Careers in Child Care

Starting in July 2022, a new program can assist with tuition costs and help you become an Early Childhood Educator in one year.

 

Become an Early Childhood Educator and play an important role in helping children grow and thrive.

Early Childhood Educators (ECE) play an important role in helping to create a high-quality early learning and child care system that is inclusive for all families.

An ECE:

  • designs child-centered, play-based learning.
  • enhances child and family well-being.
  • builds caring relationships with children, families, and communities.
  • creates safe, engaging, and inclusive learning spaces.

This is an exciting time to become a Registered ECE because, as child care costs go down, it is expected that more families will access these services. A growing system needs a growing skilled workforce. If you’re interested in earning an ECE diploma and becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), financial help is available.

The Region of Durham, Halton, Peel and City of Toronto are collaborating with local colleges to offer multiple opportunities for you to pursue and complete your ECE diploma.

The following colleges offer fully-funded and compressed Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs that allow you to finish school faster than regular programs:

Grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 towards your tuition costs for an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program are available at the following colleges:

Please visit the college’s program page for grant information and program details.

If you are already working in an Early Years setting, you may qualify for the provincial Qualifications Upgrade Program. The Qualifications Upgrade Program provides financial support to individuals who work in Early Years settings, to obtain an ECE diploma and become eligible to apply for membership with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Learn more at Qualifications Upgrade – Ontario ECE Grants.

This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Toronto, The Region of Peel, The Region of Durham, The Region of Halton, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.