PUBLISHED 2024-2025 Credit Catalog
Early Childhood Education Certificate
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Designed for those passionate about shaping young minds, our comprehensive Early Childhood Education certificate program equips you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and practical experience to significantly impact various early childhood education settings.
You will gain a thorough understanding of early childhood education, focusing on care for children from newborn to age 12, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on child development.
You will benefit from a unique mix of classroom instruction and hands-on experience. In community settings, engage directly with children, families, and other early childhood education (ECE) professionals.
In this program, you will:
- learn to establish and maintain safe, respectful, and inclusive play environments by nurturing young children, supporting their families and engaging with communities to foster ongoing learning and growth
- cultivate a foundational understanding of child development, including effective strategies, best practices, and the design of responsive, relationship-based learning environments
- become proficient in essential skills like communication, observation, documentation, digital literacy, behaviour management, problem-solving, and collaboration, all crucial for supporting the holistic development and well-being of children under your care
- gain frameworks and perspectives, including Flight (Alberta’s early learning and care framework) and broaden your perspective on key concepts such as wellness, development, equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, ethics, and child-centred learning within the ECE environment.
As a graduate, you’ll be a well-equipped Early Childhood Education professional, ready to take on challenging roles and make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families. Your comprehensive training will position you at the forefront of early childhood education, ready to contribute to the field with innovative ideas and practices.
This program is ideal for those looking to start or advance their careers in early childhood education, who are passionate about child development, and who are seeking to make a meaningful impact in the early years of a child’s life.
Embark on this rewarding journey and shape the future by nurturing the minds and hearts of the youngest learners.
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Traits, skills and aptitudes
Early childhood educators are social, methodical and directive.
You need:
- to be playful, sensitive, and caring toward children
- initiative and enthusiasm
- resilience, persistence, and the ability to regulate your emotions
- critical-thinking skills
- to model respectful behaviour and language
- a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness
- to prioritize ethical decision-making and practice
- consistent, positive strategies to guide children’s behaviour
- to plan for, observe, engage with, and support children’s play and learning
- to communicate and work respectfully with children, parents, caregivers and other professionals
- to document interactions with children, parents, caregivers and other professionals clearly
- to take time to learn about each child and create a curriculum based on that learning.
You should enjoy taking a creative and open-minded approach to your work and building relationships with people, especially children. You should be at ease taking responsibility and supervising others.
You are strongly encouraged to refer to the ALIS website for career, learning, and employment information for early childhood educators to ensure you can successfully meet the occupational requirements for the program and profession.
Academic path
Graduates of this program meet the admission requirements to enter SAIT’s Early Childhood Education diploma program.
Practicum, co-op and work integrated learning opportunities
In this program, you’ll participate in two practicum work placements that will combine professional observation, practical experience and integrated theory classes.
You will be assigned practicum placements with consideration given to your preference of location. However, due to limited availability in Calgary, it might be necessary for you to travel or relocate outside the city. Special considerations will not be accommodated.
In compliance with the practica agreements with our clinical partners, you will be required to provide specific documentation before you can participate in your practicum. Find out what requirements you need for this program.
Accreditations, designations or certifications
Graduates are eligible to apply for the Level 2 - Early Childhood Educator Certification.
Credential
Upon successful completion of this program, you’ll recieve a SAIT Early Childhood Education certificate.
Accepts international applicants - PGWP-eligible
This program accepts international applicants and meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program, as long as the student is registered in on-campus classes or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for blended options).
International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Related careers
Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.
Potential careers (NOC):
- Early childhood educators and assistants (42202)
- Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41405)
- Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41404)
Admission requirements - Applicants educated in Canada
Program outline
The Early Childhood Education certificate requires 30 credits (11 courses) to complete.
The program spans one year, with two semesters.
Suggested schedule of study
Progression
You must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better each semester and pass the prerequisite courses to progress through the program.
To qualify for graduation, you must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Books and supplies
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.
This is a bring-your-own-device program with a standard computer hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
A portable personal computing device is required. An Apple or Android laptop or tablet is preferred over other devices. Phones are not suitable.
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore’s website. Booklists are created by semester and available approximately two weeks before classes begin.
Additional fees
- A fee is associated with obtaining a police information check, including a vulnerable sector check, payable to the police or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
- A fee of approximately $50 to $100 is associated with an electronic student permit checking submission required for clinical practicum placements, payable to Synergy Gateway through the Verified software platform.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider (Level C) CPR annual updates are required. All CPR courses must be from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
- You are responsible for additional expenses related to your practicum, including pre-practicum requirements and relocation costs to practicum sites outside of Calgary.
Health and Public Safety program advising
For any questions or to set up an advising appointment, please contact our School of Health and Public Safety.
Phone: 403.284.8481
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
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