Early Childhood Education

Young children making the transition from home to child care or preschool need an enthusiastic, positive role model. They need someone dedicated to encouraging learning and growth. They need … you.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's one-year Early Childhood Education (ECE) certificate program gives you the knowledge and skills you need to work in a variety of child care settings. You can take the program in Prince Albert, Regina or Saskatoon , through regional colleges around the province, or through distance learning wherever you live.

The ECE program integrates current research on early childhood education into all of your courses. You’ll develop strong communication, observation and documentation skills. You’ll receive well-rounded training in:

• child and adolescent development
• child guidance techniques
• role of early childhood educators
• role of play in programming
• values and practice of early childhood education
• programming for creative arts, language, cognitive, social and emotional development

The emphasis on observation and documentation is market-driven—these are essential to building positive relationships with families, and employers are eager to hire grads with well-developed skills.

Working with Children

You’ll interact with young children throughout your program, thanks to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s partnerships with community and campus child care centres. Saskatoon students also have access to a unique learning opportunity—10% of all your courses are based on work in our Early Childhood Demonstration Centre.

At the end of your first and second semesters, you’ll also participate in practicums (i.e., 4 weeks and 6 weeks), in a child care or preschool setting. This real-world learning gives you a competitive edge in the workforce.

Want to Open More Doors?

When you graduate, you’re eligible to apply to become a licensed Level II Early Childhood Educator (ECE). Many child care centres and preschools only hire licensed ECEs. You can also go on to earn a diploma in Early Childhood Education with one more year of study. Or, you can transfer some of your credits to the University of Regina’s Bachelor of Education degree program in Elementary Education.

Your Career

Early childhood educators are in demand in Saskatchewan—and employers are especially eager to hire Saskatchewan Polytechnic grads because of your well-rounded knowledge and up-to-date skills. Look for ECE jobs in child care centres, preschools, family day homes, elementary school settings and even private homes.

For more information, contact the Student Employment Services at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus nearest you.

Potential Careers

Note:
You may take the following courses prior to application and acceptance to the program, but must apply thereafter:  COMM 291, ECE 106, ECE 142, EMPL 180, HUMD 100, and HUMD 183.

• Prince Albert
• Regina
• Saskatoon
• Online/Distance options available



Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

View the program page for a complete list of courses and additional information.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 with English Language Arts A30 and English Language Arts B30
• English Language Requirement

Note

• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of a Criminal Record Check prior to entering required coursework with children. At the discretion of the practicum agency, you may be declined access to a clinical or work placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check. If you do not complete the practicum, you will not graduate from the program. The cost of the Criminal Record Check is your responsibility.
• Accepted international students require a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements for this program.  This is mandatory.  Students who do not have a co-op work permit will not be allowed to participate in their practicums.  It is the student's responsibility to ensure they have the required documentation to study in Canada and a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements of this program.  

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 247 Reading
• 243 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2020/21 Academic Year

$8,000

Semester 1

COMM 291

Interpersonal Communications

2

ECE 100

Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3

ECE 106

Dynamics of Play 1

3

ECE 142

Health, Safety and Nutrition

3

ECE 181

Observation and Documentation 1

3

HUMD 100

Child and Adolescent Development

3

HUMD 183

Child Guidance 1

4

Semester 2

PRAC 104

Practicum 1

9

Semester 3

ECE 101

Roles and Values of the Early Childhood Educator

3

ECE 102

Programming for Creative Arts Development

4

ECE 103

Programming for Language Development

3

ECE 104

Programming for Cognitive Development

3

ECE 105

Programming for Social and Emotional Development

3

EMPL 180

Employability Skills

3

Semester 4

PRAC 105

Practicum 2

13

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

• Candidate Guide
• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

• Personal Readiness

• Early Childhood Education diploma
• Educational Assistant