Pathways to Becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator

Explore the Pathways to becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator infographic to consider the pathway that is right for you.

The College of Early Childhood Educators note, the training, knowledge and competencies of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) are distinct and unique from other professions. The specialized skills of RECEs provide for collaborative opportunities with other regulated professionals.

Practice Settings

 The College of Early Childhood Educators report RECEs work in a variety of settings. Examples of types of settings include:

• Licensed child care programs
• EarlyON centres
• Home visitors for licensed home child care programs
• Child development centres
• Government ministries or agencies involved in early learning and child care (federal, provincial or municipal)
• Social services organizations serving children (e.g., community living, Children’s Aid Societies, public health units and hospitals)
• School boards (e.g., kindergarten programs)
• Museums or art galleries that offer children’s programming
• Provincial associations for the profession
• Indigenous early learning and care programs
• Immigrant and refugee services

Protected Scope of Practice

The Early Childhood Educators Act defines the practice of early childhood education as the planning and delivery of inclusive play-based learning and care programs for children to promote the well-being and holistic development of children, and includes:

• Delivery of programs to children 12 years or younger
• Assessment of the programs and of the progress of children in them
• Communication with parents or persons with legal custody of children in programs to improve the development of the children
• such other services or activities as may be prescribed by the regulations

Only members of the College of Early Childhood Educators can practice the profession of early childhood education and use the protected titles “Early Childhood Educator” and “Registered Early Childhood Educator,” along with the professional designations ECE, RECE and their French equivalents.

The purpose of a protected title is to assure the public that any person who uses it has met the educational requirements and other requirements needed for entry into the profession. The protected title also assures the public that any person who uses it is accountable to practice the profession of early childhood education in accordance with the ethical and professional standards set by the College.