ECE reading book to group of kids with adult evaluating

Certification

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 Children and Family Services issues certification for all three levels of early childhood educators (ECEs) able to work in licensed/approved programs in Alberta.

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. 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.

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 year's 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

Are you interested in increasing your certification level? Take a look at the ELCC post-secondary options in Alberta here.


Certification Office

Transcripts can be sent to:

Child Care Staff Certification Office
Alberta Children and Family Services
Sterling Place, 9940 106 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2N2

Please do not send your transcripts to the AECEA office.

Certification Office – Children and Family Services
Toll free: 1-800-661-9754
Fax: 780-427-1258
Email: cs.staffcertification@gov.ab.ca

Please note, AECEA is not involved in the certification of early childhood educators. Please contact the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office if you have questions related to certification.

Certification FAQ

What are the certification levels?

There are three certification levels in Alberta:

  • Level 1 Early Childhood Educator
  • Level 2 Early Childhood Educator
  • Level 3 Early Childhood Educator

Do I need to be certified to work in child care?

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
  • Level 2 Early Childhood Educator
  • Level 3 Early Childhood Educator

For more information, see the Child Care Staff Certification Guide

*Children's Services website - April 25, 2022 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (April 25, 2022))

*AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation/website to confirm accuracy*

What are the language proficiency requirements for Level 2 & 3 Certification?

An approved language proficiency assessment is required for certification as a Level 2 or 3 Early Childhood Educator 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

What are the recognized educational equivalencies for certification?

Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Level 2 Early Childhood Educator Level 3 Early Childhood Educator

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. 

*Children's Services website - April 25, 2022 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (April 2022))

What are the requirements to obtain each certification level?

Level 1 Early Childhood Educator

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
  • 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

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

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 Level 1 and 2 Early Childhood Educator certification. 

*Children's Services website - April 25, 2022 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (April 2022))

What if I have certification in another province?

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:

*Children's Services website - February 10, 2021 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (February 2021))

What if my education is from outside of Canada?

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

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 - April 25, 2022 (Child Care Staff Certification Guide (April 2022))