Program Overview

Mode of delivery and schedule

This paid training program alternates work and study each week as follows:

Attend classes online three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Work two days a week at the daycare: Mondays and Fridays (10 to 20 hours per week).

Duration and dates

645 hours of instruction: courses, workshops, laboratories, visits, and classes
330 hours of instruction: internships in the workplace (fieldwork) over 17 months

32 hours completed by the end through the RAC process (Recognition of Acquired Competencies)

Start date: March 17th, 2025
End date: 
October 2nd, 2026


Information session

Attending an information session is mandatory. Please click here to sign up and attend an information session.

Information session: To be determined.

Description

Paid training! – Early Childhood Education JEE.0K Program Work-Study Pathway (COUD)

Who can apply?

Non-experienced and experienced candidates are welcome to apply!

Become a certified Early Childhood Educator through the new Work-Study pathway! Obtain your Attestation d’Études Collégiales (AEC) while getting paid. Limited Places!

In response to the significant growth in the labor needs in the field of Early Childhood Education, Champlain College Saint-Lambert is pleased to offer the Early Childhood Education Pathway under the Work-Study format.

This is a national short-term pathway that emphasizes internships in priority professions (COUD) through the Work-Study initiative.

Pathway details:

  • Receive $15/hour for the 975 hours of training;
  • Paid training
  • Offered 100% online and in English;
  • Work two days a week and attend classes online three days a week;
  • 4 of the 19 courses will be assessed through a process of recognition of prior learning and skills (RAC), at the end of the training course.

To learn more about the Work-Study pathway and to register, visit TravailEtudePetiteEnfance.ca

Upcoming information session: To be determined

 

Career Perspectives

Type of employers

Becoming a certified Early Childhood Educator in the national Early childhood centers network, in schools or in private daycare centers or in drop-in daycare.

Job Placement

Placement rate of graduates: 83.3% according to the Enquête relance of the Ministère de l’Éducation (2022). (or 85.4% according to the Early Childhood Educators – Graduates’ employment situation | Gouvernement du Québec (quebec.ca) webpage (2022).

Salary range

Between $16.48 and $27.15 per hour according to the Government Exploring Job Future webpage (July 2024).

Courses

This program consists of fourteen (14) credit courses, for a total of 975 hours.

Block 1

322-133-LA Introduction to the Profession - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to situate themselves in relation to their career choice, to understand the issues of the profession, describe the various educational childcare services in Quebec, and develop an initial reflective view of the profession.

322-194-LA Health and Safety in Educational Childcare Settings - 60 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to identify risks to children’s safety in the context of educational childcare services and intervene in everyday situations, emergency situations, and situations of mistreatment, all the while preserving their own physical and psychological integrity. Students will also take into account the concept of well-being by looking after the children’s health.

350-223-LA Supporting the Child’s Overall Development 1 - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will understand the main issues in child development, including overall development, developmental domains, and the zone of proximal development (ZPD). They will know enough to recognize the main stages in the physical, motor, and cognitive development of children aged 0 to 12 in situ. They will be familiar with the zones of proximal development for the domains of development on which the course focuses.

Block 2

350-233-LA Supporting the Child’s Overall Development 2 - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will have sufficient knowledge of the main stages in the language, social, moral, emotional, and sexual development of children aged 0 to 12, and will understand the interdependence of these domains of development, as well as the gaps in maturation that can occur between them. They will be able to establish connections between observed behaviors and all domains of development, and, through their observations, will also be able to support children in their zone of proximal development, regardless of the domain in question.

322-114-LA Observing Children - 60 hours

By the end of the course, students will know enough about the observation process and the qualities of relevant observation to be able to observe a child or a group of children in a variety of contexts, and to situate themselves as observers. Students will have reference points for observing verbal and non-verbal behaviours. They will be able to record their observations appropriately, and to establish connections between their observations and domains of development.

Block 3

322-1N1-LA Internship: Initiation to the Profession - 90 h/ours 15 hours per week of internship

By the end of their first internship, students will be familiar with work function through hands-on observation. More informed about the demands of the profession, they will be in a better position to make their own career choices. They will also be able to use their observational abilities to support children’s development.

Block 4

322-253-LA Healthy Lifestyle Habits - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply strategies to meet children’s needs for well-being by supporting the development of healthy lifestyle habits.

322-233-LA Pedagogical Approaches - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to situate themselves professionally in relation to the educational approaches used in educational childcare services by recognizing the main characteristics of each. They will thus be able to assimilate the complementarity of educational approaches by noting the advantages and limitations of each.

322-214-LA Supporting Children’s Social Skills and Development - 60 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to ensure the emotional safety of the children in the group through appropriate spatiotemporal organization and group management that emphasizes children’s autonomy and support for their socio-emotional development.

Block 5

322-273-LA Educational Activities with Young Children - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to plan and undertake coherent educational activities to meet the needs of children aged 2 to 12, and to set up an appropriate educational environment, corresponding to the educational approach prioritized with children in this age group.

322-313-LA Partnership with the Family - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to take into account the child’s family life in their educational activities, whether planned or unplanned. To achieve this, they will recognize the diversity of families and take into account their support network. Students will also be able to use their competencies in observing and supporting children in the domains of their overall development to support the families, while respecting everyone’s roles and responsibilities. By the end of the course, students will have grasped the benefits of an inclusive, community-based approach to education.

322-234-LA Guiding Children with Specific Needs - 60 hours

By the end of the course, whatever the child’s needs, students will be able to consider their overall situation, i.e., including their family life, interests, and abilities, and the significant events in their life history. Through their observations, students will also be able to spot the telltale signs of personal specific needs most likely to be encountered in children. They will also be able to make a significant contribution to a support plan, both in the planning and organization of this plan and in the day-to-day educational interventions it requires.

 

Block 6

322-323-LA Educational Activities with Infants and Toddlers - 45 hours

By the end of the course, students will be able to plan and undertake coherent educational activities with regard to the needs of children aged 0 to 2, and to set up an appropriate educational environment, corresponding to the educational approach prioritized with children in this age group.

322-1N1-LA Internship

Integration into the Profession (240 hours): By the end of the second internship, students will be able to take charge of a group, using competencies relating to supporting children and educational action. They will also be able to act in accordance with the safe practices that apply to children and to themselves.

The last phase in the ECE COUD pathway is completed via the RAC (Recognition of Acquired Competencies) process:

The completion of the RAC process is based on the evaluation of the competencies listed below. The accumulated work hours throughout the ECE COUD pathway journey are valid for qualification purposes to the RAC process.

Competency number: FK1P

The competency “Support the child in the development of literacy and numeracy skills” (FK1P) is covered in the Literacy & Numeracy course only. It is part of the program’s competencies that involve supporting children. (45h)

Competency number: FK1N

The competency “Support the child in the development of artistic expression skills” (FK1N) is one of the program competencies related to supporting children. It is covered in the Artistic Expression course as well as in the second internship. It is part of the program’s aim of developing child-support skills. (45h)

Competency number: FK1L

The competency “Support the child in the development of healthy lifestyle habits (partially)” (FK1L) is covered in the Healthy Lifestyle Habits and in the Children and Healthy Eating courses offered in the same stage. These two courses provide a broad exploration of the competency. (45 h)

 

*Elective: Competency number: FK1R

Statement of the competency: (45h/45h)

In a professional context, communicate in French as a second language: The course French as a Second Language is connected to a single competency In a professional context, “Communicate in French as a second language.” The elements of this competency provide the basis for further development, where applicable. In this way, many of the criteria are aimed at achieving a satisfactory level of attainment.

Admission Requirements

There are ministerial requirements and program specific requirements for this program. Please make sure to check all of them.

Applicants for the Early Childhood Education Program Work-Study Pathway (COUD) must be 18 years old or over.

Please note that Applicants will also be asked to provide proof of one of the following:

  1. Canadian Citizenship
  2. Permanent Residency
  3. Permanent refugee status (must hold a valid study permit)
  4. Valid Student Visa

Ministerial Requirements

Applicants must have a Secondary V diploma or equivalent or have acquired knowledge and skills deemed sufficient by the College for potential success in the program.  More specifically, they must show proof of:

  • A Diploma of High School Studies OR
  • A College Diploma or a University Degree OR
  • A partial high school program, coupled with a recommendation from a current or former employer that you would benefit from pursuing your education at the post-secondary level.

And

The applicant must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Have interrupted studying full-time for at least two consecutive terms or one school year OR
  • Be covered under an agreement between the college and an employer, or be benefiting from a government program OR
  • Have completed at least one year of post-secondary studies over a period of one year or more OR
  • Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS/DEP)

Program Specific Requirements

To enroll in the ECE Work-Study pathway you have to find an employer(daycare) and sign a contract. You must sign a contract with a participating employer in the Work-Study initiative. To find a daycare part of the COUD project (Work-Study pathway), you need to consult the following link for the complete list of employers and contact them / send  your CV: https://www.travailetudespetiteenfance.ca/trouver-mon-employeur

 

Although not an admission requirement, please see the new French-language requirements for certification for AEC programs in English.

Technical Requirements

Requirements to take part in the instructor-led virtual classes

To take part in the instructor-led virtual classes, you will need a personal computer with these minimal requirements:

  • PC compatible with Windows 10
  • Intel® Core™ i5 Processor
  • 8 GB of RAM
  • Hard drive of 500 GB
  • Network cable or adapter
  • Webcam with microphone
  • High-speed internet (minimum 2 megabits)

Pathway Enrollments Steps

1. Find an employer (daycare) and sign a contract

You  must sign a contract with a participating employer in the Work-Study initiative. To find a daycare part of the COUD project (Work-Study pathway), you need to consult the following link for the complete list of employers and contact them / send  your CV: https://www.travailetudespetiteenfance.ca/trouver-mon-employeur

2. Enrolling at a college

Once you land a contract, you will be directed to the next step, which is enrolling at a college offering this pathway like Champlain Regional College, Saint-Lambert. Our college is listed on Work-Study website and you can find us through the following link: https://www.travailetudespetiteenfance.ca/cegeps/page/3We are offering the ECE work-study pathway online and in English.

If you are already working at a daycare and would like to enroll in the Work-Study Pathway, talk to your employer about this great initiative and invite them to register their daycare. Please be advised that they need to register as soon as possible through this link: https://www.travailetudespetiteenfance.ca/employeur/inscription.

Testimonials

 

Contact Us

Continuing Education – F-151
Champlain College Saint-Lambert
900 Riverside Drive
Saint-Lambert, Québec
J4P 3P2

Directions

(450)-672-7364

continuingeducation@crcmail.net