Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement

To apply, the facility must be approved for the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI). As of September 1, 2023, facilities offering care to children in preschool and/or school aged children (Grade 1 and above) are eligible for the CCFRI and must be enrolled to be eligible for the ECE-WE. Facilities not approved to participate in the CCFRI as of September 1, 2023 will no longer be eligible to participate in the ECE-WE. For information about when and how to apply, please visit the CCFRI website.

$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres are also eligible to apply.

All ECEs, including those who are also owner/operators of a licensed child care facility, are eligible for the wage enhancement if they are directly employed by a licensed child care facility that meets the child care provider requirements above.

Review the full eligibility requirements:

• 2025-26 ECE-WE Funding Guidelines (effective April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026)
• 2024-25 ECE-WE Funding Guidelines (effective April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025)

Child Care Operating Funding base funding may be paid when a centre is temporarily closed due to an emergency. Eligible circumstances include:

• Unplanned closures due to an evacuation order or similar restrictions issued by a First Nation, provincial, federal, municipal government or health authority
• Natural disasters
• External circumstances outside the provider’s control, at the ministry’s discretion

Emergencies that were preventable or originated within the centre, and permanent closures are not eligible.

To ensure consistent fee reductions for parents, closures outside of the provider’s control may also be eligible for Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative funding if the centre is approved to collect parent fees.

Early childhood educator wage enhancement funding is also available during periods of unplanned temporary closure if the provider continues to pay staff wages.

To report an emergency closure and request funding, please email CCOF@gov.bc.ca. The ministry will review your request and advise on the next steps. Include the following information when you contact the ministry:

• Name of child care centre
• Facility ID (e.g. F/G-XXXXXX-XXXXXX)
• Closure date
• Expected reopen date
• Reasons for closure
• Type of funding being requested

Eligible ECEs receive the Wage Enhancement (plus applicable Mandatory Statutory Benefits) for all hours worked for an eligible child care facility up to a monthly maximum of 195 hours.

In order to practice in B.C., ECEs must hold a valid certificate issued by the Director of the BC ECE Registry under Division 2 of Part 3 of the Child Care Licensing Regulation. ECEs that don't hold a valid certificate are not qualified to be employed in a licensed child care facility as an educator, and are therefore also not eligible to receive the ECE-WE.

It is the ECE's responsibility to ensure their certification has not expired, and the organization's responsibility to verify their staff's ECE certification is valid. To verify an ECE Certificate and ensure ECE staff meet these criteria, the facility/organization can use the ECE Registry online Certificate Validation tool.

In order to provide sufficient time for processing and review, ECEs are encouraged to submit their renewal applications to the ECE Registry 2-4 months before your certificate expiry date to allow for assessment time.