Early Childhood Education Certificate Early Childhood Education Internship Certificate

General Requirements: All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admissions section of the calendar.

Non-Academic Requirements: Students must be currently employed in the field in a licensed or regulated child care environment for a minimum of 3 months and working at least 21 hours per week with a consistent group of children.

Note: Applicants who lack the required academic admission requirements can apply to the Academic Upgrading program.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): If you have experience working in this field of study, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Please direct your inquiries to the ECE program.

PRACTICUM

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements

This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.

Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/ or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g., immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g., police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g., CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student. Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage. In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside of Alberta). These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.

Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.

In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g., health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.

WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals. WILs may include day, evening, and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.

Your Investment: 

Program fees will vary. To view fee information for your program, go to lethbridgecollege.ca/programs and select your program.

As employees in early learning and child-care settings, students and their employers can apply for financial support:

• The Canada-Alberta Job Grant. The employer can apply to access two-thirds of the cost of tuition, textbooks and fees, up to $10,000 per trainee per fiscal year.
• Child Care Professional - Professional Development Funding.  The employee/student can apply for up to $1,500 a year that can go toward their tuition. The employer can apply for a paid release time grant to help fill the hours when the employee is in class.