College Diploma – Early Childhood Education (B101)

The Early Childhood Education diploma program at St. Clair College prepares practitioners to design child-centered curricula and support young children’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development across infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age environments:

• Child-Centered Curriculum Design: Teaches Registered Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) how to develop and implement play-based learning frameworks tailored to the unique interests and developmental stages of each child.

• Diverse Field Placements: Features hands-on field experience across varied educational and community settings, including specialized placements in Francophone, Indigenous, and extended-hours facilities.

• Professional Registration & Accreditation: Graduates qualify to apply for certification with the Association for Early Childhood Education Ontario (AECEO) and must register with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) to practice professionally in Ontario.

• Essential Interpersonal Skills: Emphasizes strong communication, collaborative problem-solving, and relationship-building skills needed to work effectively with children, families, and multidisciplinary service teams.

• Placement Requirements: Specific field placement sites may require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be eligible for attendance.

Academic Background: Grade 12 / High School Diploma.

Minimum GPA: 50.0%

Minimum Language Test Scores:

• IELTS: 6.0

• TOEFL: 83.0

• PTE: 60.0

• Duolingo: 110

Conditional & Direct Admission Options:

• Direct Admission (Pending Scores): Applicants awaiting official language test results can apply directly and receive a conditional offer, provided qualifying passing scores are submitted prior to receiving a final offer letter.

• English Pathway Courses: Applicants may satisfy language requirements by completing English language courses prior to starting the academic program, with length determined by initial language proficiency levels.

Entrance scholarships for international students at St. Clair College are automatically evaluated upon enrollment (excluding ESL and EAP programs):

Scholarship Amounts by Program Structure:

1-Year Certificate: $500 CAD

2-Year Diploma: $1,000 CAD

3-Year Advanced Diploma: $1,500 CAD

4-Year Degree: $2,000 CAD

Application & Assessment: No separate application is required; eligible students are automatically assessed upon admission.

Disbursement Criteria: Funds are deposited directly into the student’s college account after September 18, 2026, upon confirmation of a valid study permit and full-time enrollment in the Fall 2026 intake.