- Level
- 2-Year UG Diploma
- CIP code
- 13.1210
- Duration
- 24 Months
- Field
- Early Childhood and Primary Education
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A two year diploma preparing graduates to work with young children, covering child development, play based learning, curriculum planning, guidance and behaviour, family partnerships and supervised practicum placements.
Diploma in Early Childhood Education leads to certification levels within the Alberta child care system, and those certification levels are provincial rather than national, which matters if you plan to move province later.
Diploma in Early Childhood Education is delivered by Medicine Hat College, a designated learning institution in Alberta. Because Diploma in Early Childhood Education is a two year diploma rather than a degree, the Canadian field of study requirement applies, which means the Post-Graduation Work Permit depends on this programme sitting inside an eligible field at the moment you apply. The source records Diploma in Early Childhood Education as PGWP eligible, but that list is revised, so confirm it in writing before you pay a deposit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is also required.
The academic bar for Diploma in Early Childhood Education is Grade 12 or Class 12 at 60 percent. Grade 12 English Language Arts at 50 percent or above is required. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0, and tuition for Diploma in Early Childhood Education is recorded at CAD 16,889 a year with a CAD 125 application fee. No scholarship is recorded. The only entry point listed is September 2027. Apply Study Visa manages the Diploma in Early Childhood Education application, the deposit, the letter of acceptance and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or Class 12 at 60 percent or above, with a minimum of 50 percent in Grade 12 English Language Arts.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 4.0 with no band below 4.0 on the scale in force from 21 January 2026, or 79 on the earlier scale; PTE Academic 54; or the Duolingo English Test at 105. CAEL 60 with no score below 50 and several Cambridge and Canadian benchmark tests are also accepted. TOEFL scoring changed on 21 January 2026. Scores from tests taken on or after that date are read on the new scale; a result from an earlier test is read on the old one.
- Application and deposit: An application fee of CAD 125 applies. The cross check source records an initial deposit of CAD 15,000, which is far larger than the deposit most Canadian colleges ask for and should be confirmed in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded for this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Work permit: Diploma in Early Childhood Education is a two year diploma, not a degree, so the field of study test applies and PGWP eligibility must be confirmed in writing for your intake before you commit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is required. No spousal open work permit arises from this programme.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa handles the provincial attestation letter, the study permit application and the biometrics appointment with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Early Childhood Educator: licensed child care centres
- Preschool Teacher: early learning programmes
- Child Care Supervisor: after certification and experience
- Family Support Worker: community agencies
- Out of School Care Leader: before and after school programmes
- Further Study: degree completion in child studies
Reality check: child care pay in Alberta is low relative to the cost of living, and provincial certification levels rather than the diploma alone determine what you may be paid and what role you may hold.
About Medicine Hat College
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- World rank
- #18392
- Reference No.
- O18795445892
