Early Childhood Educator post-secondary program recognition

Last updated on August 20, 2025

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) play a critical role in providing education and care for young children. ECEs have specialized knowledge, skills and training required to work in this field, providing care, connection and safe, inclusive learning environments for children at one of the most important times in their lives.

We cannot achieve our goals under ChildCareBC without a qualified workforce, and demand for early childhood professionals is expected to continue growing as more affordable child care spaces are built and become open to families.

The Province acknowledges the sector’s commitment to providing quality education, preparing students for a rewarding career in child care.

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Role of the Registry in ECE program recognition

The Early Childhood Educator Registry regulates British Columbia's ECE workforce, as established in the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation. The Registry assesses proposed ECE program applications from post-secondary institutions against B.C. Child Care Sector Occupational Competencies and recommends recognition to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

About the waitlist

In March 2017, a hold was placed on new applications for proposed ECE programs. The hold was put in place when the Province began exploring options to update the B.C. Child Care Sector Occupational Competencies. Post-secondary institutions align their ECE curriculum with these competencies to ensure consistent quality programming. Interested parties were placed on a waitlist.

The Registry is moving forward with a two-phased approach to lifting the hold.

  • Waitlisted parties who wish to voluntarily withdraw, or who have questions about decisions on their file, can contact the Registry at 1-888-338-6622 (Option 3) or via email at ECERegistry.Programs@gov.bc.ca 
 

Phase 1

Phase 1 introduced screening criteria that is being used to evaluate waitlisted parties' eligibility to deliver ECE post-secondary programming. Those who do not meet the initial screening criteria will be removed from the waitlist. 

New parties not on the waitlist who meet the phase one screening criteria and who would like to be considered for ECE program recognition in phase two can contact the Registry at 1-888-338-6622 (Option 3) or via email at ECERegistry.Programs@gov.bc.ca to express their interest in delivering an ECE post-secondary program.

Parties who meet the initial screening criteria will proceed to phase 2.

Phase 1 eligibility

Waitlisted parties must be located in British Columbia and meet one of the following criteria to move forward to phase 2:

In addition to meeting one of the above criteria, the interested party must either have Provincial Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation or be either a First Nations-mandated post-secondary institute or an Indigenous-controlled post-secondary institute, offering courses and programs to Indigenous adult learners.

Please note that new continuing education ECE program requests from school districts will not be considered at this time.

 

Phase 2

Phase 2 will introduce a prioritization framework that will guide the Registry in selecting post-secondary program applications from remaining interested parties. Those who move forward to phase 2 will receive more information about the framework for recognition when it becomes available. Applicants will be reviewed and assessed, and successful parties will be supported through the review and assessment process.  

Support for early childhood professionals

We know that improving access to child care for B.C. families requires long-term sustainable growth along with growth in the ECE workforce capacity to provide these important services. Learn more about how government is taking action to recruit and retain early childhood professionals and lift up the child care sector on the Support for Early Childhood Professionals web page.

Frequently asked questions

 

Why has the hold lasted so long? What was the delay?

The hold was placed in 2017 as the province began exploring updates to the B.C. Child Care Sector Occupational Competencies. Post-secondary institutions align their ECE curriculum with these competencies to ensure consistent quality programming.

Significant events also contributed to the continued hold including the introduction of ChildCareBC in 2018, Royal Assent of the Early Childhood Educators Act and the need to draft a regulation to bring the Act into force; and the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted the ECE post-secondary landscape. To minimize the impact of upcoming curricular and legislative changes to students, institutions and the Registry, the hold continued.

As work on the development of the regulation that will bring the act into force continues, the Registry is proactively developing a fair, transparent, and efficient prioritization framework that will guide the Registry in selecting net new post-secondary program applications from interested parties.

As the regulator of B.C.’s child care workforce and educational programming, the Registry must ensure that all new programs meet the needs of the sector while also ensuring the quality programming, safety, and well-being of children in care. 

The ECE Registry has engaged with sector and Indigenous partners to ensure the curriculum and number of programs at new ECE training programs accurately reflect the need for ECEs in the child care sector.

We appreciate the ongoing patience of the sector as we reflect on the meaningful feedback that has been received throughout the engagement process related to this project.

 

Why did the Registry allow existing institutions to expand programs?

It is recognized that there is a growing need for more ECEs throughout B.C., as such the Registry has continued to support the expansion of programs, where feasible, at existing recognized post-secondary institutions. The Registry recognizes that it takes a great deal of time to establish new programs and existing post-secondary institutions already have programs and relationships in place that can be expanded. 

Expanding programs in this way has helped to meet the demand for more ECEs in the sector, despite not being able to add net new post-secondary institutions during this time.

 

How many institutions offer ECE programming in British Columbia?

As of July 2025, there are 34 recognized institutions offering 175 programs, with not all programs operating at full capacity. This will be considered as part of phase 2.

 

Will lifting the hold result in more post-secondary institutions offering ECE education programs?

Lifting the hold may result in more post-secondary institutions offering ECE education programs. The Registry is taking a measured approach that balances sector needs with new programs that align with projected enrolment. Meaningful curriculum and program delivery are necessary for long-term sustainable results that reduce pressure on the sector and in particular, practicum mentors.

 

When will the ECE Act Regulation come into force?

The B.C. government is committed to taking action on reconciliation according to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action. This means that the province has a commitment to work with First Nations Title and Rights holders on the development of the ECE Act Regulation, and we are committed to doing this work alongside First Nations and Indigenous organizations.