Certification is the process used to review post-secondary education and equivalent training to better determine an individual's eligibility to work in Alberta's regulated child care system. The Ministry of Alberta Children's Services issues certification for the following three levels of early childhood educators able to work in licensed/approved programs in Alberta:
Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor)
Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker)
Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant)
Parents, as a child’s first teacher, and a child's caregiver play important roles in the development of a child's early growth and development and this partnership between the two is significant. Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) that have a foundational knowledge of early learning and child care (ELCC) can help to create better outcomes for all children and their families.
The AECEA advocates for new certification standards for ECEs that will increase their required (ELCC) educational level and that they also undertake ongoing professional learning to strengthen their competency in the following areas:
- how to care ethically (children, families, other staff & self)
- foundational knowledge of how young children learn and develop for an early years pedagogy based on play
- able to support children with diverse abilities
- able to work alongside and communicate with families
- work with evidence based curricular resources
- communicate within a democratic community
- understand how to link research to practice and policy.
Certification Office
Certification Office – Children's Services
Toll free: 1-800-661-9754
Fax: 780-427-1258
Email: cs.staffcertification@gov.ab.ca
Certification FAQ
If you are looking to work in a licensed day care program, out-of-school care program, or pre-school program you need to be certified. Child care staff must be certified within 6 months of employment and must not have unsupervised access to children until certified.
Once you apply, your application will be reviewed to determine if you are eligible for one of the 3 levels of child care staff certification:
- Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant)
- Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker)
- Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor)
For more information, see the Child Care Staff Certification Guide
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 1, 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
There are three certification levels in Alberta:
- Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant)
- Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker)
- Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor)
*Children's Services website - February 22, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
An approved language proficiency assessment is required for certification as child development worker or supervisor unless an individual’s education was completed in a country where English or French is the primary language of instruction throughout all levels of schooling.
The countries below have been identified as providing instruction in English throughout all levels of schooling
If the education was completed in a country not listed below, a language proficiency assessment is required.
|
Australia |
Bahamas |
|
Barbados |
Belize |
|
British Virgin Islands |
Canada |
|
Cayman Islands |
Dominica |
|
Gibraltar |
Grenada |
|
Guyana |
Ireland |
|
Jamaica |
New Zealand |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis |
St. Lucia |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
United Kingdom |
|
United States of America |
Language proficiency assessments accepted for certification:
- CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program).
Level 7 must be achieved in all areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
Website: www.celpip.ca
Toll free phone: 1-800-958-5186
- IELTS General (International English Language Testing System)
A score of 6 must be achieved in all areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking) .
Website: www.ielts.org
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
| Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant) | Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) | Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor) |
|
45-hour (3 credit) college-level course in early learning and child care |
Early Learning and Child Care certificate |
Early Learning and Child Care diploma |
|
Child Care Orientation Course (Alberta government sponsored course) |
Disability Studies diploma |
Alberta Teaching Certificate |
|
CCS 3110-3150 offered though Career and Technology Studies at Alberta high schools |
Educational Assistant diploma |
Bachelor of Child Studies Degree |
|
The Step Ahead Family Day Home Training or Family Child Care Training Program |
Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology - family ecology major |
Bachelor of Education: 4-year degree or 2-year after degree |
|
|
Bachelor of Kinesiology (B.Kin.) or Kinesiology diploma |
Child and Youth Care diploma or degree |
|
|
Community Rehabilitation degree or Rehabilitation Assistant diploma |
Bachelor of Social Work degree |
|
|
Therapeutic Recreation diploma or degree |
|
|
|
Social Work diploma |
|
Individuals who have completed some related coursework but have not received an educational credential may be assessed against the content and hours from Alberta Early Learning and Child Care certificate and diploma programs. To view the coursework equivalencies, go here.
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant
You will be eligible to receive Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification upon completion of one of the following:
- a 45-hour (3 credit) post-secondary course related to child development
- Acceptable 3-credit post-secondary courses related to child development include:
- Introduction to early learning and child care
- Learning through play
- Educational psychology
- Acceptable 3-credit post-secondary courses related to child development include:
- the Child Care Orientation Course
- CCS 3110, 3120, 3130, 3140, and 3150 offered through Career and Technology Studies at Alberta high schools
- the Step Ahead Family Day Home Training or Family Child Care Training Program through an approved Alberta Family Day Home Agency registered with the Alberta Family Child Care Association.
Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker
You will be eligible to receive Level 2 Early Childhood Educator certification upon completion of either:
- a 1-year early learning and child care certificate program offered by an Alberta college or university; or
- an approved educational equivalency
Approved educational equivalencies recognized for Level 2 Early Childhood Educator certification:
- Disability Studies: 2-year diploma
- Educational Assistant: 2-year diploma
- Bachelor of Science in human ecology: 4-year degree with a major in family ecology
- Kinesiology: 4-year Bachelor degree (B.Kin.) or 2-year Kinesiology diploma
- Community Rehabilitation: 4-year degree or Rehabilitation Assistant 2- year diploma
- Therapeutic Recreation: 2-year diploma or 4-year degree
- Social Work: 2-year diploma
Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor
You will be eligible to receive Level 3 Early Childhood Educator certification upon completion of either:
- a 2-year early learning and child care diploma program offered by an Alberta college or university; or
- an approved educational equivalency
Approved educational equivalencies recognized for Level 3 Early Childhood Educator certification:
- Alberta Teaching Certificate
- Bachelor of Child Studies: 4-year degree
- Bachelor of Education: 4-year degree or 2-year after degree
- Child and Youth care: 4-year degree or 2-year diploma
- Bachelor of Social Work: 4-year degree
A Coursework Equivalency is available for individuals who have completed related coursework but have not received an educational credential. Courses are assessed against the content and hours from Alberta ELCC certificate and diploma programs for child development worker or supervisor certification. See the chart here.
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
Early childhood professionals certified in another province are eligible for certification in Alberta without another formal assessment of the person’s educational credentials.
|
Alberta |
Level 1 ECE |
Level 2 ECE |
Level 3 ECE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
British Columbia |
Early Childhood Educator Assistant |
Early Childhood Educator |
Early Childhood Educator with Special Needs or Infant/Toddler |
|
Manitoba |
None |
None |
Early Childhood Educator II or III |
|
Newfoundland/Labrador |
None |
Level 1 |
Level 2, 3, or 4 |
|
Nova Scotia |
Entry Level or Level 1 |
None |
Level 2, 3, or School Age Approval |
|
Ontario |
None |
None |
Early Childhood Educator |
|
Prince Edward Island |
None |
Early Childhood Program Staff |
Early Childhood Supervisor |
|
Saskatchewan |
Early Childhood Educator I |
Early Childhood Educator II |
Early Childhood Educator III |
|
Yukon Territory |
Child Care Worker 1 or 1a |
Child Care Worker 2 or 2a |
Child Care Worker 3 |
To apply for Alberta certification under this equivalency, submit the following:
- A completed Application for Child Care Staff Certification
- A copy of personal identification that includes your birth date and signature
- Your original provincial certificate (B.C. and Ontario applicants may provide copies)
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*
Education that has been completed outside of Canada may be recognized for certification; however, additional documents may be required.
Before you apply, read the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators to make sure you are eligible and understand all the steps. The guide includes information about the educational and language proficiency requirements.
Once you have read the guide, apply online using a computer, tablet or mobile phone through the Early Childhood Educator Certification Application:
Early Childhood Educator Certification Application
If you are eligible for Level 2 or 3 certification, you must arrange for your official transcripts to be sent directly from your educational institution to the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office.
You may send a copy of the transcript to be temporarily certified as a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator, if eligible. The certification level will be changed once the official transcripts have been received directly from the institution and have been assessed as meeting the educational training requirements for Level 2 or Level 3 certification.
If your education was completed outside of Canada, refer to the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators to determine if you require a language proficiency assessment or other additional documents.
If you need help or have questions about using the Early Childhood Educator Certification online application, call the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office at 1-800-661-9754.
*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))
*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*