How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario (RECE)
How to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in Ontario: the College's education routes, the $260 application cost, the 8-10 week timeline, and what RECEs earn.
Written October 20, 2026 · Edited November 7, 2026 · 10 min read
Applies in: Ontario
The path in one paragraph
In Ontario, "Early Childhood Educator" and "Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE)" are protected titles — only members of the College of Early Childhood Educators may use them, and practising without a certificate of registration is an offence under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007. So the diploma is only step one: take a two-year ECE diploma (or an approved equivalent), apply to the College ($85 application fee plus $175 registration fee, $260 total), wait 8 to 10 weeks, and land on the public register. Expect about $22.00 an hour at the Ontario median (Job Bank 2023-2024 data). The jobs sit where the law puts them: licensed child care centres must staff a qualified employee — a College member in good standing — in every licensed age group.
First: the title is the credential — this is the part beginners get wrong
Four things people mix up:
The diploma is not the title. Finishing an ECE program does not make you an "early childhood educator" in Ontario — registration does. The titles "ECE" and "RECE" are legally protected; only College members can use them.
The law makes it a prohibition, not a suggestion. Section 3(1) of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 says no person shall engage in the practice of early childhood education or hold themselves out as able to do so unless they hold a certificate of registration. Limited exceptions exist for teachers in schools, letter-of-permission appointees, and workers in settings the regulations do not require to hold a certificate — but if you have an ECE qualification and you work within the scope of practice (planning, delivering and assessing inclusive play-based programs for children), you must register.
The College is a real regulator, not a membership club. It sets qualifications, enforces professional and ethical standards, investigates complaints against members, and runs a public register where parents and employers can verify your credential. Membership is over 63,000 and growing — that register listing is the credential employers actually check.
"Assistant" is the unprotected tier. You can work in a licensed centre as an assistant without the title. The title is what the College controls, and the title is what the hiring rules ask for.
Step 1: Get the education — four routes, pick yours
The College's education requirement has four doors. One of them fits you:
The standard route: an Ontario college ECE diploma. A two-year diploma in early childhood education from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology. Admission typically requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and Grade 12 English — Conestoga's current listing asks for the OSSD plus Grade 12 compulsory English, with a mature-student path at 19 and older. On cost: Conestoga's 9-month fast-track lists $4,517.44 all-in domestic for 2026-27; a standard two-year program is two years of college tuition — confirm the current fees with the school before you enrol, and do not trust a program's marketing about being "approved" without checking.
An approved diploma or degree in or related to ECE. If your program is not the standard OCAAT diploma, it must be approved by the College or its committee as meeting the education requirement. "Related to ECE" degrees (child development, family studies) fall here.
Already licensed in another province? Use labour mobility. If you hold a current matching certification from another Canadian province or territory, the College will not make you undergo additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments. Current matches: Alberta (Child Development Educator), BC (ECE with Infant Toddler and/or Special Needs), Manitoba (ECE Level II or III), Newfoundland and Labrador (Child Care Services Levels 2, 3, 4), Nova Scotia (Level 2 or 3 Classification), Yukon (ECE Level III). Saskatchewan and PEI matches are marked under review on the College's own FAQ — check the current page before you rely on them.
Education plus experience: the individual assessment. If none of the above describes you, do not file the General Application Form — file the Application Form - Individual Assessment instead. The College assesses your combination of education and work experience against the standard, and publishes a Guide for the Individual Assessment of Education with the instructions. This is the door experienced unregistered workers use; it takes longer than the standard route, so budget accordingly.
Step 2: Line up the supporting documents before you apply
File complete, not hopeful. Incomplete applications cannot be processed, and every missing item restarts the clock:
Transcripts. Arrange for your college or university to send official records directly to the College. If your transcripts are from outside Canada, Canadian citizens and permanent residents typically need a course-by-course credential evaluation — get it started early, because it has its own timeline.
Evidence of good character. The College requires it as part of registration. Disclose anything that could affect practice honestly: answering "yes" on the conduct questions does not automatically disqualify you, but the College decides on an individual basis — and hiding something disqualifies you far more reliably.
Proof of language fluency. Required in English or French; the College lists it explicitly among the requirements for out-of-province applicants and it applies generally.
Good standing (mobility applicants). A letter from your home province or territory's regulator confirming your licence is in good standing.
The fees, paid. One-time $85 application fee (non-refundable) plus $175 annual registration fee — $260 on a completed application. Credit card (Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard), cheque, or money order in Canadian funds. No cash, no postdated cheques; a bounced cheque costs a $35 processing fee.
Step 3: Apply — online through My College Account
Create your account, log in, and start the application online. If you cannot apply online, the College also offers a printable General Application Form with an Application Guide — all sections must be completed for the application to be processed. The single most important choice in this step is the form: the General Application Form covers the standard-diploma, approved-program, and labour-mobility routes; the Individual Assessment form is for route four. Filing the wrong form is the most common avoidable delay after missing documents.
Step 4: Wait 8 to 10 weeks — then get on the public register
A fully completed application is usually processed in 8 to 10 weeks, depending on complexity. The College notifies you by email if anything is missing — respond immediately, because the file does not move until you do. Once approved, your receipt is available in My College Account within two to three business days, and you land on the College's public register: the listing parents and employers use to verify you are a member in good standing. That listing is the credential. After that, membership costs $175 a year — keep it current, because a lapsed member cannot use the protected titles.
Step 5: Get hired where the law creates the demand
The demand case for an RECE is unusually concrete, because the licensing rules write the hiring floor:
Licensed centres must hire RECEs. Under O. Reg 137/15 section 54, every licensed child care centre must employ at least one qualified employee — a College member in good standing, or someone the ministry director has approved — for each licensed age group (infant, toddler, kindergarten, primary/junior school age). Licensed preschool groups with more than 16 children in attendance need two. This is not a preference; it is a licensing condition.
Home visitors must be RECEs. Licensed home child care agencies must employ home visitors who are RECEs (or director-approved) to monitor the homes they oversee — another mandated role.
Where to look: child-care centres, day-care centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children, school boards, and licensed home child care agencies.
What it pays: Job Bank (2023-2024): $17.95 low, $22.00 median, $31.00 high per hour in Ontario; Ontario.ca's in-demand careers page puts the median salary at $45,800. Supervisory roles and large operators sit toward the top; private centres and assistant-level roles toward the bottom.
If you are still comparing paths, see our job hunting guide for the credential and work-authorization mechanics that surround any newcomer job search.
How to become an early childhood educator in British Columbia — the British Columbia version: ECE Registry certification instead of a College, the 500 supervised hours for the Five Year certificate, and the Infant Toddler and Special Needs specializations.
Get the educationA two-year ECE diploma from an Ontario college, an approved equivalent program, a matching out-of-province licence, or an individual assessment of your education and experience
2
Line up your documentsOfficial transcripts, evidence of good character, proof of language fluency, and a good-standing letter if you are coming through the labour-mobility route
3
Apply to the CollegeOnline through My College Account — $85 one-time application fee plus $175 annual registration fee, $260 total
4
Wait 8 to 10 weeksProcessing time for a fully completed application; the College emails you if anything is missing
5
Keep your registration currentAnnual membership is $175; your listing on the public register is the credential employers check
Registration costs (College of Early Childhood Educators)
One-time application fee
$85 (non-refundable, regardless of outcome)
Annual registration / membership fee
$175 (effective October 1, 2024)
Total on a completed application
$260
ECE diploma tuition example
$4,517.44 all-in domestic for Conestoga's 9-month fast-track (2026-27); standard two-year programs confirm fees with the school
Registration fees from the College's Registration FAQs; tuition example from Conestoga College's 2026-27 fee listing.
Questions people ask
Do I need to be registered to work with children in Ontario?
It depends on the title you use and the work you do. 'Early Childhood Educator' and 'Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE)' are legally protected titles in Ontario — only members of the College of Early Childhood Educators may use them. Section 3(1) of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 says no person shall engage in the practice of early childhood education or hold themselves out as able to do so unless they hold a certificate of registration. Anyone with an ECE qualification who works within the scope of practice — planning, delivering and assessing inclusive play-based programs for children — must register. Exceptions exist: teachers in schools, letter-of-permission appointees, and workers in settings the regulations do not require to hold a certificate. You can still work in a licensed centre as an assistant without the title, but you cannot call yourself an ECE or RECE.
What are the four education routes to becoming an RECE?
The College sets out four ways to meet the education requirement. One: a diploma in early childhood education from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (the standard two-year route). Two: a diploma or degree in or related to early childhood education that the College has approved as meeting the standard. Three: current licensure in another Canadian province or territory recognized for labour mobility — matching credentials include Alberta's Child Development Educator, BC's ECE with Infant Toddler and/or Special Needs, Manitoba's ECE Level II or III, Newfoundland and Labrador's Child Care Services Levels 2-4, Nova Scotia's Level 2 or 3, and Yukon's ECE Level III (Saskatchewan and PEI matches are marked under review). Four: an individual assessment of your education and work experience — if this is you, do not file the [General Application Form](https://www.college-ece.ca/wp-content/uploads/forms/General_Application_form.pdf); file the [Application Form - Individual Assessment](https://www.college-ece.ca/wp-content/uploads/forms/Individual_Assessment_form.pdf) instead.
I am already certified in another province. Do I have to retrain in Ontario?
No. The College has a labour-mobility pathway for workers already certified in the same occupation by another Canadian province or territory. It will not require you to undergo additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments to meet the education requirement. You still must meet the other requirements: proof of language fluency, evidence of good character, a good-standing letter from your home regulator, and the $85 application plus $175 registration fees.
How much does it cost to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators?
A one-time application fee of $85, which is non-refundable regardless of the outcome, plus an annual registration fee of $175 (adjusted from $160 effective October 1, 2024). On a completed application submitted now, that totals $260. After that, ongoing membership costs $175 per year. Payment is by Visa, Visa Debit or Mastercard, or by cheque or money order in Canadian funds — no cash or postdated cheques, and a bounced cheque costs a $35 processing fee.
How long does College registration take?
For a fully completed application, processing usually takes 8 to 10 weeks, depending on complexity. Incomplete applications cannot be processed at all — the College notifies you by email when something is missing, and every missing item restarts your clock. Arrange transcripts and documents before you file, not after, and plan your job search backwards from the 8-10 week window.
How do I apply to the College of Early Childhood Educators?
Apply online through My College Account: create the account, log in, and start the application. If you cannot apply online, the College also offers a printable General Application Form with an Application Guide — all sections must be completed. Pick the right form first: the General Application Form covers the standard diploma, approved-program, and labour-mobility routes, while the Individual Assessment form is for people meeting the education requirement through education plus experience.
What does an RECE earn in Ontario?
Job Bank wage data for early childhood educators and assistants (2023-2024 reference period) puts Ontario at $17.95 an hour on the low end, $22.00 at the median, and $31.00 at the high end. Ontario's in-demand careers page puts the median salary across the province at $45,800. Supervisory roles and large operators sit toward the top of the range; private centres and assistant-level roles sit lower.
Where do RECEs actually get hired in Ontario?
Where the licensing rules create the demand. Under O. Reg 137/15 section 54, every licensed child care centre must employ at least one qualified employee — a College member in good standing, or someone the ministry director has approved — for each licensed age group (infant, toddler, kindergarten, primary/junior school age), and licensed preschool groups with more than 16 children in attendance need two. Licensed home child care agencies must employ home visitors who are RECEs (or director-approved) to monitor the homes. Beyond that: child-care centres, day-care centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children, and school boards.
College of Early Childhood Educators, Section 6 — Educational Requirement (four routes: OCAAT ECE diploma; approved diploma/degree in or related to ECE; current licensure in another province/territory recognized for labour mobility; individual assessment of education and experience) —