How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Saskatchewan
Become an early childhood educator in Saskatchewan: the Ministry of Education's ECE I, II, and III certification levels, the orientation-course route, and how to apply for certification.
How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Nunavut
Nunavut has no ECE certification levels: licensed centre staff must meet Child Day Care Act requirements, and training runs through Nunavut Arctic College.
Applies in: Nunavut
The short answer
Nunavut has no early childhood educator certification levels and no certification application. That is the honest starting point, and it is what separates Nunavut from every other province and territory in this series. Nunavut's regulations do not specify that staff working in licensed early childhood facilities must have formal training. Instead, the Child Day Care Act sets staff requirements for licensed centres, and the training route runs through Nunavut Arctic College. Do not carry another province's levels into Nunavut — Alberta's Level 1, 2, and 3, Yukon's Levels 1 to 3, and the Northwest Territories' Level A and Levels 1 to 4 have no Nunavut equivalent.
What licensed centre staff must meet
Under Nunavut's regulations, staff working in licensed early childhood facilities must:
- be at least 19 years of age;
- have a general understanding of normal child development;
- be in good health;
- have their immunizations up to date;
- have a satisfactory criminal clearance check; and
- have their First Aid and CPR, or be willing to take the first available course in their community.
These are the requirements published for the territory. There is no published Nunavut certificate, level, or exam sitting on top of them.
Who runs the system
The Government of Nunavut Department of Education's Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) division is responsible for licensing, inspecting, and providing guidance and support to all licensed child care centres, to ensure compliance with the Child Day Care Act and Regulations. Licensed child care is provided by non-profit societies, municipal governments, District Education Authorities, the Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut, and individual operators. The division also administers funding agreements and develops linguistically and culturally appropriate early learning resources.
The Child Day Care Act itself was inherited from the Northwest Territories and has not been updated since 1988. The Government of Nunavut is developing new Nunavut-made legislation for early learning and child care, grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) and aligned with the Inuit Language Protection Act, to promote early childhood Inuit language development. The opened pages give no date for the new legislation coming into force, so this guide gives none.
Where to train: Nunavut Arctic College
Nunavut Arctic College offers two early childhood education routes:
- Early Childhood Education Applied Certificate Program. This trains current child care workers through a series of intensive, three-week accredited courses that build capacity in early childhood development. It is designed for workers already employed in the field, with minimal disruption to the child care centre, and is available in the Kivalliq and Qikiqtaaluk regions. It is offered online to current child care workers in all communities, and in person in Baker Lake. Graduates have the option of entering the diploma program with advanced standing.
- Early Childhood Education Diploma Program (ECEP). A two-year post-secondary, accredited diploma program that prepares students with the knowledge and skills to develop and deliver quality early childhood education in Nunavut. Students study a child-centred focus, play-based curriculum, child development theories, guidance techniques, communication skills, family and community relations, professionalism, and an emergent curriculum approach.
The college's program outline for the certificate also lists First Aid and Infant CPR certification among its completion requirements, and a cumulative average of 60% across courses and practicums. Confirm the current admission requirements with the college before applying, because the opened college page does not publish them.
A warning about job postings
Job postings for early childhood educators in Iqaluit sometimes ask for credentials with names borrowed from other provinces, such as Child Development Supervisor (ECE Level 3) or Child Development Worker (ECE Level 2). Those are Alberta level names, not Nunavut certifications. Treat them as the employer's shorthand for the training they want, not as a Nunavut certificate you can apply for. What Nunavut itself requires is the staff list above, plus whatever training the employer asks for.
What the opened pages do not state
The opened pages do not publish any Nunavut certification levels, certification application, application fee, or decision timeline, so this guide states none of those. They do not publish current admission requirements for the Nunavut Arctic College programs, so this guide lists none. They do not publish a wage figure or salary range for early childhood educators in Nunavut, so this guide states no pay rate. They do not publish a date for the new Child Day Care Act replacement legislation coming into force, so this guide gives none.
Related guides:
- How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in the Northwest Territories — the Northwest Territories' Level A and Levels 1 to 4 certification, the closest territorial comparison.
- How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Yukon — Yukon's five certification levels and three application pathways.
- How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Alberta — Alberta's Level 1, 2, and 3, whose names appear in some Nunavut job postings but are not Nunavut certifications.
- How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Manitoba — Manitoba's certification route for comparison.
- How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in New Brunswick — New Brunswick's training-based route, with no separate certification application.
Becoming an early childhood educator in Nunavut
- Check the staff requirementsLicensed centre staff must be at least 19, have a general understanding of normal child development, be in good health, have immunizations up to date, hold a satisfactory criminal clearance check, and hold First Aid and CPR.
- Choose a training routeNunavut Arctic College offers an Early Childhood Education Applied Certificate for current child care workers and a two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma Program.
- Complete the college programThe Applied Certificate trains current workers through intensive three-week accredited courses. The diploma is a two-year post-secondary accredited program.
- Get hired in a licensed centreLicensed child care is provided by non-profit societies, municipal governments, District Education Authorities, and the Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut.
- Keep First Aid and CPR currentStaff must hold First Aid and CPR, or be willing to take the first available course in their community.
Questions people ask
Does Nunavut have early childhood educator certification levels?
No. The opened pages publish no Nunavut certification levels and no certification application. Nunavut's regulations do not specify that staff working in licensed early childhood facilities must have formal training. Do not carry another province's levels, such as Alberta's Level 1, 2, and 3, into a Nunavut application, because Nunavut has no equivalent levels to apply for.
What do I need to work in a licensed child care centre in Nunavut?
Staff in licensed facilities must be at least 19 years of age, have a general understanding of normal child development, be in good health, have their immunizations up to date, have a satisfactory criminal clearance check, and have their First Aid and CPR, or be willing to take the first available course in their community.
Where do I train as an early childhood educator in Nunavut?
Nunavut Arctic College is the territory's training route. It offers an Early Childhood Education Applied Certificate for current child care workers, delivered through intensive three-week accredited courses, and a two-year post-secondary accredited Early Childhood Education Diploma Program. The Applied Certificate is offered online to current child care workers in all communities, and in person in Baker Lake.
How long does the Nunavut Arctic College diploma take?
The Early Childhood Education Diploma Program is a two-year post-secondary accredited diploma program. The Applied Certificate is built from intensive three-week accredited courses, and graduates can enter the diploma program with advanced standing.
Who licenses child care centres in Nunavut?
Nunavut's Department of Education runs the Early Learning and Child Care division, which licenses child care centres and checks that they meet the Child Day Care Act and Regulations.
Is child care in Nunavut moving to new legislation?
Yes. Nunavut is developing new Nunavut-made legislation for early learning and child care, because the Child Day Care Act was inherited from the Northwest Territories and has not been updated since 1988. The new legislation is grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and aligns with the Inuit Language Protection Act. The opened pages do not give a date for the new legislation coming into force.
Sources
- Government of Nunavut, Nunavut's Canada-Wide ELCC Action Plan 2023-2024 to 2025-2026 — the ELCC division's licensing role under the Child Day Care Act, the division's responsibilities, and the $10-a-day system.
- Government of Nunavut, Child Day Care Act Consultation Report — the 1988 Act inherited from the Northwest Territories, the new Nunavut-made legislation grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and the Inuit Language Protection Act alignment.
- Nunavut Arctic College, Education — the Early Childhood Education Applied Certificate Program and the two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma Program.
- Nunavut Arctic College, Early Childhood Education program outline — the certificate program's First Aid and Infant CPR requirement, the 60% cumulative average, and advanced standing into the diploma.
- Canadian Child Care Federation, Provincial Data — Child Care Certification — Nunavut's staff requirements: age 19, understanding of child development, good health, immunizations, criminal clearance, and First Aid and CPR.