A mature female early childhood educator with long dark hair smiles as she assists a young Asian child in an early childhood education setting.

Early Learning and Child Care Certificate Program

Get the skills you need to work in a variety of child care environments as an early childhood educator with an Early Learning and Child Care certificate from MaKami College.

Get Pre-approved now Let's Chat
Home » Programs » Early Childhood Education » Early Learning and Child Care Certificate

$18 – $23

 

Avg. hourly wage of an Early Childhood Educator in Alberta

Why Our Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Certificate Program?

Do you love working with children and have an interest in helping guide their development? Then a career as an early childhood educator (ECE) might be right for you!

Early childhood educators are currently in high demand, and MaKami’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) certificate program will prepare you to work in a variety of settings, such as child care and daycare centres, day homes, preschools, kindergarten classrooms and more.

Providing a holistic, inclusive and interculturally responsive curriculum that includes two practicums in real-life child care settings, MaKami ELCC certificate graduates will be prepared for their careers as educators in a variety of early childhood roles.

Offered in a flexible format with interactive online and in-person classes, workshops and practicums, students can study and work at the same time, so there is no need to take time off work to attend classes.

About the Early Learning and Child Care Certificate Program

MaKami’s unique early childhood education certificate emphasizes a holistic approach to learning. With an engaging and interactive curriculum that takes into account multiple perspectives, including cultural awareness and indigenous ways of knowing and being, MaKami graduates will be better prepared for their careers as educators with an increasingly diverse population in Alberta.

Students will work independently and collaboratively to learn the many components of the child care industry, including educational strategies, child development, learning through play, Indigenous knowledge, health, safety and nutrition and holistic lesson planning.

Other early childhood educator certificate program features include:

  • 2 practicum placements, giving you more hands on knowledge and skills in a variety of child care settings
  • First aid, WHMIS and food safety training included
  • Each student gets a new laptop fully loaded with their curriculum to keep
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Books and course materials
  • Interactive and engaging online learning material and two on-campus classes per week

Upon graduation, students are eligible for Level 2 Early Childhood Educator Certification from the Alberta Government.

The ECE certificate program follows a tiered approach, where students can continue on to receive their Early Learning and Child Care Diploma.

Learn More About Our ECE Certificate

Watch the video to learn more about MaKami’s early childhood education certificate and how you can become an early childhood educator in a year!.

Eligibility and Admissions

Standard Admission

Early Learning and Child Care certificate students must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be minimum 17 years of age
  • Successful interview with school administration
  • Alberta high school diploma/non-Alberta equivalent

Mature Admission

Early Learning and Child Care certificate students enrolling using Mature Admissions must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be minimum 18 years of age
  • Successful interview with school administration
  • Successful completion of a Wonderlic Exam equal to grade 12 or above
    OR Successful completion of a post-secondary program in Canada

English Proficiency

Additionally, should the applicant’s primary language not be English, then one of the following criteria must be met:

  • Completion of previous education with either a High School or Post-Secondary Diploma in an institution where English is the primary language of instruction and communication
  • Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Literacy Placement Test with a score of 7 in each of the four competencies: reading/writing/listening/speaking, or equivalent:
    • CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) with a minimum score of 7 in each of the four competencies: reading/writing/listening/speaking
    • IELTS General (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four competencies: reading/writing/listening/speaking
    • TOEFL iBT: 53
    • CAEL: 50
    • Cambridge: CAE-C, CAE-B, CPE-C
    • MELAB: 80
    • Can Test: 4.5
  • Completion of course in English 30-1 or equivalent with at least 60%, or English 30-2 or equivalent with at least 65% passing grade.
  • If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) will be used to assess the equivalencies of the courses submitted.

Additional Helpful ELCC Certificate Program Information

Where is this Program Offered?

MaKami College offers our Early Learning and Child Care certificate program at the following campuses in Calgary and Edmonton.

MaKami College Edmonton campus in Bonnie Doon Mall

MaKami College Edmonton

Located in Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre

MORE INFORMATION
MaKami College Calgary NE campus in Marlborough Mall

MaKami College Calgary NE

MaKami’s newest campus is located on the city’s northeast inside Marlborough Mall

MORE INFORMATION
Reide, MaKami College Massage Therapy program graduate

It’s the culture of MaKami that sold me, you don’t just leave with the excellent education – you leave with relationships that are going to help support you throughout your career.

Reide / Massage Therapy Graduate
Freddy, MaKami College Massage Therapy program graduate

Doesn’t matter what campus you’re on, it’s the community that we make here at MaKami – with the staff and with the students – that makes it what it is. You’re a part of the community and so if you’re here at MaKami, you’re going to be well taken care of.

Freddy / Massage Therapy Graduate

Interested in the Early Learning and Child Care Certificate program at MaKami College?

Get pre-approved today to start your career as an early childhood educator!

Student Success Stories

Our students go on to do amazing things! Here’s what some MaKami Alumni are doing with their education.

Allison – Gaining Confidence and a Path to a New Career 

Allison Taylor worked as a health care aide before deciding to enroll in MaKami College's Business Administration certificate program.

Read More
The Jones Family – Finding the Support They Needed to Thrive

Richard Jones and his children discovered renewed purpose in their lives and careers after graduating from MaKami College’s Business Administration program.

Read More
Jennifer – Pursuing a Career with a Healthy Work-Life Balance 

After working as a nurse for 20 years, Jennifer Miller decided to become a massage therapist so she could have more of a work-life balance.

Read More
See more stories