Early Childhood Care and Education

Diploma: Diploma

Location: Downtown

International students admissibility: Accepts International Students

A caregiver interacts with several babies sitting on a colorful play mat while they play with toys and art supplies.

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.

Tuition	N/A
Credential	Diploma
Length	The duration of the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is two years full time (1830 hours of combined lecture, field observations, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is 5 years.
Hours	Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Class times are subject to change.
Delivery	Class-based
Campus	Downtown
Start Dates	Jan, May, Sep
PGWP	Eligible

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.
John Dow, Music & Dance

What to expect

Classroom lectures
Discussions and presentations
Practical exercises
Individual and group work
Field trips and off-site field studies
Guest speakers
Use of the ECCE Lab (classroom space and mock child learning centres)
Workplace practicums
Quizzes and tests
Essays
Assignments
Presentations
Participation and group work

What you will learn

Protect and promote the psychological and physical safety, health and well-being of young children ages 0-6 and implement effective inclusive practices in working with both typically developed 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 narration 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 young children, 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, comprehensive and inclusive early care and learning settings.

Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion

The duration of the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is two years full time (1830 hours of combined lecture, field observations, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is 5 years.

Job prospectives

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Dental Technologist / Dental Technician
Dental Lab Quality Control Specialist
Dental Materials Sales Representative
Dental Equipment Technician or Specialist
CAD / CAM Designer for Dental Restorations
Dental Laboratory Manager
Dental Technology Instructor

Admission Requirement

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.

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

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

Tuition deposit	$10,500	$10,000 non-refundable Tuition deposits are payable usually within two (2) weeks after a Letter of Offer is issued.
Application fee	$145
Tuition	$48,070
Student union	$434
College initiative	$241
Materials		not including textbooks
Campus resource
Laundry
Uniform (Deposit)
Medical & Dental	$570	Provided by Student Union
Temporary medical insurance	$149	Medical Insurance for International Students
U-Pass	$1,126	Discounted, unlimited transit pass. Learn more.
Graduation	$45
Total	$51,259

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

* Tuition and other fees are approximate and subject to increase up to 5% per year. Students will be required to pay increased rates if the fees change at any time during the period of enrolment in the program. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable.

Fees listed are for international students. For domestic programs, visit vcc.ca.

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

Application Process

International students must contact International Education advisors to confirm their study eligibility and the Continuing Studies (CS) department to verify their program eligibility.

The Letters of Recommendation should be issued by someone who knows the student on a professional level as a student, volunteer or employee. For example, the letters may be written by:

Instructors
Supervisors from a volunteer activity
Current or past employers

A signature, date of signing, and contact information must be included in the letters.

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