Social, Legal, Education & Government

Early Childhood Educator

Learn About the Profession

Early childhood educators plan, organize, and initiate activities to help children develop and learn intellectually, physically, and emotionally. They work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children in a variety of settings. They also build relationships with parents and other professionals.

*PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Accreditation information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

Certification & Regulation Information

Certification is the process used by Alberta Children’s Services to review educational training and competencies to determine eligibility and issue certification towards provincial certification in accordance with the Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Act. Working in licensed childcare programs is a regulated occupation. Individuals who work in licensed facility-based and home-based child care programs must hold provincial certification issued by the Alberta Government.

When reviewing the certification process on the licensing body’s website, take note of the following key steps:

STEP 1 - VISIT & REVIEW: Early Childhood Educator Certification Alberta.ca

DOWNLOAD: Certification guide for early childhood educators - Open Government – PDF

*TIP: Refer to Appendix pages 14-18 in the Guide for recognized credentials and equivalencies

There are 3 levels of certification for Early Childhood Educators:
- Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant)
- Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker)
- Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor)

STEP 2 - APPLY HERE: Early Childhood Educator Certification Application

If you need help or have questions about using the new Early Childhood Educator Certification online application, call the Alberta Childcare Staff Certification Office at 1-800-661-9754.

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Labour Market, Industry & Career Planning Information

Occupational Profile - ALIS

National Occupational Classification ‍

‍Labour Market Report - Job Bank

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

‍‍OpportuNext

Additional Supports & Resources

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Some Things to Focus On:
1
Review Licensing Requirements:
Carefully review your licensing body’s webpage, especially the process for internationally educated professionals.
2
Gather Required Documents:
Collect all the documents your licensing body requires.
3
Stay Updated:
Regularly check for updates from your licensing body. If possible, follow them on social media and subscribe to their newsletters.
4
Contact Us:
If you are in Southern Alberta, reach out to us at 403-770-5155 to book an appointment.

Please note there are limited number of seats available for some services. To ensure a seat clients should contact our office as early as possible.

Acknowledgement of Territory

We are located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot  Confederacy) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta,  which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and  the Iyarhe Nakoda. We are situated on land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and  the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is “Mohkinstsis” which we  now call the City of Calgary. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.

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