Holland College – Early Childhood Education

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Program summary

Holland College’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Year 2 Blended pilot program includes the design, development and offering of year 2 (10 credit courses) of its existing Early Childhood Care and Education program in a part-time, blended learning delivery format. Currently, year 2 of the ECCE program is only offered face-to-face. This pilot will offer students/early childhood educators the opportunity, while maintaining their employment, to complete year 2 of the ECCE program and obtain their ECCE diploma. 

The Early Childhood Care and Education program is grounded in a theoretical understanding of early childhood development. Students will learn how to design and implement curriculum that inspires young minds; helps children develop socially, emotionally, and physically; and promotes inclusiveness.  


Admission requirements

Students applying to the pilot program must have obtained their Early Childhood Assistant Certificate from an accredited or recognized institution within the last 10 years; have a current Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) Certificate; and an Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C from a recognized First Aid/CPR provider.

Note: Before attending any practicum or clinical portions of the program, a student must submit a criminal record check and a vulnerable sector check. If the check indicates that a record exists, the student may not be able to complete portions of their program that are required for graduation. Any associated costs are the responsibility of the student.

For a detailed list of admission requirements, including English language requirements, please visit Holland College | Early Childhood Care and Education Year Two


Program length

The ECCE Year 2 Blended program is 2 years, beginning January 2021 and ending June 2023.  The 10 credit part-time program is offered in a blended learning delivery format, with some courses’ components and classes taking place face-to-face and others distance-delivered online. Each course is offered in the evening or on weekends, and there are no courses offered in the summer months.


Equity and diversity

Potential program students include uncredentialed early childhood educators, women, youth, mid-career workers, new Canadians, and Indigenous students.


Industry partners

Holland College’s ECCE Year 2 Blended pilot project submission was supported by PEI’s Early Childhood Development Association (ECDA) and the Province of Prince Edward Island who both continue to address the current and expected shortfall in the early childhood education workforce.