Become an Early Childhood Educator
Free or reduced tuition is available to get your diploma and build a rewarding career.
Early Childhood Educators (ECE) play an important role in helping to create a high-quality early learning and child care system that is inclusive for all families.
What an Early Childhood Educator does:
- Designs child-centred, play-based learning.
- Enhances child and family well-being.
- Builds caring relationships with children, families, and communities.
- Creates safe, engaging, and inclusive learning spaces.
This is an exciting time to become an ECE because as we put into place lower fees for child care for families, we expect that more families will access these services. A growing child care system needs a growing skilled workforce. If you're interested in earning an ECE diploma, financial help is available.
Peel Region, Durham Region, and the City of Toronto are partnering with colleges to offer domestic students financial help towards full-time opportunities to get an ECE diploma.
You do not need to apply for these grants. For more information or to enroll in a program, contact the participating colleges on this page.
December 2023 start date
12-month diploma programs
Fully funded program (applies to December 2023 start only).
Apply soon!
Contact Mothercraft College of Early Childhood Education for more information.
16-month diploma programs
Grants of up to $6,000.
Apply now!
Other information
If you have questions about eligible programs, admissions, and program requirements you can contact:
- Centennial College: communitystudiesashtonbee@centennialcollege.ca
- Durham College: andrea.murray@durhamcollege.ca
- George Brown College: ece@georgebrown.ca
- Humber College: james.bulger@humber.ca
- Seneca Polytechnic: student.recruitment@senecacollege.ca
- Sheridan College: cathy.coulthard@sheridancollege.ca
- Mothercraft College of Early Childhood Education: admissions@mothercraft.org or call 416-483-0511 ext. 100
This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Toronto, Peel Region, The Region of Durham, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.
If you are already working in a child care or early years setting, you may qualify for the provincial Qualifications Upgrade Program.
The program provides financial help to individuals who work in child care and early years settings to get an ECE diploma and become eligible to apply for membership with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Learn more about how to upgrade your qualifications.
Early Childhood Education Leadership Micro-Credential.
Peel Region has partnered with Halton Region and Sheridan's Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS) to develop this new program to help create career and leadership pathways that ensure effective recruitment, retention and growth in the child care and early years sector.
The program is designed for professionals trained in Early Childhood Education who are currently employed in leadership positions or who are aspiring to be leaders in the field. The micro-credential aims to help students to build essential skills in administration, human resources and leadership which are needed for those in supervisory and/or director roles.
Students can enrol in the program starting in September 2023.
Learn more about the program.
