Frequently Asked Questions

AECEA offers three membership categories:

• Professional members are Alberta-certified early childhood educators (ECEs) and post-secondary educators who work in the field of early learning and child care. This category also includes staff and contractors who work for, or in support of, licensed child care programs and approved family day home agencies.
• Student members are enrolled in post-secondary early learning and child care programs in Alberta. Students in leadership, management, human resources, and other programs related to early learning and child care are also eligible for AECEA membership. Student members receive all the same perks as professional members.
• Associate members are agencies or groups that support AECEA’s goals.

Professional members and student members have voting rights at AECEA’s general meetings. Associate members are welcome to attend AECEA meetings, but cannot vote.

• Student Membership
  • Membership with AECEA is free for full-time students enrolled in publicly funded post-secondary ECE programs in Alberta.
  • Part-time students or students enrolled in non-ECE programs pay a reduced membership fee of $50 + GST per year.
• Associate Membership
  • Annual fees for associate members are $125 + GST.
• Professional Membership:
  • Annual fees for professional members are $125 + GST.
  • Monthly fees for professional members are $10.75 + GST per month.
  • Professional members whose employers participate in AECEA’s group health plan pay $95 + GST for their annual fees.

Organizations or groups that would like to complete a bulk membership purchase can purchase professional and associate memberships for $110 + GST/year (must purchase at least 10 memberships at once). Find more information on bulk membership purchases here.

• the opportunity to contribute to AECEA’s advocacy for accessible, affordable, high-quality child care delivered by a respected, well-compensated professional ELCC workforce
• a monthly e-newsletter, Networking News, that includes updates on AECEA’s activities, information about professional learning opportunities and events, links to the latest research and inspirational stories from the field
• discounts on AECEA-sponsored workshops and events (including the popular annual conference, which is usually sold out)
• reduced fees for selected educational and professional learning offerings sponsored by AECEA’s partners
• access to a group health benefits plan (available to professional and student members whose employers are AECEA associate members)
• reduced membership fees for professional members whose employers participate in AECEA’s group health benefits plan
• AECEA’s support and organizational backing to empower personal advocacy for the recognition of ECEs as well-qualified, well-compensated professionals
• opportunities to develop leadership skills and make a difference by getting involved in the association
• free affiliate membership in the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF), which is a cost saving of $65
  
  • CCCF affiliate membership includes discounts on books and resources, weekly email updates and access to the federation’s members-only quarterly journal
• 15% off Imagine Institute for Learning (formerly ECDSS) workshops
• 20% off personal tax returns through UFile
• Up to 30% off home and auto insurance through The Co-Operators
• 30% off yearly Institute of Child Psychology membership
• Free Scholars Choice membership
• Access to Hub Digital Marketplace
• NEW! 10% off educational print books through Login Canada.
• NEW! Family day home educators can now access Econo Coop
• NEW! Family day home educators can now access a group health and dental benefit plan

AECEA’s associate members enjoy the following benefits:

• free affiliate membership in the CCCF, which is a cost saving of $90
• access to a number of workforce and workplace related benefits and discounts, including the following:
  
  • a comprehensive group health benefit plan that offers life and disability insurance, coverage for prescription drugs, dental and vision care, and medical coverage for travellers
  • access to Foster Park Brokers commercial insurance, which is tailored to the ELCC industry
  • 15% off on-site workshops through the Imagine Institute for Learning (formerly ECDSS)
  • $30 off T2 tax filing through UFile
  • Access to Econocoop, a group buying platform for early learning and child care programs
  • Free Scholars Choice membership
  • Access to HR Covered perks:
    
    • Get free access to over 1,000 up-to-date HR documents and policies.
    • Get a FREE, compliant policy manual for your organization.
    • Catch up on the hottest HR topics with their webinars.
  • NEW! 10% off educational print books through Login Canada.
  • NEW! Family day home educators can now access Econo Coop
  • NEW! Family day home educators can now access a group health and dental benefit plan

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)

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

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 eligibility for one of the three child care staff certification levels.

For more information, see the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators.

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

Individuals who have completed related coursework but have not received an educational credential may be assessed by the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office relative to the content and hours from Alberta Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) certificate and diploma programs. Please see Appendix C of the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators for further information.

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

An approved language proficiency assessment is required for certification as Level 2 ECE or Level 3 ECE 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 following countries have been identified as providing instruction in English or French throughout all levels of schooling. If an individual’s education was completed in a country NOT LISTED below, a language proficiency assessment IS REQUIRED.

Language proficiency assessments accepted for certification: 

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General. Level 7 must be achieved in all areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) within the same exam results.
  • Website: www.celpip.ca
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General. A score of six must be achieved in all areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) within the same exam results.
  • Website: www.ielts.org

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

Early childhood professionals certified in another province or territory are eligible for certification in Alberta. They do not require another formal assessment of educational credentials. The following table lists the equivalencies for certification in Alberta.

To apply for Alberta certification under this equivalency, submit the following:

• A completed Application for Child Care Staff Certification
  • You will need to attach:
    • A copy of personal identification that includes your birth date and signature
    • Your original provincial certificate (B.C. and Ontario applicants may provide copies)

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

Education received outside of Canada may make an individual eligible for Level 1, 2 or 3 ECE certification.

To determine an individual’s level of ECE certification, the following documents may be required:

• Official post-secondary (higher education) transcripts, or verified copies of mark sheets and graduation certificates, must be sent directly from the educational institution where the applicant’s education was completed to the Childcare Staff Certification Office.
  • These documents must be sent directly from the educational institution via regular mail, email or using their online transcription to the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office. Transcripts sent by a relative or friend will not be accepted. Do not send transcripts to AECEA.
• English language proficiency assessment.
• English translation of transcripts. For official transcripts issued in languages other than English or French, once the transcripts are sent from the educational institution the applicant attended to the Alberta Child Care Staff Certification Office, the office will send the applicant a photocopy for translating into English by a certificated translator.

*Accurate as of February 20, 2026. AECEA makes every effort to ensure this information is up to date. Please consult original documentation to confirm accuracy*

The Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Lookup tool increases oversight and transparency in the early learning and child care sector in Alberta, which enhances families’, employers’ and the general public’s confidence that the system protects the health and safety of children.

Under Section 14.2 of the early learning and child care regulation, the Alberta government may publish information about individuals who hold ECE certification. Once certified, an ECE’s name, certification number, level, status, date of certification, and the history of an individual’s certification, including terms or conditions, suspensions or cancellations, may be listed in the ECE Lookup tool.

Go to the ECE Lookup tool

AECEA is NOT involved in certification. If you have any questions related to certification, please contact the Childcare Staff Certification Office:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 1-800-661-9754 (in Alberta) or 780-422-1119 outside of Alberta
Email: ece.staffcertification@gov.ab.ca

For more information on certification in Alberta, please go here for more information.

The professional development grant funding is for ECEs who are paid employees or contracted family day home educators of eligible child care programs who:

•  Provide direct child care, including as program supervisors (as defined in the Early Learning and Child Care Regulation), as well as individuals hired by licensed family day home agencies as agency coordinators or home visitors/consultants
• Are certified as ECE Level 1, 2, or 3
• Are Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada or temporary residents with valid work/study permits.*
• Have worked at least 29 hours in at least one month from the date of the expenditure or the date the application was received
• Have submitted a Professional Development Funding Request Form https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-child-caregrant-funding-program.aspx and made a payment for an eligible course, workshop or conference within the same fiscal year (April to March).

* Temporary residents must submit a copy of their valid work/study permit indicating there are no conditions restricting employment in childcare.

The following staff are not eligible for professional development funding:

• Those who are not paid employees or contracted family day home educators of eligible child care programs, including volunteers and program owners/operators who do not draw a wage/salary;
• Individuals, including owners and operators, whose minimum monthly hours required to be eligible for the professional development funding do not fall under the eligible hours for wage top-up category;
• Individuals who are not Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents or temporary residents with valid work/study permits;
• Individuals whose income is funded by another program such as Program Unit Funding through Alberta Education, and are paid through other organizations (e.g., therapists);
• Cooks, cleaners, accountants, receptionists and other support staff when not providing direct child care; and
• Individuals who were not certified by the Childcare Staff Certification Office.

Professional development funding helps offset tuition fees and required course textbooks for approved postsecondary coursework. For educators certified as an ECE Level 1 or 2, this coursework should lead to a higher level of certification. For those at Level 3, coursework may be used to strengthen accounting, business, leadership, entrepreneurship, management, pedagogical leadership, administration and early childhood education skills and knowledge.

Professional development funding may also be used to offset the cost of tuition fees, conference and workshop fees related to early learning and childcare that have been approved by the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program.

Please email the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program at childcarefunding@gov.ab.ca to find out whether a course/conference/workshop is eligible for professional development funding.

Professional development funding may not be requested if another grant or bursary has been awarded for the same purpose

Expenses not covered by professional development:

• Accommodations, meals, alcohol and travel costs.
• Additional fees charged by an educational institution.
• Non-approved courses, workshops or conferences (i.e., those not related to child development or not approved by the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program).
• Coaching, consulting, and assessment services.
• Membership fees and subscriptions.
• Language proficiency assessments (CELPIP/IELTS).
• PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) courses.
• English as a Second Language coursework.
• First-Aid training and food safety courses.
• Resource books and materials not part of registered coursework

Professional development funding may not be requested if another grant or bursary has been awarded for the same purpose.

• The professional development balance resets every year on April 1. Any unused funding cannot be transferred to the next fiscal year.
• Unused professional development funds cannot be transferred from one ECE to another.
• The expense for professional development is applied to the fiscal year in which the payment was made (not the date the service/product was received or the date the course/conference/workshop was taken or completed).
• The Professional Development Funding Request Form must be submitted within the fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) in which the expenditure was made (date paid) by the person or program.
• The deadline for submitting the Professional Development Funding Request Form is March 31 for all expenditures paid within the same fiscal year of April to March.

Duplicate courses are not approved under the Professional Development Grant Funding Program. ECE’s can only be approved for the same course or workshop once.