Early Childhood Education certificate
Program Overview

Early Childhood Education Certificate is a three-semester program leading to provincial licensing as an early childhood educator.

UFV offers a three-semester program at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses leading to registration in British Columbia as early childhood educators.

The three-semester certificate program includes basic courses in communications, interpersonal relations, child growth and development, working with children, and the early childhood curriculum.

Students in the ECE certificate program must maintain semester and cumulative grade point average of at least 2.33 (C+) in order to be awarded the certificate. Students who do not maintain the required cumulative GPA will be placed on Academic Warning for one semester. If they do not attain the required GPA they will need to meet with the department head before continuance in the program.  They may need to withdraw from the program.

Before taking practicum, you will be required to obtain a TB clearance (as required as per Community Care Facilities Licensing Legislation), as well as a Rubella clearance and criminal record check.

After completing this program, graduates can be licensed as early childhood educators by the Provincial Licensing Board, with an additional 500 hours of supervised work and a first aid certificate.

Following completion of the certificate, students who wish to continue their studies can ladder into the following diploma programs :

• Early Childhood Education Diploma
• Special Needs Specialty
• Infancy Specialty
• Speech & Language Assistant Diploma

Program highlights

• 3 semesters full-time
• Early Childhood Education Certificate requires completion of 52.5 credits
• Completion of UFV ECE Certificate or Ministry of Health License to Operate for non-UFV applicants provides admission to Diploma program
• Two practica consisting of 200 hours each are required to complete the program