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.
Applies in: Saskatchewan
Get certified by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education at one of three levels — Early Childhood Educator I, II, or III — then apply for certification with proof of identity and transcripts sent directly from your school. Saskatchewan requires educators working in child care centres to hold an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certification from the Ministry of Education. The level you qualify for depends on how much early childhood education you have completed: an orientation course for ECE I, a one-year certificate for ECE II, or a two-year diploma for ECE III — or the equivalent amount of course credit units in each case.
This guide covers Saskatchewan only. British Columbia and Ontario run their own ECE certification systems with different level names and application routes, so do not carry their steps into a Saskatchewan application.
Saskatchewan has three levels of ECE certification, set out in the Child Care Regulations, 2015 and the Ministry of Education's certification guide:
Two rules from the regulations shape what counts. Only coursework that is post-secondary is considered for certification, and only coursework completed through an accredited public college or university is considered. Courses taken through other providers do not count toward a level, even if the subject matter matches.
If you have no early childhood education yet, the orientation course is the entry point. Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers an Early Childhood Education certificate of achievement once you have completed three courses: Health, Safety and Nutrition (ECE 142), Child Guidance 1 (HUMD 183), and Dynamics of Play 1 (ECE 106). The program is offered at Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon, with online and distance options, and admission is open access with an English language requirement. Saskatchewan Polytechnic states that this certificate of achievement meets the Ministry of Education's minimum requirements and allows you to work in group care settings in entry-level positions.
You do not apply to a full program for these courses: students take courses part time and apply to graduate through Enrolment Services once all three are completed. Tuition varies by course, so check the current per-course fee before you register.
For ECE II, complete a one-year early childhood certificate from a recognized college in Canada. For ECE III, complete a two-year early childhood diploma from a recognized college in Canada. Saskatchewan Polytechnic delivers early childhood education certificate and diploma programming in the province; other recognized Canadian colleges also qualify.
If you have not completed a full ECE credential but have completed courses relevant to early childhood education — for example, in a program with a human services or education focus — the Ministry of Education assesses each course for its fit with the subject areas relevant to early childhood education, and the credit units can add up to a level. That is the equivalent-education route: 9 credit units for ECE I, 39 for ECE II, and 81 for ECE III.
The Ministry of Education's certification page sets out the application steps:
As of October 1, 2026, Saskatchewan ECE Credentials accepts PDF documents only. Documents in any other format are not accepted.
If your transcripts are from a post-secondary institution outside Canada or the United States, you must have a course-by-course evaluation conducted by World Education Services (WES) — the Course by Course International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Report. WES must send the evaluation directly to the Ministry of Education. In your WES account, select "Ministry of Education – Saskatchewan" as the recipient, specify "Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Certification", and choose electronic delivery only to the Ministry's certification email address. Include the WES reference number on your application form. The evaluation verifies the Canadian equivalency of the credits or degrees you have earned.
If you have questions about certification, the Ministry of Education's certification office can be reached by phone at 1-855-824-9419 or by email at ececertification@gov.sk.ca.
The official pages do not state an application fee, a processing time, how long a certification lasts, or any renewal or professional development requirement, so this guide gives no figures for any of those — check the Ministry of Education's current certification page before you apply. They also do not state how many hours per month an educator must work before certification is required, or which level a child care centre director must hold, so neither claim is made here. The Ministry's ECE Certification Guide itself could not be confirmed here (the publications.saskatchewan.ca download failed), so the level definitions in this guide rest on the Child Care Regulations, 2015 Licensee's Manual dated September 1, 2026, which reproduces them; read the guide itself from the Ministry's certification page before applying.
Early Childhood Educator I, Early Childhood Educator II, and Early Childhood Educator III. ECE I is granted on successful completion of a 9-credit-unit orientation to early childhood course through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, or 9 credit units of equivalent education or training. ECE II is granted on a one-year early childhood certificate from a recognized college in Canada, or 39 credit units of equivalent education or training. ECE III is granted on a two-year early childhood diploma from a recognized college in Canada, or 81 credit units of equivalent education or training.
The ECE I route is the entry point: complete the 9-credit-unit orientation to early childhood course through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, or 9 credit units of equivalent education or training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic also offers a certificate of achievement once you have completed three courses — Health, Safety and Nutrition (ECE 142), Child Guidance 1 (HUMD 183), and Dynamics of Play 1 (ECE 106) — which meets the Ministry of Education's minimum requirements for entry-level positions in group care settings.
Individual courses can count. Certification can be achieved in two ways: by completing the introductory training, certificate, or diploma in early childhood education from a recognized post-secondary institution, or by completing an equivalent amount of course credit units. Only post-secondary coursework counts, and only coursework completed through an accredited public college or university is considered for certification.
Read the Saskatchewan ECE Certification Guide, then complete the application form for your situation: applicants living in Saskatchewan, applicants living or certified out of province, or pre-approval of qualifications for applicants living internationally. Submit the form with a copy of valid proof of identity, and ask your post-secondary institution to send official transcripts directly to the Ministry of Education. As of October 1, 2026, the Ministry accepts PDF documents only.
If your transcripts are from a post-secondary institution outside Canada or the United States, you need a course-by-course evaluation (ICAP Report) from World Education Services (WES). WES must send it directly to the Ministry of Education, with the Ministry of Education – Saskatchewan selected as the recipient and Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Certification specified, and the WES reference number included on your application form.
You use the same application, and you submit a copy of your original provincial or territorial ECE certificate, licence, or registration with it. The Ministry of Education's certification page asks for that copy alongside the application form and proof of identity.