BC Applicant: Apply For ECE Certificate With A Recognized Education Program

Learn how to apply for certification as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in B.C. if you completed an early childhood education training program recognized by the ECE Registry.

 Check the list of recognized programs before starting your application.

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Last updated: July 20, 2023

On this page:

• Prepare your application
• Complete and submit your application
• After you apply

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Prepare your application

Determine your certificate type

If you do not know what type of certificate you may be eligible for, learn about the certificate types and determine which one matches your education and experience.

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Gather your education documents

Official transcript

• Ask your educational institution to mail your official transcript directly to the ECE Registry’s contact information

To complete your application, you will need to know the following:

• The full name and location of your educational institution
• The name of your program or course
• Your student number/ID as it will appear on your transcript
• The start date and end date of your program or course

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Obtain a character reference

Your character reference must be someone who:

• Can speak to your character and has known you for at least 6 months
• Can speak to your ability to educate and care for young children
• Is not a relative, partner, spouse, or yourself
• Is not the same person you provide as your 500-hour work experience reference (if applicable)

It is recommended that your reference is a certified ECE who has directly observed you working with young children. Your Character Reference form must be completed and signed by your reference within 12 months of your application document submission.

• Ask your character reference to send your completed Character Reference form directly to the ECE Registry

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Gather your identification documents (ID)

Submit a copy of one piece of primary ID and one piece of secondary ID from the table below.

• Your ID must be valid and government-issued
• ID that is not in English must be professionally translated
  • A copy of the original ID and the translated copy must be authenticated by the translator and submitted directly to the ECE Registry
• Do not submit original identity documents (for example, birth certificate or passport)

Acceptable ID

Primary Identification

Secondary Identification

Driver’s licence or learner’s licence issued by a Canadian province or territory B.C. identification card BCID BC Services Card Canadian birth certificate Canadian or foreign passport Canadian citizenship card Permanent resident card Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record Indian status card

Driver’s licence or learner’s licence issued by a Canadian province or territory B.C. identification card BC Services Card Canadian birth certificate Canadian or foreign passport Canadian citizenship card Canadian permanent resident card Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record Indian status card Health or services card from another Canadian province or territory Foreign birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable) Photograph identity card issued by a foreign national or regional government

If you cannot provide any of the documents listed on the ID table, contact the ECE Registry

If your current legal name is different than the name on some or all of your supporting documents, submit proof of name change, for example:

• Government-issued marriage certificate
• Divorce certificate or papers
• Government-issued change of name document

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Confirm your work experience

If you’re applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, you must show you have completed the required 500 hours of work experience.

Work experience hours:

• Are counted from the date you started your education and cannot include your practicum/placement hours (hours that were a part of your education)
• Must be completed within the 5 years before your application submission
• Can be work or volunteer hours

References must:

• Have directly supervised (observed) you working with children birth to 5 years old
• Speak to your knowledge, skills, and abilities (competencies) as an ECE during the hours they supervised you
• Have held valid ECE certification or registration in Canada during the time they supervised you
• Not be the same person you provide as a character reference

If your 500 hours were completed at more than one location and under the supervision of more than one ECE, you must provide a reference from each person who supervised your hours.

• Ask your work experience reference(s) to send your completed 500 Hour Work Experience Reference form(s) directly to the ECE Registry