3 Private College ECE Programs in Vancouver

3 Early Childhood Educator Programs for International Students in Vancouver (Private Colleges)

Finding the right school for your program can be difficult, that is why we created this blog post to help compare three Early Childhood Educator programs offered at private colleges in and around Vancouver.

VANCOUVER CAREER COLLEGE

Vancouver Career College is an esteemed private college in Metro Vancouver with six locations. However, the ECE Certificate program is only offered at five: Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, and Abbotsford. They offer a Early Childhood Education Certificate program for international students. The program is full-time and is 44 weeks long (one year). The tuition for international students is approximately $21,658 CAD.

General College Admission Requirements:

  • Graduation from a BC high school (or equivalent by WES or recognized institution)
  • At least 18 years old
  • Must pass VCC’s English admissions test

Program Specific Admission Requirements:

  • Interview with campus director, program coordinator, or designate
  • Resume with all work history
  • Three reference letters attesting to your character

Upon completing the certificate program, students can apply for the BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate.

SPROTT SHAW COLLEGE

Sprott Shaw College has been around Vancouver for almost 120 years, and has grown to have fourteen main campuses and two specialty campuses in Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan, and on Vancouver Island. They offer a few ECE programs, but we will be sharing details on the Early Childhood Education Basic program. This program is offered at all fourteen main campuses in the province. The program is full-time and takes 45 weeks (1,260 hours) to complete. For international students, tuition is approximately $16,350 CAD.

General College Admission Requirements:

  • Graduation from BC high school (or equivalent by WES or recognized institution)
  • English Level Assessment – must get minimum score of 20/40 in language
  • Admissions interview
  • Must prove full COVID-19 vaccination

Program Specific Admission Requirements:

  • At least two character references detailing volunteer or work experience with young children
  • Interview with an instructor or director
  • The following must be done within three months of program start date:
    • Complete a health declaration form
    • Submit a criminal record check
    • Have clear testing for TB

Upon completing the basic program, students can apply for the BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate.

PACIFIC RIM EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTITUTE

Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute is an online school based in Victoria, BC. They offer programs for all levels of ECE certificates in BC. In this post, we will discuss the Basic Early Childhood Educator Certificate program. Although the bulk of the program can be completed online anywhere, the three practicum courses must be completed in BC. The program length is 41 weeks (1,008 hours) and is full-time. The tuition for international students is approximately $11,335 CAD.

Admission Requirements:

  • Admission interview
  • Official Transcript showing completion of an English Assessment indicating English proficiency equivalent to successful completion of Grade 12 English from a recognized university or college.
  • Two reference letters
  • At least 19 years old, must send photo identification
  • Criminal record check
  • Declaration of Health

3 Public College ECE Programs in Vancouver

3 ECE Programs for International Students in Vancouver (Public Colleges)

Finding the right college can be difficult. This is why we have compiled information from three well-known public colleges in and around Vancouver, BC. There are many post-secondary institutions that offer Early Childhood Educator programs, but these three have great learning opportunities and the chance to gain work experience.

LANGARA COLLEGE

Langara College is located in Vancouver, BC on W49th Avenue and Columbia Street. The Canada Line Skytrain has a station a few minutes away by walking. They offer a Early Childhood Education Diploma for international students and have two intakes per year: September and January. The program length is 3 full-time semesters (equal to one year), note that this program cannot be completed part-time. The entire program is 63 credits and tuition for international students is approximately $39,400 CAD.

General College Admission Requirements:

  • Graduation from a BC high school (or equivalent by WES or recognized institution)
  • English Proficiency:
    • IELTS Academic: 6.5 (no band lower than 6.0)
    • CAEL: overall 70

Program Specific Admission Requirements:

  • Two reference letters
  • Current First Aid Certification (Level B)

Upon completing the diploma program, students can apply for the BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate, an additional citation (three courses and practicum) can be taken to earn the Post-Basic ECE Special Needs Certificate.

DOUGLAS COLLEGE

Douglas College has two campuses in Metro Vancouver: New Westminster and Coquitlam, BC. However, the Early Childhood Education Certificate program is only offered at the Coquitlam campus. There is one intake in September, and the program length is 3 semesters (one year). The program can be full-time or part-time, note that the 3 semester time is for full-time students. Students will earn 43.5 credits and tuition for international students is approximately $18,727 CAD.

General College Admission Requirements:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Graduated from a BC high school (or equivalent by WES or recognized institution)
  • English Proficiency:
    • IELTS Academic: minimum overall band test score of 6.5
    • CLB Level 8 in each module

Program Specific Admission Requirements:

  • Two reference letters
  • Complete and show proof of 20 hours of volunteer or work experience in a licensed ECE setting with children aged 0-6 (A form must be submitted when applying for the program)
  • Complete a Criminal Record Check
  • Complete a medical declaration or assessment

Upon completing this certificate program, students can apply for the BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate.

VANCOUVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Vancouver Community College has many locations across Metro Vancouver, however the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma program is only offered at the downtown campus. There are three intakes per year: September, January, and May. The program length is 2 years full-time, equivalent to 6 semesters. Students earn 76 credits and tuition for international students is approximately $42,287 CAD.

General College Admission Requirements:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Graduated from a BC high school (or equivalent by WES or recognized institution)
  • English Proficiency:
    • IELTS Academic: overall 6.5 (no band lower than 6.0)
    • CAEL: Overall 60

Program Specific Admission Requirements:

  • Interview with selection committee
  • Two letters of recommendation

Upon Acceptance to Program Requirements:

  • Criminal Record Check
  • TB Screening
  • Immunizations

Once students have completed the diploma program, they can apply for the BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate as well as the ECE Infant Toddler Educator (ITE) and ECE Special Needs Educator (SNE) Certifications.