Certification by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care allows students to work with young children in an early childhood setting (ages birth to 5 years), under the supervision of a certified Early Childhood Educator.
Following completion of one of the online courses listed below (ECED 401, EPSE 406, or ECED 407), students may apply for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Assistant Certificate with the BC ECE Registry. This allows students to work within the childcare system while continuing to complete the BC ECE Basic Certificate Program or another program of study.
- ECED 401 – Supporting Young Children’s Health and Well-Being in Early Childhood Settings (child health, safety and nutrition)
- ECED 407 – Supporting Early Learning in the Pre-School Years (child guidance)
- EPSE 406 – Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Children (child development)
This program is offered 100% online.
Please confirm course dates for your desired academic year and term using the the UBC Course Calendar.
Attention International Applicants >
The Program
Upon successful completion of one of the approved online courses listed above, students must then apply to the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development before they will be certified to work as an ECE Assistant.
Students may choose to ladder into the BC ECE Basic Certificate Program within 5 years.
Quick Info:
Intakes: January, May, September Length: 1 term Credits: 3 credits (1 course) Format: Online Domestic Tuition: $650.70 CAD International Tuition: $3,006.81 CADApply by:
March 1, 2025
for a May 2025 program start
Additional Intake Dates & Deadlines
- March 1 for May intake
(Submit your documents by March 31) - July 1 for September intake
(Submit your documents by July 31) - November 1 for January intake
(Submit your documents by November 30)
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 (cost per credit: $216.90, paid on a course-by-course basis) | $ 650.70 CAD |
| Estimated Total (not counting supplies or textbooks): | $ 725.20 CAD |
International:
| Application fee (non-refundable): | $ 112.00 CAD |
| Tuition (cost per credit: $1,002.27, paid on a course-by-course basis) | $ 3,006.81 CAD |
| Estimated Total (not counting supplies or textbooks): | $ 3,118.81 CAD |
Funding
Please note: The BC ECE Assistant Certificate program is not eligible for funding through UBC or student loans.
BC ECE Assistant Certificate Admission Requirements
Find out more about the BC ECE Assistant Certificate admission requirements.
How to Apply
Find out everything you need to know about how to apply to the BC ECE Assistant Certificate.
Attention International Applicants:
Please be advised that this program is NOT eligible for a Study Permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) since this is a distance learning program.
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.