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Early Childhood Educator – Assistant

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs prepares students to work with young children in a variety of early learning settings.  An ECE Assistant is an entry-level position that allows an educator to work in a daycare / early childhood classroom and to count towards ratio of instructors to students.  To maintain an ECE Assistant designation, students must return to school at least once every five years to take a new course before they can be re-certified.

To obtain an ECE-A certificate from Ridge Meadows College, students choose one (1) of four courses and complete it successfully.  Starting in September, 2025, RMC will be adding one additional class to program requirements to better prepare students for the workplace.

Students who wish to continue in the ECE certificate or diploma programs may transfer any ECE-Assistant courses they have already completed into the longer program.

ECE-Assistant courses are taught online.

Previous/Current Students: If you are applying for an ECE program and have taken courses at the college before or are currently taking a program, please contact the RMC office at rmc@sd42.ca instead of creating a new application.  This will allow us to link your new application to any previously completed courses.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline for Winter 2025: December 22nd, 2024.  All new applications for winter term must be submitted by this date to be considered.  Applications made after this date will be deferred to the following semester.

Academic Requirements:

  • Completion of Grade 12 (or equivalent) or 19 years of age or older.

English Language Requirement:

  • Completion of English 12, or equivalent, or a satisfactory demonstration of written and verbal English ability as determined by the College (View the college’s complete English Language Requirements)

Application Requirements:

  • Completion of Application form
  • 2 Letters of Reference
  • Current Resume
  • Statement of Interest (1 to 2 pages)
  • Criminal Record Check
  • Immunization Declaration
  • Medical Declaration

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International students may apply to this program.

Term Start Dates

The ECE program accepts ongoing applications with three starts per year in:

  • January
  • May
  • September

ECE-Assistant Program Fees for 2024/25 are as follows:

  • Application Fee (non-refundable): $30.
  • Course Fees: $609.
  • Textbook’s extra and purchased by students.
  • Technology and Library fee: $50.

Starting in September, 2025, a second course will be required for all new ECE-A students.

Course Instalment Plans (CIPs) to pay program fees monthly, are available for students meeting certain conditions.  This program is not applicable for student loans.

ECE Assistant Students must choose ONE of the following four courses.  If you are a student returning to renew your ECE-A certificate after 5 years you must choose a different course than you took previously.

Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursCostDescription
ECED 1110Child Growth & Development 1 45$609This is one of two modules in an introductory course in child development. Students will study the why and how of child development, examine current developmental theory, learn and practice narrative observation methods, and will examine child development during the period covering pre-natal development through the second year of life.

This course material will support students as they discover how very young children grow and develop. Students will be given opportunities to use their acquired knowledge of child growth and development to assess the development of a single child.
ECED 2110Child Growth & Development 2
45$609This course will guide the student in the study of child development, concentrating on development during the preschool years. The format of the course revolves around a series of observations conducted by students outside of class time. These observations will be used during class as the basis for developing an understanding of development.
ECED 1120Health, Safety & Nutrition
45$609This course will introduce the student to best practice in the areas of health, safety, and nutrition, and will examine these areas within the context of early childhood settings that provide care for children (birth to school aged). Students will explore the regulations and practices that protect the health and safety of young children, and will determine methods of exploring the topics with children in developmentally appropriate ways. Students will also be examining methods of working in partnership with parents to protect the health and safety of their children.
ECED 1170Guiding Behaviour
45$609This course will examine the guidance approach to discipline within a preschool setting. Early childhood educators adhere to a developmentally appropriate approach to interaction with young children. Use of the guidance approach to discipline ensures that teachers consider each individual child’s developmental level before teaching problem solving strategies. Students will learn that a discipline approach that incorporates active learning, problem-solving, and social responsiveness allows the early childhood educator to use guidance to manage, coach and guide children in positive ways.

View the Winter, 2025 Schedule

View the Textbook List.  Textbooks are mandatory for those classes that require them.

Upcoming Info Sessions:

There are no info sessions currently scheduled for this program.  Please contact the office at rmc@sd42.ca to inquire.

Ridge Meadows College is committed to affordable tuition and accessible financing options to make post-secondary education more available to students in the community. As a result, RMC offers payment plans for students who wish to spread their payments out throughout the term.

Students can apply for payment plans via the MyRMC Student system upon being admitted to the college and enrolling in courses. Payment plans work by dividing total fees for the term into equal payments to be paid at the beginning of each month the student is enrolled in classes.

Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC)

ECEBC provides professional development opportunities, training and resources for early childhood educators across BC with a vision for a society where early childhood educators thrive in a supportive community that values childhood and education.

Since September 2018, the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, enhanced and expanded the ECE Bursary Program, now known as the ECE Education Support Fund (ECE ESF).

This program consists of two funding streams:

  1. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Education Support Fund (formally the bursary); and
  2. The ECE Workforce Development Bursary Fund Program

These funding streams are designed to increase the number of students entering, re-establishing and graduating from recognized ECE post-secondary programs.

Please follow the link for more information as Ridge Meadows College does not manage this bursary.

https://www.ecebc.ca/ece-education-support-fund

Is there financial assistance for the ECE Program? 
Yes. As well as the Provincial Government’s bursary program, students can access funding through WorkBC, the employer training grant and sometimes other methods.

Is the total program tuition paid upfront? 
No. Students pay for the courses in which they register, not for the whole program.  Alternatively, there is a monthly payment plan option for students who prefer to pay in instalments.

How much of this program is online?
All ECE-A courses are online.

Will I be qualified to work in Kindergarten classes with an ECE credential?
No.  All classroom teachers in B.C.’s public school system must meet the requirements to register in the BC College of Teachers.

What level of English proficiency is required?
This program requires students to write and communicate in English competently.

Métis Early Childhood Educators may be eligible for a wage supplement in BC.  To show appreciation for the value of caring for children, MNBC has created a Métis ECE Supplement.  It is designed to support licensed Métis ECEs and ECEAs who are working in licensed childcare programs across the province with a financial supplement.

Apply by contacting the Métis ECE Recruitment and Retention specialist at ecesupports@mnbc.ca.

Other Indigenous nations may also have wage supplements.  If you are an Indigenous student, contact your nation to inquire.

Early Childhood Educator (Certificate/Diploma) – In the certificate and diploma programs, through study of such topics as Child Development, Curriculum Development, and Child, Family & Community – as well as practical exposure through practicum placements in licensed child-care programs – students gain the knowledge and experience needed to apply for certification as an Early Childhood Educator.

Early Childhood Educator – Post-Basic – An ECE Post-Basic credential represents additional training that has been completed by a student to specialize in a specific area including Infant / Toddler Educator and/or Special Needs Educator.

Education Assistant: Education Assistants work with K-12 students who have special physical, behavioural or learning needs. RMC’s Education Assistant Program prepares graduates for supporting students in mainstream learning assistance, resource room, English literacy, and alternate settings.