Early Childhood Care & Education Diploma

Why Choose North Island College?

• Learn at your own pace. The diploma program is held part-time during evening classes and online learning components which gives you the flexibility to continue with other commitments while you study.
• Experience that employers value. Practicums provide first-hand experience and extensive training in the field, enabling you to secure positions of greater responsibility.
• Credit for prior learning. Students who already have relevant work experience may receive credit for parts of the practicum. Ask a Student Advisor for details.
• Small classes, big opportunities. The blend of small class size and high quality instruction, along with valuable hands-on experience in a variety of childcare settings, helps NIC students achieve their personal, career, and educational goals.
• Approved education. NIC’s Early Childhood Care & Education program is approved by the Community Care Facilities Board (CCFB), and leads to an official BC Licence to Practice.

Program Highlights

Through workshops, evening classes, online learning components, ITV, and practice experience, students explore advanced theories in child development and examine critical developmental issues of interest. They look at more challenging behaviors and how to use creative problem solving to achieve positive results. Administrative processes are also examined.

Students can choose to concentrate their education in two areas: working with infants and toddlers and/or working with children with special needs. Through 187.5 hours of supervised practice experience for each stream, students apply their knowledge and skills while working with children with special needs, with infants and toddlers, or with both. 

Students of the diploma program are provided with an overview of administrative concepts as related to childcare, and are prepared for the administrative and supervisory responsibilities in an early childhood care and education facility.

Career Opportunities

The Early Childhood Care & Education diploma is designed to prepare graduates to work with young children of varying abilities from ages three to five years, in a variety of child care settings. In addition, diploma graduates are qualified to work with infants and toddlers, as well as children with special needs. The program also provides opportunities for graduates to work with children and their families in other related fields.

Upon completion, graduates should forward their NIC diploma and official college transcript to:

Early Childhood Education Registry
Child Care Programs and Services Branch
Ministry of Children and Family Development
PO Box 9953 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9R3

Telephone in Greater Victoria: (250) 356-6501
Elsewhere in BC call toll-free: 1-888-338-6622
www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ece/index.htm

Graduates who wish to continue their education will find that a number of BC institutions will recognize their courses for block transfer credit. The opportunity to continue into degree programs in child and youth care is available through such institutions as the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, and Capilano University. Graduates should contact a Student Advisor at their university of choice for information regarding admission and transfer credit. 

Credit for Prior Learning

Students who have relevant educational and work experiences may wish to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA) as a way of receiving credit for parts of the program. Currently, prior learning credit may only be applied to practice experience. Contact Student Services for more information.

Practice Experience

The program offers extensive field placements, called practice experience. This gives students the opportunity to put their theory and knowledge into practice under the direction of qualified early childhood educators who act as their mentors.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of an Early Childhood Care & Education certificate program

Before Classes Begin

Once accepted to the program and before beginning their practice experience, students are required to prepare a portfolio containing:

1. Consent for Criminal Record Check form schedule “F”
2. Completed Personal Immunization form
3. Two personal letters of reference
4. Written opinion of a medical practitioner that the mental and physical health of the person is adequate for the job. 

To Be Successful

Skills required to be successful in the program include but are not limited to the following:

• Communicate effectively
• Build relationships
• Work as part of a team as well as working independently
• Maintain confidentiality
• Demonstrate the ability to follow directions
• Display a positive attitude toward attendance and punctuality
• Maintain satisfactory theory average and practical performance
• Demonstrate a reasonable attitude towards self-directed learning
• Recognize limitations and seek help appropriately
• Demonstrate accountability, honesty, and reliability
• Demonstrate basic computer literacy

Program Requirements

Core Courses

• ECC-204 Developmental Journeys – Part II – Advanced
• ECC-215 Partnerships – Advanced – Part III
• ECC-255 Self & Others – Part III
• ECC-268 Supervising Early Childhood Centres

Infants & Toddlers Diploma

• ECC-224 The Learning Child – Infants & Toddlers – Part III
• ECC-246 Practice Experience – Infants and Toddlers

Special Needs Diploma

• ECC-245 Practice Experience – Special Needs
• ECC-264 Supported Child Care

The above courses will require minimum of 10 students registration. 

Completion Requirements

1. Attendance is required in all courses. Students that miss more than 10% of a class may be asked to repeat the course for credit.
2. To successfully complete the program, students must successfully complete all courses with an overall average of 60% and a minimum of 55% in each course.
3. Students are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia. Failure to adhere to these principles may result in the student being required to leave the program.