Apply with education completed outside of Canada (International Applicant)

Last updated on October 9, 2025

 

Learn how to apply for certification as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in B.C. if you completed an early childhood education program outside of Canada.  A translation subsidy may be available to support costs towards document translation.

If you hold valid certification (registration) in another Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible to transfer your certification.

If you received an ECE One Year Certificate from the ECE Registry through equivalency assessment, and have completed the required 500 hours of work experience, you can apply for an ECE Five Year Certificate through the Apply as a B.C. applicant (recognized) pathway. Any new education that you may be submitting with your application will need to be assessed based on where you completed the education. Contact the ECE Registry with any questions about your application pathway. 

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Education requirements and the equivalency process 

If you think your education is equivalent to an early childhood education program that is recognized by the ECE Registry, submit an application and supporting documentation. After you apply, the ECE Registry will complete an assessment to determine your eligibility for ECE certification. This process is called equivalency.

To be considered equivalent your education must:

  • Be from an educational institution approved by a provincial, state, national, or other government body
  • Include content and hours that the ECE Registry determines is comparable to a recognized program in B.C. The content of your education must:
    • Cover topics that relate to the education and care of children birth to 5 years old
    • Include practicum/placement hours that provided you with an opportunity to practice what you learned in the classroom directly working with children birth to 5 years old

On average, it takes 30 business days to assess a complete equivalency application (all required documents received) with international education. If you have questions about whether the equivalency process is right for you, please contact the ECE Registry.

The International Credentials Recognition Act 

The International Credentials Recognition Act came into effect on July 1, 2024. The Act helps regulatory authorities, including the ECE Registry, improve the international credential recognition process in B.C. by making it faster, and easier for people to use their skill to work in B.C.

As part of these efforts, the International Credential Recognition Act removes the requirement for Canadian work experience, which has been identified as a barrier to credential recognition. As of July 1, 2025, Canadian work experience is no longer required in the certification process when applicants meet the criteria set out in section 4(3) of the Act.

The ECE Registry applied for an exemption to allow additional time to implement the necessary changes to remove the Canadian work experience requirement for eligible international applicants. Following a review of the request, an exemption was granted until June 30, 2026. The full decision can be accessed in the Early Childhood Educator Registry Exemption Decision.

Learn more about international credential recognition on the Office for International Credential Recognition website and in the Credential Recognition: Your Path to Professional Licensure guide. Please monitor this web page for more information as it becomes available.

Prepare for your application

Translation

All documents submitted with your application must be in English. If any documents are in a different language, you must have them professionally translated at your own expense. All translated documents must be authenticated by the translator.

A translation subsidy may be available to assist you with the costs associated with professional translation.

The translation subsidy:

  • Covers translation service costs up to $2,500 and is provided by MOSAIC Interpretation and Translation Services
  • Has a separate application form and its own eligibility criteria
  • Is not provided retroactively (you will not be reimbursed if you have already paid for a translation service)

To apply for the translation subsidy, complete a Translation Subsidy Application form.

Determine your certificate type 

If you do not know what type of certificate you may be eligible for, learn about the certificate types and determine which one matches your education and experience.

Gather your education documents 

You must provide the following documents from each educational institution you attended.

Detailed course outlines or syllabi

  • Ask your educational institution for detailed course outlines or syllabi
  • If your course outlines or syllabi are not in English, you must have your documents translated by a professional translator
  • Your course outlines or syllabi must:
    • Include detailed descriptions of course content, learning goals, outcomes, and expectations
    • Be from the year you completed the course(s)

Program confirmation form

  • To determine if your early childhood education program meets the educational requirements in B.C., a Program Confirmation form will need to be submitted with your application
  • If your educational institution cannot complete the form in English, ask your educational institution to send the form directly to you to be professionally translated
  • If you are applying for an ECE Assistant Certificate, you do not need to submit a Program Confirmation form

Official transcript

  • Ask your educational institution to mail your official transcript directly to the ECE Registry’s contact information
    • If your transcript is not in English, ask your educational institution to send your transcript directly to you to be professionally translated

These documents provide information about the course content of your program and helps the ECE Registry determine if your education is equivalent to a recognized program in B.C.

To complete your application, you will need to know:

  • The full name of your educational institution
  • The name of your program or course
  • Your student number/ID as it will appear on your transcript
  • The start date and end date of your program or course

Apply for an International Credential Evaluation Service Comprehensive Report 

Visit the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) International Credential Evaluation Service website and apply for a Comprehensive Report.

The ECE Registry offers fee waivers to eligible applicants to cover the cost of Comprehensive Reports.

Fee waivers:

  • Are issued on a first come, first served basis
  • Depend on funding availability
  • Cover the assessment of one credential evaluation
  • Are not provided retroactively (you will not be reimbursed if you have already paid for a credential evaluation)

To apply for a fee waiver, you must have already submitted the following to the ECE Registry:

  • A complete application form
  • A Program Confirmation form (except if you are applying for an ECE Assistant Certificate)
  • Course outlines/syllabi
  • Official transcript

Contact the ECE Registry before you apply for a Comprehensive Report to find out if you are eligible for a fee waiver. The ECE Registry may ask you to provide additional information to determine if you are eligible.

Obtain a character reference 

Your character reference must be someone who:

  • Can speak to your character and has known you for at least 6 months
  • Can speak to your ability to educate and care for young children
  • Is not a relative, partner, spouse, or yourself
  • Is not the same person you provide as your 500 hour work experience reference (if applicable) 

It is recommended that your reference is a certified ECE who has directly observed you working with young children.

Confirm your work experience 

If you are applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, you must show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience.

Work experience hours:

  • Are counted from the date you started your education and cannot include your practicum/placement hours (hours that were a part of your education)
  • Must be completed within the 5 years before your application submission
  • Can be work or volunteer hours

References must:

  • Have directly supervised (observed) you working with children birth to 5 years old
  • Speak to your knowledge, skills, and abilities (competencies) as an ECE during the hours they supervised you
  • Have held valid ECE certification or registration in Canada during the time they supervised you
  • Not be the same person you provide as a character reference

If your 500 hours were completed at more than one location and under the supervision of more than one ECE, you must provide a reference from each person who supervised your hours.

Complete and submit your application

  • Use the My ECE Registry digital platform to apply

Apply Now

Important

  • It is your responsibility to ensure all required documentation is submitted as soon as possible
    • Missing or incomplete documents will delay your application process
    • Make sure you inform your references that a delay in the ECE Registry’s receipt of your reference forms will result in a delay in processing your application
    • If you have any questions about requirements, please contact the ECE Registry
  • Your application will remain open for one year (12 months) from the date your first application document is received by the ECE Registry
    • Incomplete applications are closed after 12 months
  • If your legal name has changed, complete and submit a Change of Information form (PDF, 1MB) and a piece of valid government-issued photo identification
    • Keeping your information current will allow the ECE Registry to contact you about your application

After you apply

Timelines

  • Applications can only be assessed once all documentation is received
  • Complete applications are assessed in date order. On average, it takes 30 business days to assess a complete application (all required documents received) with international education

Assessment

  • The ECE Registry will review your application to ensure that it is complete
  • If your application is incomplete or if it is determined additional information is required, you will be contacted by the ECE Registry
  • Incomplete applications will result in delays in processing and are closed if all required information is not received within 12 months of receipt of the first application document
  • Once your application is complete, the ECE Registry will assess your application and supporting documents to determine if you meet all the legal requirements to be certified
  • You will receive notification within 2 business days of a decision being made that tells you if your application was approved or denied

Possible outcomes

The decision to approve or deny an application is based on:

Learn more about the legal requirements to qualify for and maintain certification.

Certificate issued

If you meet all legal requirements, a certificate will be provided. Once issued, the status of your application can be validated by entering your first and last name, and certificate (registration) number. 

In order to maintain your certificate, you must continue to meet all legal requirements and you must submit a renewal application and supporting documents. Your renewal requirements depend on your certification level and when you submit your renewal application. Learn more about how to renew your certification.

Certificate denied

If you do not meet all legal requirements, the ECE Registry may deny your application. If your application is denied, the ECE Registry will provide you with notification explaining the decision. You can dispute the decision by requesting reconsideration.

Moving to B.C.

Immigration and visa information

You do not have to be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada to apply for an ECE certificate in B.C. However, to be eligible to work in Canada, you must have or be eligible for one of the following:

Visit WelcomeBC for information about moving to B.C.