Early Learning and Child Care Diploma
Gain the high-quality skills to become a frontline leader in early childhood settings with MaKami’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) diploma program in Calgary or Edmonton.
Gain the high-quality skills to become a frontline leader in early childhood settings with MaKami’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) diploma program in Calgary or Edmonton.
Full-time program offered online and in-person so you can study and work at the same time
Avg. hourly wage of an Early Childhood Educator in Alberta
400 hours of supervised placement in real early learning environments.
Make a difference in the lives of children, families and communities with MaKami College’s early childhood education diploma program.
The ELCC diploma program is a one-year, full-time program for those who have graduated from MaKami’s Early Learning and Child Care Certificate or an equivalent from another approved institution in Alberta.
Designed for people with a passion for providing and leading quality early learning and child care in a variety of settings, this early childhood education diploma program will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a frontline leader in early learning and childcare.
With an emphasis on cultural awareness, supportive technology, program design and daycare management, MaKami’s ELCC diploma program will give you the critical skills to create, lead and manage a truly inclusive early learning environment.
This early childhood education blended online and in-person program was designed with the working child educator in mind. Our flexible program has both online and in-person classes. In-person classes are held twice a week in the evenings to accommodate students who are working while upgrading their credentials.
MaKami’s unique early childhood education diploma program emphasizes a holistic approach to learning, including cultural awareness, Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and assistive technology for children with diverse physical and learning needs.
In this program you will learn how to:
Each Early Learning and Child Care diploma student will also receive:
Upon graduation, students are eligible for Level 3 Early Childhood Educator Certification from the Alberta Government.
Learn more about MaKami’s early childhood education diploma program offered in Calgary and Edmonton and how you can get the education you need to advance your career in just one year.
The new Early Childhood Educator Bursary program was created to grow Alberta’s childhood educator workforce and is offered to students who will start their Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) program between September 1, 2025 and January 15, 2028.
learn moreApplicants may be considered for standard admission if they meet all of the following criteria:
Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Acceptable evidence includes one of the following (subject to institutional approval):
Additional Considerations:
Applicants may be eligible for admission and/or advanced standing through a transfer pathway based on prior post-secondary education.
Transfer pathways may include:
Transfer credit does not guarantee admission and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants still are required to meet the program admission standards.
If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies.
Applicants may be considered for admission and/or advanced standing through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).
PLAR recognizes knowledge and skills gained outside of formal education, including but not limited to:
PLAR assessment methods may include:
PLAR decisions are made in accordance with institutional policy and may result in:
If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies.
MaKami College offers our Early Learning and Child Care diploma program at the following campuses in Calgary and Edmonton.
MaKami’s newest campus is located on the city’s northeast inside Marlborough Mall
Interested in advancing your career with an early childhood education diploma? Get pre-approved today!
Our students go on to do amazing things! Here’s what some MaKami Alumni are doing with their education.
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