Early Childhood Educator Training Wage Program

Who can apply

Licensed non-profit and for-profit child care providers in the Columbia Basin Trust region (ourtrust.org/map) with the following licensing designations (Employer) can apply on behalf of eligible RAs, ECEAs and ECEs that they employ.

Eligible licensing designations include:

• Group Child Care • Family Child Care* • Multi-Aged Child Care • In-Home Multi-Age Child Care • Preschools

1. providers operating Family Child Care must be intending to transition their license to In-Home

Multi-Age Child Care when their training is complete to be eligible.

Please refer to the Childcare BC Webpage for clarification on licensing designations.

Facilities licensed for under 32 child care spaces can apply on behalf of up to two eligible staff, and facilities licensed for 32 or more spaces can apply on behalf of up to four eligible staff to complete their studies part time.

Education must occur part time at a recognized post-secondary institution of their choice while they continue to work a minimum of 15 hours a week at the eligible child care facility.

Employer Criteria To be eligible to apply, child care providers must be located in the Columbia Basin Trust region and:

1. be a licensed child care facility (eligible designations listed above) in good standing with

the Ministry of Education and Child Care and provincial licensing and regulations;

1. continue to employ the ECEA, ECE or RA (Employee) for the duration of the training on

a part- or full-time basis (minimum 15 hours per week);

1. be committed to providing permanent employment after completion of the training;
2. work with the Employee to develop a mutually agreed upon education plan and timeline;
3. be in good standing with the BC Corporate Registry (if the Employer is a non-profit

society or registered company); and

1. have a WorkSafeBC account in good standing and provide a clearance letter (get the

form here). WorkSafeBC coverage is required for all Employers with employees and is recommended for Employers that do not have employees. You can start the process to obtain WorkSafeBC coverage here.

Employee Criteria To be eligible for the training wage, the RA/ECEA/ECE must be a resident of the Columbia Basin Trust region and:

1. hold a valid Early Childhood Educator Assistant certificate or Early Childhood Educator

certificate issued by the BC ECE Registry or hold a “Responsible Adult” designation as defined under the Childcare Licensing Regulations;

1. be directly employed or self-employed on a full- or part-time basis by an eligible licenced

child care facility;

1. be enrolled part-time in an ECE program at a recognized post-secondary institute with the

intention to complete the ECEA/ECE certification or upgrades within a mutually agreed upon timeline with their Employer (up to a maximum of three years); and

1. submit evidence of successful course completion to their Employer at the end of each

course/semester.

Post-secondary Institute Requirements

To be eligible for the Training Wage, Employees must be enrolled in a recognized post- secondary institute that:

1. is approved by the Province of BC as a recognized program and institute; and
2. meets provincial standards and ECE certification requirements.