Early Childhood Education (Ashtonbee Campus)
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code1201
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Community and Health Studies
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length2 years/ 4 semesters
- LocationAshtonbee Campus
- Emailcommunitystudiesashtonbee@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- Technology RequirementsCareerExplorerPlugin
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Faculty Bios
- Take this program at Progress Campus
- Student at a Glance
- Advising Services
- Indigenous Studies
You may also be interested in the Part-Time option or the Progress Campus option:
The Early Childhood Education program at Centennial College is committed to ensuring you'll be prepared to become a leader in the profession. The program has consistently received KPI distinction awards for Employer Satisfaction and graduates are respected as professionals.
As a student in the Early Childhood Education program, you'll learn to provide high standards of care to children and their families. This highly regarded offering will teach you to take responsibility for observing the needs of individual and groups of children, and create well-planned, stimulating and responsive programs. You'll come to understand the needs of infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.
Rich classroom experiences will offer you a range of opportunities to understand the content as professors employ a variety of strategies so you'll be able to practice and apply what you learn. Supporting this program are Centennial College’s two state-of-the-art early childhood education centres. Used as lab schools, these centres, located in East York and at Progress Campus, will allow you observe and/or practice in a high-quality childcare setting.
If you're energetic, fun loving, dedicated to your learning, and enjoy working with children and adults, this is the program for you!
Notes:
- This program is taught using a combination of modalities. Courses may be delivered face-to-face, online or in a blended/hybrid combination of both online and traditional classroom teaching.
- This Early Childhood Education program is also offered at Progress Campus with fall and winter intakes. Winter intake students complete four consecutive semesters without a summer break. Also facilitated at Progress is a part-time version of the offering.
Program Overview
You may also be interested in the Part-Time option or the Progress Campus option:
The Early Childhood Education program at Centennial College is committed to ensuring you'll be prepared to become a leader in the profession. The program has consistently received KPI distinction awards for Employer Satisfaction and graduates are respected as professionals.
As a student in the Early Childhood Education program, you'll learn to provide high standards of care to children and their families. This highly regarded offering will teach you to take responsibility for observing the needs of individual and groups of children, and create well-planned, stimulating and responsive programs. You'll come to understand the needs of infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.
Rich classroom experiences will offer you a range of opportunities to understand the content as professors employ a variety of strategies so you'll be able to practice and apply what you learn. Supporting this program are Centennial College’s two state-of-the-art early childhood education centres. Used as lab schools, these centres, located in East York and at Progress Campus, will allow you observe and/or practice in a high-quality childcare setting.
If you're energetic, fun loving, dedicated to your learning, and enjoy working with children and adults, this is the program for you!
Notes:
- This program is taught using a combination of modalities. Courses may be delivered face-to-face, online or in a blended/hybrid combination of both online and traditional classroom teaching.
- This Early Childhood Education program is also offered at Progress Campus with fall and winter intakes. Winter intake students complete four consecutive semesters without a summer break. Also facilitated at Progress is a part-time version of the offering.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Companies Offering Jobs
As a graduate from the Early Childhood Education program you will be qualified to:
- Work with children and families in childcare centres;
- Work in full-day learning classrooms within the Boards of Education;
- Work with children and families in drop-in centres, shelters and community service programs;
- Opening your own home childcare in accordance with legislative requirements.
Program Highlights
- You'll experience practical experiential learning through three field placements in the community, working directly with infants or toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.
- Qualified and experienced supervisors will support you during the field placement to ensure your learning is optimized.
- During the third or fourth semesters, opportunities will be available to work in full-day kindergarten environments.
- In semesters 3 and 4, a block placement will be incorporated to maximize your ability to solidify skills.
- This program is committed to respond to and reflect current trends and directions in the field and profession.
- Highly skilled faculty will create stimulating learning opportunities in the classroom that will address a range of learning styles.
Indigenous Studies: First Peoples in Canada Certificate
ECE students have the opportunity to obtain a concurrent Certificate in Indigenous Studies. For more information, visit www.centennialcollege.ca/about-centennial/schools/school-of-english-and-liberal-studies/specialized-academic-certificates/indigenous-knowledges-first-peoples-in-canada-certificate
Global Citizenship and Equity Portfolio
You'll develop a portfolio documenting your engagement with the College’s signature Global Citizenship and Equity competencies. For more information, please visit www.centennialcollege.ca/citizenshipandequity.
The Leadership Passport
The Leadership Passport will provide you with opportunities to practice and develop leadership skills through predetermined criteria and to earn a special designation on your Early Childhood Education diploma.
Graduates have demonstrated the ability to:
- Plan, implement and evaluate curriculum founded on a thorough understanding of child development that's responsive to the developmental needs of children;
- Utilize a variety of observation techniques to enhance work with children, families and co-workers;
- Maintain responsive relationships with children;
- Develop and maintain effective communication with children, families, co-workers, employers and individuals/agencies;
- Apply relevant legislation to early childhood education programs;
- Apply personal philosophy of early childhood education;
- Provide a rationale for practice;
- Demonstrate professionalism in all areas of performance;
- Advocate for quality childcare.
Career Outlook
- Early Childhood Educator
- Registered Early Childhood Educator
- Designated Early Childhood Educator
Education Pathways
Graduates of this Early Childhood Education diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are institutions offering pathways for this program.
Please note that each receiving institution has minimum admission requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving institution.
For more detailed pathways information, visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/.
Use the following Education Pathways Checklist as a guide as you explore your options.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Professional Associations
All graduates of the Early Childhood Education program are required to apply to practice in the province of Ontario with their professional regulatory body, the College of Early Childhood Educators. (//www.college-ece.ca/en/About-Us/Purpose-and-Mandate)
The College of Early Childhood Educators (College) regulates and governs Ontario's Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) in the public interest.
The College was established under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 (ECE Act), and came into existence in February 2009.
With more than 53,000 members in good standing, the College is one of the largest professional self-regulatory bodies in Ontario and is the only professional self-regulatory body for early childhood education in Canada.
The College regulates the profession of early childhood education by establishing and enforcing:
- Registration requirements;
- Ethical and professional standards for RECEs;
- Requirements for continuous professional learning; and
- Complaints and discipline process for professional misconduct, incompetence and incapacity.
AECEO
The Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO) is your professional association. Membership supports a strong, united voice for ECEs in our province. (//www.aeceo.ca/)
OCBCC
The OCBCC is Ontario’s central advocacy group for a universal early childhood education and care system. Formed in 1981, the OCBCC is a member organization comprising local child care centres, national and provincial groups and individuals from all across Ontario (//www.childcareontario.org/)
Placement Partners
The Early Childhood Education Program has a number of Placement Partnerships which include:
- Toronto Children's Services
- YMCA, Early Learning and Care Programs
- Toronto District School Board
- York District School Board
- Durham District School Board
- Catholic District School Boards
- Community Based Child Care Centres
Further Education
Further EducationAreas of Employment
Areas of EmploymentAdmission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test.
Additional Requirements
After admission, prior to beginning each Field Placement, students are required to:
- Obtain a clear police check with vulnerable sector
- Provide valid First Aid and CPR certificates before the beginning of the second semester
- Provide a clear medical report including a TB test
Safety Requirements
See the Important Link section "Student at a Glance" for an understanding of the Safety Requirements for a student in the Early Childhood Education program.
Semester Requirements
A C Grade is required in all core courses as well as COMM-160/161.
Disability Considerations
The Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) provides a range of programs and services aimed to empower students in meeting their wellness goals, accommodation and disability-related needs, and creating a more accessible campus community. Please see the following link for more information. (//www.centennialcollege.ca/student-life/student-services/centre-for-accessible-learning-and-counselling-services/)
Notes
NotesHow to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic Students
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please work with an Employment Ontario service provider. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $150 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
International Students
Apply directly to Centennial College here.
2. Submit Documents
Domestic Applicants
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2025.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,385.33 | $4,106.33 |
| International | $17,148.00 | $1,883.28 | $19,031.28 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Create learning contexts to enable, build, and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families, and communities that value and respect social, cultural, and linguistic diversity, including Indigenous peoples' worldviews and Francophone identity.
- Co-create, facilitate, and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children's learning, holistic development, and well-being following children's capabilities, interests, ideas, and experiences.
- Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible, and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families, and communities in a range of early years and child care settings.
- Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies, and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate, and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking, and healthy development and well-being.
- Use observation strategies to identify children's strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources.
- Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities, and children's service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector.
- Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures, and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one's own role in early years and child care settings.
- Identify, report, and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies, and procedures.
- Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, interdisciplinary professionals, authorities, and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services.
- Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector, and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.
- Engage with Indigenous children, families, and communities to co-create, implement, and evaluate Indigenous early years and child care and child and family programs and environments that are culturally sensitive and culturally relevant to the communities they serve.
- Create innovative and responsive caregiving environments that acknowledge the contextual traditions of the child, family, and community.
Take this program at Progress Campus
Student at a Glance
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