Algonquin College offers Diploma in Early Childhood Education, a diploma in Early Childhood Education programme in Ottawa, Canada. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 8,699 per semester (CAD 1,389 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Early Childhood Education
Duration: 4 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 1,389 / semester
International tuition: CAD 8,699 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Overview Facilitating children's learning through play. The two-year Early Childhood Education Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to become an educator in a variety of early learning and care settings. You gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work with children, families and other professionals. Benefit from three practicum experiences focusing on working directly with children and their families ranging from birth to age 12. You support children's learning and development through planning and implementing play and inquiry-based curriculum and creating stimulating learning environments. You gain valuable hands-on skills and experience by taking on the roles and responsibilities of an early childhood educator. Through a combination of theoretical and practical experience, you develop in-demand skills and knowledge in areas of: child development curriculum design and implementation observation and reflective practices learning theories inclusive practices early literacy and language development science, technology, engineering and mathematics play and creativity family and community partnership professionalism and ethics By the end of the program, you will be well-prepared to pursue career opportunities in diverse industry sectors, including but not limited to: early learning and care programs nursery schools kindergarten classes community health agencies home childcare organizations entrepreneurial opportunities Upon graduation, you are eligible to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Registration with the CECE is required to work as an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: College Eligibility requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or Mature Student status for applicants 19 or older without a diploma. Program Eligibility adds Grade 12 English (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher. International applicants must meet Algonquin's English Language Proficiency requirement: IELTS Academic overall band 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band, the Duolingo English Test at 120 overall with no component below 105, or TOEFL iBT at the score Algonquin publishes for the test's current format; international transcripts require evaluation through ICAS or WES. Where qualified applicants exceed available places, Algonquin selects on English proficiency alone.
Application Details
Start Date:Intake terms Algonquin lists for this program, read from its own availability table on 6 September 2026: Fall 2026 (AC Day 1 orientation 8 September 2026; Fall term classes start 9 September 2026); Winter 2027 (most classes start 11 January 2027). Term start dates come from the Registrar's Important Dates page, which also gives 11 January 2027 for the Winter 2027 term and 10 May 2027 for the Spring 2027 term. Availability changes as seats fill and an intake already under way may be closed, so check the program page before applying. Algonquin's academic year runs September to August.
Application Deadline:DOMESTIC APPLICANTS (Canadian citizens and permanent residents). Algonquin publishes no deadline unique to this program; the dates below are the college-wide Ontario colleges cycle and apply to every full-time day program. Applications go through ontariocolleges.ca, where 1 February is the equal consideration date each cycle: apply by then and your application is assessed alongside every other one received by that date, while applications arriving later are handled first-come, first-served for as long as places remain. For entry in Fall 2027 the ontariocolleges.ca application opened on 26 September 2026, colleges may begin issuing offers on 1 November 2026, the equal consideration date is 1 February 2027 and an offer must be accepted by 1 May 2027. The equal consideration date that governed the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 intakes was 1 February 2026 and has already passed, so those three starts are now first-come, first-served while seats last.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS. Apply directly to Algonquin on the International Application Form in its International Application Portal (AC360) rather than through ontariocolleges.ca, with a CAD 135 application fee. There is no single fixed international deadline: Algonquin asks you to confirm the program is open before applying, warns that a program's status can change to waitlisted or closed before an admissions officer reviews the file, and publishes a closing-date sheet for each intake. For the Fall 2026 intake that sheet gives this program's own dates: 16 September 2026 is the last day to apply on the International Application Portal and receive an acceptance, and 21 September 2026 is the last day to register.
