Early Childhood Assistant Diploma Program

38 weeks, with 1,000 hours in total: 520 hours of online theory and a 480-hour internship at a childcare centre.

Regular tuition is $4,500. For the Nov 30 intake, the early-bird price is $3,490 until November 29, and registering online on this page gives you a limited-time $500 tuition credit, which brings your total to $2,990. You can pay through a monthly payment plan with 0% interest. The credit must be used within 7 days of registering, by paying your initial deposit; one credit per person, not combinable with Better Jobs Ontario funding. Your written quote confirms the exact total and payment dates before you enrol. CanNorth does not offer OSAP.

Tuition can be paid through a monthly payment plan with 0% interest. Ask admissions for the current tuition and any online offer for your intake; your written quote confirms the exact total and payment dates before you enrol. CanNorth does not offer OSAP.

The next class starts on Monday, November 30, 2026. After that we admit students on a rolling basis, so you can still join later; ask admissions for your start date.

We admit students on a rolling basis. Ask admissions for the next available start date.

Classes are online, so you can study from home. The 480-hour internship is in person at a childcare centre near you.

Yes. You can attend the online classes from anywhere in Ontario, and we arrange your internship at a childcare centre near where you live, based on site availability. You must be able to travel to your internship site and attend its scheduled hours.

No. The Early Childhood Assistant (ECA) diploma prepares you to work as an assistant in childcare. It is not an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma and does not lead to registration as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) with the College of ECE. It is shorter and lets you start working in childcare sooner.

ECA graduates usually work as assistants or program staff in licensed child care centres, nursery schools, before- and after-school programs, Montessori schools and other early learning settings. In Ontario, roles that must be filled by an RECE need a Registered Early Childhood Educator or a ministry Director approval. Employment is not guaranteed.

Yes, many people work in childcare first and then study for an ECE diploma. If you work in an Ontario early years setting, you may be eligible for the provincial ECE Qualifications Upgrade Program, which offers grants toward an ECE diploma. Eligibility and funding decisions are made by that program, not by CanNorth.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Because the program is longer than six months, it is not open to work permit, study permit or visitor visa holders, refugee claimants or protected persons. If that is you, ask us about our Personal Support Worker (PSW) program instead.

An Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent. No childcare experience is needed.

If you are unemployed or laid off, you may be eligible for Better Jobs Ontario. BJO decisions are made by the Government of Ontario through Employment Ontario, not by CanNorth. Online tuition offers cannot be combined with BJO funding.