ECE Training Institutions - Nova Scotia Early Years Professional Development Committee

Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education

(12-month Accelerated Onsite ECE Diploma, 16-month Accelerated ECE Diploma Online, 14-month PLAR Online, 8-month ECA (Early Childhood Assistant) Online, 26-month Hybrid Online, 26-month Pathway Pilot Online)

Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education provides an opportunity for students to study and gain experience through a diverse range of courses and practical settings. NSCECE offers 6 different programs, 5 online and 1 onsite, that are founded on decades of research and developmentally appropriate practice. Students enrolled in the program are introduced to various courses focused on working with children, families and the ECE profession and will acquire the knowledge, practices, and skills that will develop high self-esteem, independence, and beginnings of social responsibilities. NSCECE offers individual guidance and support and a specialized program totally focused on early childhood education. Students can also work toward an Early Childhood Education Classification Level or Diploma while working full-time. Level one courses are available online and can be transferred to the Diploma program if students wish to continue their studies.

Students who have one year experience and 1080 hours working in a childcare setting may be eligible for credit toward a portion of the program after demonstrating their knowledge and skills through our Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) program.

Graduates find employment in various settings, including childcare centres, schools, private home daycares, and family resource centres. Over 95% of NSCECE graduates find ECE employment following graduation. NSCECE has been training and supporting Early Childhood Educators since 1970.

Université Sainte-Anne (Programme offert entièrement en ligne)

Offert entièrement en ligne, ce programme permet d’acquérir une solide formation en éducation à la petite enfance.Conformément aux exigences gouvernementales, il combine les apprentissages théoriques et pratiques.Tous les cours reflètent les concepts de diversité et d’inclusion, tant dans les contenus que dans les approches pédagogiques.

Ce programme répond aux exigences du Ministère de l’éducation et du développement de la petite enfance de la Nouvelle-Écosse, en vertu du Day Care Act and Regulations, Classification for Child Care Staff.

Early Childhood Education Diploma (2-year)

The early childhood education program at Jane Norman College is a two year diploma program which prepares graduates to work in a variety of early learning environments such as early learning and child care centers, preschool programs, pre-primary, and pyramid model, to name a few.

Students participating in this program will acquire an understanding of the theories of child development as well as the ability to plan, implement and administer a balanced early learning curriculum. The early childhood education program provides students with a balance of theoretical and practical experiences which gives them the opportunity to develop caring, professionalism and integrity in their interactions with children, families and the larger community.

Nova Scotia Community College (Program offered full-time in class and online and part-time online)

The program offered full-time in class and part-time online. Early Childhood Educators plan education programs that help to nurture the physical, psychological and social well-being of children and their families. This project-based program was developed to meet the provincial standards for early childhood education training in Nova Scotia. It blends classroom study with applied learning with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children so you learn:

The major theories of child care and development within a warm, caring and stimulating environment
The knowledge and skills you need to work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children in a variety of settings
Effective communication strategies for working with children, parents, early childhood educators and other professionals
How to assess children’s abilities and skills so you can develop programs that emphasize the development of the whole child as a unique individual

Mount Saint Vincent University

The Mount is proud to offer the only university-level Child & Youth Study program in Atlantic Canada. Students in our program engage in practical training and theoretical explorations in child and youth work, early childhood education, as well as early intervention and inclusive development. As strong supporters of experiential learning, we are pleased to offer our undergraduates four supervised practicum placements which enable our students to apply the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom to hands-on, real-world experience. We also offer a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies.

The BA(CYS) degree can also be completed via online learning; however, some courses may need to be substituted for others. All CHYS online courses are “live” classes provided through Moodle/Collaborate. Some required courses that are provided by other programs, such as Psychology and Sociology, are in Downloadable Video format. On-line learning is the perfect option for those returning to their studies while continuing to work inside and outside the home. For more details, contact the Department of Child and Youth Study, or visit our Online Learning section.