BC Applicant: Apply For ECE Certificate With A Recognized Education Program
Check the list of recognized programs before starting your application.
Last updated: July 20, 2023
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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.
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
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
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 |
|---|---|
|
|
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
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
