Tips to Prepare for UFV's ECE Program

To apply for the ECE Certificate program, you should have volunteer or work experience in a setting that demonstrates your suitability to work with young children and interest in ECE. This experience strengthens your application, provides insight into the ECE environment, and helps you better understand your identify as an ECE.

Remember to track your volunteer hours and reflect on what you’ve learned. This will help you explain your experiences for your application. Building relationships with certified ECEs and volunteer supervisors can also lead to strong references.

Select high school electives that align with your future career and the BC Early Childhood Learning Framework. Consider focusing on areas like:

• BC First Peoples 12
• Child Development and Caregiving 12
• Specialize in areas you are interested in, such as American Sign Language, French, or Halq'eméylem
• Courses that reflect the values of the School of Education, like Social Justice 12

By choosing electives that develop knowledge and skills relevant to the ECE field, you will be better prepared for the program and your future career.

Creating a network of contacts will help you grow in your career. Here’s how to build your PLN:

• Follow blogs and social media: Stay informed about the ECE profession by following relevant blogs, podcasts, and social media accounts. For example, follow Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC) and subscribe to their e-newsletter for updates, events, and opportunities.
• Take Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Enrich your knowledge of current educational topics by taking courses likes Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing.
• Read resources: Learn from key documents, such as the Government of BC Early Childhood Profession in BC, the ECEBC Code of Ethics, the BC Early Childhood Learning Framework. Explore WorkBC Labour Market Information for ECEs and Assistants to understand earnings, job outlook, and areas of need.

ECE employers may have extra requirements for jobs that go beyond ECE certificate programs, especially specialized roles. These requirements can vary across employers. It’s important to save PDFs of job postings for positions you’re interested in. This will help with education planning and getting ready for your future career. You can find job postings on ECEBC.

An informational interview is a conversation where you ask certified ECE professionals about their career path and advice for preparing for an ECE certificate program. The goal is to get advice, not a job. Here’s how to ask for an informational interview:

• Be polite and professional when reaching out.
• Explain that you’re interested in becoming an ECE and are preparing for an ECE certificate program.
• Make it clear that you want advice, not a job, and ask for a short 20 to 30-minute conversation.

Here are some questions you might ask:

• What steps did you take to decide on and prepare for your ECE program?
• How did you balance your ECE program with other life responsibilities?
• What advice do you have for someone starting in an entry-level position as an ECE?
• What trends in the profession should future ECEs know about?