How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with Early Childhood Educator Registry to work as an early childhood educator in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- ECE Assistant
Show the source
“To work as an ECE or ECE Assistant in a licensed child care facility in B.C. you must be certified by the ECE Registry.”
From www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 5 steps
- Licensed in another province: 5 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 5 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
-
Learn about the certificate types and determine which one matches your education and experience.
Source
“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.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Ask your educational institution to provide your official transcript directly to the ECE Registry.
Source
“Ask your educational institution to provide your official transcript directly to the ECE Registry's contact information.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Get a character reference from someone who has known you for at least 6 months, can speak to your ability to educate and care for young children, and is not a relative, partner, spouse, or yourself.
Source
“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”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
If applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience and provide a reference from each person who supervised your hours.
Source
“If you are applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, you must show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Source
“Use the My ECE Registry digital platform to apply”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
-
Review the certification levels from province to province chart to find out what type of certificate you may be eligible for in B.C.
Source
“Find out what type of certificate you may be eligible for in B.C. by reviewing the certification levels from province to province chart.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Provide your certification number from the province or territory you are transferring from, and the ECE Registry will contact the regulatory body to verify the status of your current certification.
Source
“You will need your certification number from the Canadian province or territory you are transferring from to complete your application (if applicable); The ECE Registry will contact the regulatory body you hold certification with to verify the status of your current certification”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Get a character reference from someone who has known you for at least 6 months, can speak to your ability to educate and care for young children, and is not a relative, partner, spouse, or yourself.
Source
“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”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
If applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience and provide a reference from each person who supervised your hours.
Source
“If you are applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, you must show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Source
“Use the My ECE Registry digital platform to apply”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1 month (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)
-
If you think your education is equivalent to a recognized early childhood education program, submit an application and supporting documentation.
Source
“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.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
All documents must be in English; if any are in a different language, have them professionally translated at your own expense and authenticated by the translator.
Source
“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.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Ask your educational institution to mail your official transcript directly to the ECE Registry, or to you for professional translation if it is not in English.
Source
“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”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Apply for an International Credential Evaluation Service Comprehensive Report.
Source
“Apply for an International Credential Evaluation Service Comprehensive Report”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... -
Time: 30 days
Time source
“On average, it takes 30 business days to assess a complete equivalency application (all required documents received) with international education.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Source
“After you apply, the ECE Registry will complete an assessment to determine your eligibility for ECE certification. This process is called equivalency.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Requirements
Education
You must have successful completion of a basic early childhood education program recognized by the ECE Registry, a program deemed equivalent by the ECE Registry, or valid certification or registration in another Canadian province or territory.
Source
“Successful completion of a basic early childhood education program recognized by the ECE Registry; Successful completion of a program deemed equivalent by the ECE Registry; Valid certification or registration in another Canadian province or territory”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Good character
You must provide a good character reference.
Source
“Good character reference”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Other
Applicants must meet the legal requirements outlined in the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Section 8 and the Child Care Licensing Regulation, Section 33.
Source
“The Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Section 8; The Child Care Licensing Regulation, Section 33”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or hold a valid work permit authorization to work in Canada in the ECE profession.
Source
“Canadian Citizenship; Permanent Resident of Canada status; A valid work permit authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to work in Canada in the ECE profession”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...For international credentials recognition, you must hold valid certification in a country or region that regulates the early childhood education profession, be in good standing with the international regulatory authority, have completed two years of independent practice as a certified ECE within the last five years, and be able to provide employment references.
Source
“Hold valid certification in a country or region that regulates the early childhood education profession; Be in good standing with the international regulatory authority who issued the certification; Have completed two years of independent practice as a certified ECE within the last five years; Be able to provide employment reference(s) that can speak to your knowledge, skills, and abilities (competencies) as an ECE”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
If you hold valid certification as an ECE in another Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible to transfer it to B.C. based on your current certification, with the ECE Registry verifying your status with the other regulatory body. Source
“If you hold valid certification (registration) as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in another Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible to transfer it to B.C.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Determine your certificate type
Source
“Find out what type of certificate you may be eligible for in B.C. by reviewing the certification levels from province to province chart.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Review your current certification
Source
“The ECE Registry will contact the regulatory body you hold certification with to verify the status of your current certification”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Obtain a character reference
Source
“Your character reference must be someone who: Can speak to your character and has known you for at least 6 months”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Confirm your work experience
Source
“If you are applying for an ECE Five Year Certificate, you must show you have completed the required 500 hours of supervised work experience.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...Complete and submit your application
Source
“Use the My ECE Registry digital platform to apply”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Credential assessment
International Credential Evaluation Service Comprehensive Report
For internationally educated applicants to have their education assessed for equivalency.
Source
“Apply for an International Credential Evaluation Service Comprehensive Report”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/...
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Childhood Educator Registry
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $19.00 | $24.00 | $30.00 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $16.95 | $22.30 | $30.03 | — |
Early childhood educators in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Become an Early Childhood Educator - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply as a B.C. applicant (recognized) - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Transfer your certification (Labour Mobility) - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply with education completed outside of Canada (International Applicant) - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- ECE certificate types - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as an early childhood educator in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the Early Childhood Educator Registry is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title ECE Assistant.
Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too
Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.
Schedule a CallFree consultation. No commitment.