PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (PC-ECE)

Earn your Early Childhood Education diploma and launch your career with our support.

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Program Features:

Fast-Track Education

• 16‑Month Accelerated Pathway: Complete four academic terms and graduate with a two‑year Early Childhood Education (ECE) college diploma.
• Flexible Online Learning: All courses are delivered fully online and asynchronously
• Real‑World Experience: Build practical skills through three in‑person field placements in local childcare settings.

Student Supports

• Financial Grants: An 18‑month cost‑of‑living allowance, plus coverage for background checks, First Aid/CPR, immunization and health forms, College of ECE registration, and required uniforms or clothing.
• One‑on‑One Coaching: Personalized guidance and regular check‑ins to help you stay on track.
• Employment Readiness and Career Development: Employer connections and job readiness support to help you secure and maintain employment.
• Wellness Resources: Referrals for mental health supports, financial literacy, childcare, transportation, and other community services.
• Cultural & Community Support: Inclusive spaces to share experiences with peers and navigate local resources with confidence.
• Digital Access: Funding for a laptop and supplies, along with support to get oriented to online learning tools.

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Be 18 years of age or older by the time of program admission (May 2026)
• Reside within the Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, or Caledon)
• Hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or an equivalent credential
• Demonstrate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 7 or higher
• Be able to meet the physical demands of childcare, including lifting up to 22.7 kg (50 lbs)
• Self-identify as a member of an equity-deserving group* living in the Peel Region.

Eligible applicants must also complete a suitability assessment and interview with Achēv before being considered for Niagara College’s screening for admission to the ECE diploma program.

*Equity-Deserving Groups are those who face systemic barriers, discrimination, and disadvantage based on their identity or circumstances. The Region of Peel aligns the definition of equity-deserving individuals to that of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) that include the following:
– Women
– Indigenous Peoples
– Persons with disabilities
– Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other gender and sexual minorities)
– Members of Visible Minorities, including the Black, South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, and Muslim communities, among others.

This opportunity is funded in partnership with Peel Region, and the Province of Ontario.