NSCC Early Childhood Education Diploma

Is this profession right for you?

Are you energized by the idea of working with other teachers, professionals, parents and communities to nurture the physical, psychological and social well-being of children and their families? Will you open your mind to ignite creativity in the way you think, play, teach and solve problems? If so, you will find deep satisfaction in the field of early childhood education.

Is this program right for you?

Competent, caring and compassionate are just some of the traits that are used to describe graduates of NSCC's Early Childhood Education program. Blending comprehensive classroom study with hands-on experience, this program is built around the needs of our students and communities and the children we serve.

Graduates work with infant, toddler, preschooler and school age children and their families in a variety of community early learning and child care settings.

NSCC's School of Health & Human Services focuses on educating students to meet the complex and changing needs of the Health and Human Services sectors. We are committed to the principles of adult learning and portfolio development and prepare all of our graduates for lifelong learning.

Find out more about NSCC's Early Childhood Education program!

Interested in accessing NSCC ECE on a part time basis?

Learn about the new NSCC Alternate Delivery ECE Diploma*!
Current online courses*

Alternate delivery can include online, face to face, video conferencing, workshops or any combination of the above. For more information, contact your nearest Early Childhood Development Support Centre or visit www.onlinelearning.nscc.ca.

The Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) process

• assists you to seek recognition for what you know and can do.
• is a way of obtaining credit for college-level knowledge and/or skills gained outside the classroom and through other educational/training programs.
• compares prior learning gained from education, training, work, life experiences and personal study to the learning achieved in college courses.

If you are able to demonstrate that your prior learning is equivalent to what would normally be acquired through formal courses in the chosen area of College study, then credit is granted.

For more information on RPL at NSCC.

The NSCC Early Childhood Education RPL Self Audit Guide* can guide you in recognizing if you are a good candidate for RPL while assisting you in reflecting on how the learning you have gained through experience may match the learning outcomes of the NSCC ECE courses.

The NSCC RPL Challenge Portfolio Resource will guide you in preparing a Challenge Portfolio that will demonstrate and document the learning you have gained through experience that match the learning outcomes of the NSCC ECE courses.

Early Childhood Education Assistance Program

This program will provide a debt reduction incentive to eligible Early Childhood Education graduates who successfully complete an ECE diploma/degree program from an approved ECE training program. This new program is also intended to enhance the ability of licensed child care centres and Family Home Day Care (FHDC) agencies to recruit and retain staff by providing financial support to individuals interested in pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education (ECE). (from the NS DCS website)

Continuing Education Program for Child Care Staff

This new program is intended to enhance the ability of licensed child care centres and family home day care agencies to recruit and retain staff. Providing financial support to child care staff to continue their education will enhance skills and qualifications. This program will also assist individuals interested in attaining an Early Childhood Education (ECE) credential part-time while working in licensed child care. (from the NS DCS website)

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