experience 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.

Required Courses and More Information

This diploma requires that you take all Infant Development and Supported Child Development Certificate Courses (18 credits):

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 Diplomas in EYED and IDSC Pre-approved Electives.

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).

Admission Requirements

See the UBC Calendar

The 30-credit Early Years Education Diploma (EYED) is open to applicants with one or more of the following:

  • BA, BEd, BSc or related degree from a recognized university
  • Diploma in Early Childhood Education from an approved community/university college program, or equivalent
  • 15 credit Certificate in Early Years Education (EYED) granted by the University of British Columbia
  • Some college or university course experience and relevant professional experience 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.

Elective Credits

Approved elective credits may include, but are not limited to, courses from this listing Diplomas in EYED and IDSC Pre-approved Electives.

Program Fees

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.

Application fee (non-refundable):

Domestic (Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident): $ 71.75 CAD
International: $ 108.00 CAD

Domestic Tuition (cost per credit: $204.41, paid on a course-by-course basis):

10 Online courses (3-credits per course): $ 6,132.30 CAD

International Tuition (cost per credit: $882.54, paid on a course-by-course basis):

10 Online courses (3-credits per course): $ 26,476.20 CAD

Additional fees:

Distance Education Administration Fees
Student fees do not apply when taking only online courses*; instead, there is a non-refundable distance education administrative fee of $53.25 CAD per course.

Distance education administration fees for 10 Online courses*: $ 532.50 CAD

* If a student chooses to take an on campus course, then normal student fees would apply for that term.

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

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 Program Coordinator Keith McPherson 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.

 

NOTE: Completing the above Certificate and/or Diploma courses may contribute to – but do not specifically qualify students for – the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development Basic Early Childhood Educator Certificate.

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.

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