Early Childhood Education Program (Accelerated) (C160)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

George Brown College has been preparing graduates to work as Early Childhood Educators for more than 40 years.

Program Overview

Get ready for a rewarding career working with children from six weeks to 12 years of age in a variety of early childhood education settings with the Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) program—a condensed, 16-month version of our two-year diploma program.  

Full Description

This Early Childhood Education program is currently offering a $2,000 tuition grant to domestic students starting in September 2024.*

Students in the Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) program study from September 2024 to December 2025 with no breaks in between. 

This program alternates between in-class learning and field placement to help you develop confidence in your skills as you apply concepts from the classroom to a real-world setting. This approach prepares graduates to hit the ground running as soon as they enter the workforce. 

ACCELERATED OPTION (16 consecutive months) 

If you are eager to enter the field and can study without significant breaks, we offer an accelerated stream for 16 consecutive months (four continuous semesters). Visit the Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) (C160) program page for more details. 

FAST-TRACK – DIRECT ENTRY (10 months) 

You may qualify for the Fast-Track program with a diploma or degree in a related field. Visit the Early Childhood Education (Fast-Track) (C130) program page for more details. 

*This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Torontothe Region of Durhamthe Region of Peel, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

logos for City of Toronto, Durham Region and Region of Peel

This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Region of Durham, the Region of Peel, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

You will also engage with families and the broader community. 

This program alternates between in-class learning and field placement to help you develop confidence in your skills as you progressively apply concepts from the classroom to a real-world setting. This prepares graduates to hit the ground running as soon as they enter the workforce.  

FAST-TRACK – DIRECT ENTRY (10 MONTHS) 

You may qualify for the fast-track program if you have a diploma or degree in a related field. For details, visit the Early Childhood Education (Fast-Track) (C130) program page

Your Field Education Options

Field placement plays an important role in this accelerated ECE diploma program as it provides a continuum of experience that gives students the opportunity to build on their learning as they develop skills and progress through the program.

We approach teaching and learning in this program by alternating blocks of classroom theory with field practice. Providing regular intervals for students to apply the theoretical knowledge they are learning with practical, hands-on experience helps you build effective skills as an ECE practitioner and as a leader. Employers value this approach because it prepares our graduates to work as early childhood educators on day one.

Students complete a seven-week field placement in each semester of the program. During this time, students have the opportunity to work with children of different age groups in a variety of settings.

To support student learning outcomes and ensure you have access to facilities that model the best practices we consider essential, we own and operate Ontario's largest network of school-run child care centres that serve over 1,000 children and their families each year. These 12 child care centres, located across Toronto, will expose you to the kinds of environments where you will eventually work and provide valuable services to the families and communities that they serve.

Please note: Some field placement partners may require students to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (a person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose). As such, students not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may be unable to complete their program's required field placement component in the regularly scheduled time frame. 

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this ECE Diploma program may find employment in:

  • child care centres
  • early years centres
  • full-day kindergarten
  • parent resource centres
  • pediatric playrooms
  • special education settings
  • integrated kindergartens
  • therapeutic nursery programs
  • in-home care

Industry

Successful completion of this ECE (Accelerated) diploma program will make you eligible for entrance to Ontario's College of Early Childhood Educators as a Registered Early Childhood Educator. 

George Brown ECE graduates will:

  • learn to design curriculum for child-centred, play-based learning
  • support children’s learning and development by responding to their unique needs and interests
  • build caring relationships with children, families and communities
  • create safe, healthy and inclusive early learning environments

Educational Pathways

Students who complete George Brown's Early Childhood Education diploma program with a GPA of 2.50 or higher may apply to complete the bridge courses for entry into the third year of our Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood (Degree Completion) program.

Your George Brown Early Childhood Education diploma will also give you credit toward degree programs at other institutions.

For information on future study options, see the Transfer Guide.

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.

Latest Alumni Stories

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