Are you compassionate, creative, patient, resourceful and curious? Do you enjoy working with children and want a career where you can make a difference?
You could have a future in Early Childhood Education.
Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) create environments where children can explore, learn, build relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging.
Discover what it means to be an ECE, how to become one and where a career in Early Childhood Education could take you.
The first five years are critical to a child’s development. Early Childhood Educators understand how children grow, learn and thrive, and have specialized expertise in child development, play and inquiry-based learning.
ECEs are trained to:
Understand brain development and how to support healthy growth.
Recognize each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development.
Work with families to support their child’s learning and well-being.
Plan inclusive play-based activities that promote learning and build on children’s current abilities and interests.
COMING SOON! Stories for and about Early Childhood Educators
Every ECE has a story. Read personal ECE stories about the connections they’ve made, the moments that have stayed with them and what it means to Shape a Child’s Future.
Travelling Exhibit displaying these stories will be open in Spring 2027.
Where can a career in Early Childhood Education take you?
An ECE diploma can open the door to more opportunities than you might think.
Image
Child Care: Licensed child care centres, before and after school programmes and home child care.
Schools and Early Years Programmes: Kindergarten classrooms, EarlyON Child and Family Centres and other family programmes.
Inclusion and Child Development: Resource consulting, inclusion support, special needs resourcing and early intervention.
Leadership: Child care supervision and management, pedagogical leadership, professional learning and early years system planning.
Education and Government: Post-secondary institutions, professional resource centres, municipal government and provincial organizations.
Other Opportunities: Nature-based programmes, health care settings, consulting, training and entrepreneurship.
Your ECE diploma can be the beginning of a career that grows with you.
Image
Ready to become an Early Childhood Educator?
There are different ways to become an ECE depending on where you are in your education or career.
Step 1: Get your Early Childhood Education Diploma
ECE diploma programmes are available in person, online or through a combination of both. Most programmes take two years to complete.
Step 2: Register with the College of Early Childhood Educators
After completing an approved ECE programme, you must register with the College of Early Childhood Educators. It regulates the profession of early childhood education in Ontario.
The apprenticeship pathway combines on-the-job experience with classroom learning, allowing you to continue building your skills while working in the field.
Already working in child care or an early years programme? Financial support may be available to help you earn your ECE diploma.
The Qualifications Upgrade Program offers grants that help with costs such as tuition, travel, living expenses and College of Early Childhood Educators fees.
First Nation, Métis, Inuit and Francophone applicants may also qualify without the standard six months of employment experience.
When you work as an ECE in Wellington County and Guelph, you don't have to grow your career alone.
Through the Early Years Professional Resource Centre (EYPRC), local ECEs have access to professional learning, mentorship, resources, networking and leadership development throughout their careers.
