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Child, Youth, and Family Studies
ufv.ca/ece

Early Childhood Education certificate

UFV offers a certificate program at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses leading to registration in British Columbia as early childhood educators.

The certificate program includes basic courses in communications, interpersonal relations, child growth and development, working with children, and the early childhood curriculum.

Before taking practicum you will be required to obtain a TB clearance (as required as per Community Care Facilities Licensing Legislation), as well as a Rubella clearance and criminal record check.

After completing this program, graduates can be licensed as early childhood educators by the Provincial Licensing Board, with an additional 500 hours of supervised work and a first aid certificate.

Following completion of the certificate, students who wish to continue their studies can ladder into the ECE diploma programs specializing in special needs and/or infancy.

Entrance requirements

1. Applicants must be 19 years of age or older before being accepted into the program.

2. Ability to supply own transportation to field sites.

3. You must meet the prerequisites for CMNS 155 or ENGL 105.

4. Satisfactory completion of interview or questionnaire.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Child and Youth Care Studies program path.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your UFV application for admission form to the Office of the Registrar (OReg). You can apply online or download an application form at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply. Application forms are also available from any OReg or Student Services office.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
• ECE additional application form available at ufv.ca/admissions/forms.
• CPT or LPI score, or proof of registration for a CPT sitting, or an official transcript showing completion of course alternatives. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details.

2. After your complete application is received and reviewed, the Office of the Registrar will notify you of an orientation session that you must attend. If you do not attend or make arrangements with the program head, you will not be eligible for admission to the program.

After the orientation session, you will be required to obtain a TB (as required per Community Care Facilities Licencing Legislation) and Rubella clearance and criminal record check and be given a questionnaire to return or be assigned to an interview time.

3. Based on your CPT score and questionnaire, you will be interviewed and evaluated according to the following scale:

4. After the orientation session you will be required to:
• Submit a letter of intent
• Complete the questionnaire
• Submit CPT score or English mark
You will also be assigned an interview time.

5. Approximately eight weeks after the orientation you will be advised of the admission decision.

Following admission to the program you will be provided with registration information.

If you do not register for courses and pay course deposits, your place will be given to the next person on the program waiting list and you must reapply to the program.

6. Admission decisions are made in October to November for a January start, and April to May for a September start. Start dates are as follows:

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Dates and locations

The program is offered over four semesters, and is run in Chilliwack and Abbotsford in alternate years. Contact the department assistant for details, 604-854-4580.

Note: If you wish to begin taking courses at UFV while waiting for a space to become available in this program, it will be necessary to submit a separate application to take courses as a Child and Youth Care Studies student.

Regulations concerning practica

The department head reserves the right to approve any agency or institution that provides placements for student practica, and to change any placement assigned to a student. Students are placed in a practicum setting in accordance with their professional background and current learning needs. Students have the right to be informed in writing of the reasons for any change in placement. Students may be required to withdraw from a practicum course if none of the available practicum agencies will accept him/her.

A criminal record check is required prior to practicum placement. Upon admission to the program, it is the responsibility of the student to initiate, pay for, and ensure the form is submitted in a timely manner to the Ministry of Justice (at least a month before Practicum is suggested). These forms are available from the department assistant and advisor. This will ensure the criminal record check clearance is processed before classes begin.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section.

You should be prepared to spend approximately $500 per semester on books and supplies. You must also have your own means of transportation. Up to half of your program time will be spent working in early childhood centres in the community. UFV takes no responsibility for students’ transportation to field sites.

Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid and Awards office for information on loans, bursaries and work-study options.

Standing required for continuance

Students in the ECE certificate program must maintain semester and cumulative grade point averages of at least 2.33 (C+) in order to be awarded the certificate. Students who do not maintain the required cumulative GPA will be placed on Academic Warning for one semester. If they do not attain the required GPA, they will need to meet with the department head before continuance in the program, and may need to withdraw from the program.

Program outline

Non-ECE requirements

ECE requirements

Students are required to complete the ECE requirements in the order indicated below.

Semester I (Fall)

Semester II (Winter)

Semester III (Fall)

Semester IV (Winter)

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.