In collaboration with College of the North Atlantic (“CNA”), participants in the Program will complete a Certificate of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education program (one year program) (“ECE Certificate”). Upon successful completion of the academic program, participants will receive their ECE Certificate and will be eligible to receive their Level I Child Care Services Certification in preschool and school-age care (working with children ages 18 months to 12 years). They will also be supported by the YMCA to secure employment as an ECE at a local child care centre upon completion.

The Program is delivered at no cost to participants.

The Program has been developed in collaboration with CNA and specifically designed for the YMCA’s participants.

The Program will be delivered through distance learning by CNA. Field placements will be required.

Please note that delivery methods, schedules, and start dates are subject to change in the discretion of the YMCA.

Applicants must reside in rural* Newfoundland and Labrador and meet the entrance, documentation, and physical requirements for the ECE Certificate academic program as determined by CNA. Applicants must be legally permitted to study and work in Canada and have consistent access to Wi-Fi.

*Rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador are those communities that are not included within the Census Metropolitan Area or CMA (St. John’s Metro) and Census Agglomerations or CAs (Corner Brook, Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor) as determined by Statistics Canada in the 2021 Census.