For licensed day care programs, out-of-school care programs, and pre-school programs, all staff working directly with children must be certified.

Certification looks at a worker’s post-secondary training in early childhood education or equivalent and determines if they are eligible for one of the three levels of certification.  The three levels of certification are:

• Child Development Assistant
• Child Development Worker
• Child Development Supervisor

How to become certified

To apply, read the Certification Guide for Child Care Staff  and complete the application form.

When you apply, you are assigned a registration number. This number is unique to you and remains the same even if your certification level and/or status changes. Please provide this number every time you contact our office about your application.

Read about the whole certification process.

Educational equivalencies for certification

Staff who have previous training or are requesting a re-assessment of credentials may refer to the Educational Equivalency chart.    

Staff that have not completed a full educational certificate/diploma/degree program or whose training does not match the Educational Equivalencies Chart can have their individual coursework assessed by Early Learning and Child Care subject areas and course hours to determine an equivalent level of certification.  Please refer to the Course Hours Equivalency Chart.

Orientation Course

The Child Care Orientation Course is for people without formal training in early learning and child care and who are interested in pursuing a career in child care.

Life Experience Equivalency Process (LEEP)

The Life Experience Equivalency Process (LEEP) recognizes child care competencies that child care professionals have obtained through experience and informal learning opportunities. LEEP provides a way for child care professionals to demonstrate that they have the competencies needed to advance from the Child Development Assistant level and be certified as a Child Development Worker.