Early Childhood Care and Education (Diploma)

Diploma: Diploma

Location: Downtown

International students admissibility: Accepts International Students

A group of infants and a caregiver are sitting on the floor, playing with colorful toys. Some infants are focused on their toys while the caregiver interacts with them.

In this page

Overview

Gain the knowledge and skills to specialize in the inclusive care and development of children aged 0-6 and children with special needs. Graduates qualify for the Infant Toddler Educator (ITE) and Special Needs Educator (SNE) certifications from the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development.

This program is only open for domestic students(Canadian/Permanent Residents). If you’re interested in as an international students, please visit aaaa.vcc.ca

Tuition	N/A
Credential	Diploma
Length	The maximum time for completion for the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is five years (1830 hours of combined lecture, field observations, and practicum). 1) ECCE Basic Certificate Exit: After successfully completing the courses in the ECCE Certificate program students will have the option of exiting the program with the ECCE Certificate. This credential qualifies for the Early Childhood Educator Certification granted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The duration of this program is two years of part-time or one year of full-time study (960 hours of combined lecture, field observation, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is three years. 2) Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma Program: Students continuing with advanced, post-basic education (Infant Toddler and Special Needs) will graduate with the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma. This credential additionally qualifies for the Infant Toddler and Special Needs Educator Certifications granted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The duration of the advanced, post-basic education program(Infant Toddler and Special Needs) is 15 months, part-time (830 hours of combined lecture, field observation, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is two years. The maximum time between completion of the ECCE Certificate and enrolling to the Early Childhood Education Diploma is five years.
Hours
Delivery	Class-based and Online
Campus	Downtown
Start Dates	Sep

My time at Vancouver Community College’s Music and Dance Program has been nothing short of transformative. What began as a pursuit of artistic excellence evolved into a journey that not only refined my skills but also shaped me into a more confident and expressive individual.
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What to expect

Courses combine classroom lectures, presentations, discussions, practical exercises, and individual and group work. Students take an active role and learn by observing early childhood programs during field trips and off-site field studies. Students are exposed to the new ECCE resources SECD (Science of Early Child Development). Guest speakers are invited for every course in order to provide community awareness and connections for the students. The class time includes the use of the ECCE Lab. The ECCE Lab is a combination of classroom space and several mock learning centers. The instructors incorporate the practical application in their lectures. Practicum students receive on-site support and supervision from college instructors and sponsors who are qualified early childhood educators.

What you will learn

Protect and promote the psychological and physical safety, health and well-being of infants and toddlers and children with exceptionalities.
Develop and maintain a warm, caring, and responsive relationship with each child and with groups of children
Administer daily experiences that support and promote children’s physical, emotional, social, communication, cognitive, ethical and creative lives
Use pedagogical narrations to interpret and respond to every child's skills, abilities, interests and needs with special focus on infants and toddlers and children who need extra support
Analyze variations in development among infants and toddlers, ages 0-6
Establish and maintain an open, cooperative relationship with each child’s family
Establish and maintain inclusive, supportive, collaborative relationships with others working in the early care and learning setting
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other community service providers working with the child
Reflect on one’s own knowledge, attitudes, and skills and take appropriate action for change
Practice administrative and management skills as related to early care and learning settings
Practice ethical and professional behaviour when working in the early childhood and education industry
Advocate for high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive early care and learning settings

Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion

The maximum time for completion for the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is five years (1830 hours of combined lecture, field observations, and practicum). 1) ECCE Basic Certificate Exit: After successfully completing the courses in the ECCE Certificate program students will have the option of exiting the program with the ECCE Certificate. This credential qualifies for the Early Childhood Educator Certification granted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The duration of this program is two years of part-time or one year of full-time study (960 hours of combined lecture, field observation, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is three years. 2) Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma Program: Students continuing with advanced, post-basic education (Infant Toddler and Special Needs) will graduate with the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma. This credential additionally qualifies for the Infant Toddler and Special Needs Educator Certifications granted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The duration of the advanced, post-basic education program(Infant Toddler and Special Needs) is 15 months, part-time (830 hours of combined lecture, field observation, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is two years. The maximum time between completion of the ECCE Certificate and enrolling to the Early Childhood Education Diploma is five years.

Job prospectives

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Admission Requirement

There are two entry pathways into the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma. Year 1 Entry:

Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent
Minimum 18 years of age
English Studies 12 with a minimum ‘C’ grade, or equivalent
Interview with Selection Committee, in person or by video conference
Two letters of recommendation from people who have worked with the applicant in a relevant professional or academic environment
40 hours of volunteering work in a licensed childcare facility in BC. Work experience must be verified by an official employer letter.

Year 2 Entry:

Successful completion of VCC’s Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate, or other approved training program as per BC Ministry of Children and Family Development Early Childhood Education Registry
Grade 12 graduation or equivalent
English Studies 12 with a minimum ‘C’ grade, or equivalent
Interview with Selection Committee, in person or by video conference
Two letters of recommendation from people who have worked with the applicant in a relevant professional or academic environment

Upon Acceptance:

Criminal Record Check (CRC)
- Students in this program are required to complete a CRC. The CRC must be completed according to VCC’s Criminal Record Check instructions. Students whose CRC results indicate they pose a risk to vulnerable populations will not be able to complete the requirements of the program (e.g. practicums) or graduate.
TB Screening
- Students must submit a negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test. If the TB skin test is positive, a negative TB chest x-ray is required.
Immunizations
- A VCC Immunization Record must be completed. Immunizations in the following are strongly recommended and in some cases may be required for practicum placements:
  - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
  - Polio
  - Measles, Mumps & Rubella
  - Varicella (chicken pox)
  - Hepatitis B
  - Influenza
  - COVID-19

Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.

Recommended Characteristics

The Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is designed to meet the needs of adult learners who reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of our community. The following attributes are recommended:

Desire to work with children and families in early childhood programs and services
Previous experience in working with young children
Ability to communicate effectively in English

Program Availability

Not currently available.

Courses

Part- or Full-time

Course list is not available at the moment.

This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.

Fees and Costs

Application fee	$36
Tuition	$15,830	Year 1 - $8,502 Year 2 - $7,328
Student union	$724
College initiative	$223
Materials		not including textbooks
Campus resource	$317
Laundry
Uniform (Deposit)
Medical & Dental	$570	Provided by Student Union
U-Pass	$1,126	Discounted, unlimited transit pass. Learn more.
Graduation	$45
Total	$18,868

Books & Supplies

Textbooks or other supplies may be required for this program. Visit the VCC Bookstore for more information.
Additional costs:
- Textbooks – Approx. $500
- Student kits – Approx. $5,100 + tax

Open Educational Resources(OER) at VCC

No-cost textbooks are available for this program.

* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable. Tuition fees include a non-refundable deposit ($300 or $500, depending on program).

Fees listed are for domestic students. For international programs, visit VCC International.

Any refunds are issued according to VCC's refund policy.

Need help with tuition?

Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans.

Application Process

This program accepts applications for year 2 entry only. To start in year 1, please apply to the Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate. You may apply for year 2 during year 1.

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