Individual Assessment FAQs

1. Can I apply to the College if I do not have a diploma or degree from a program on the Approved Post Secondary Programs List and do not have a certificate or licence from another province in Canada?

Yes. Applicants may apply if they have a four semester (two year) diploma or degree level credential with a major in early childhood education from a recognized post secondary institution. These applicants will undergo an individual assessment to determine whether they meet the College's entry to practise requirements based on the academic credentials and experience they have.

Please note:

Applicants who do not hold a post secondary diploma or degree from a recognized post secondary institution are not eligible for registration under section 7.1.iv. of the Registration Regulation.

2. Can I apply to the College for a Letter of Equivalency Certificate?

No, the College does not issue Letter of Equivalency Certificates. The assessment process determines if you meet the College's registration requirements. If you meet the requirements for registration, the College will issue you a Certificate of Registration that will allow you to practise the profession of early childhood education in Ontario.

3. Can the College recommend courses I need to take in order to become registered?

No. The application process will not identify courses that an individual should take in order to register with the College. It will determine whether the applicant meets all of the requirements for registration with the College.

Ontario Colleges and Universities may grant you an exemption, advanced standing or transfer credit for courses completed at other recognized post secondary institutions. Please visit www.ontransfer.ca for more information.

4. I have a certificate or licence from another province in Canada. Can I apply to the College for a Certificate of Registration?

Please check the Ontario Labour Mobility Act page for a list of certificates and licences granted by a regulatory authority of another province of territory. If you hold one of these certificates or licences, please submit a copy with your application. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet all of the College's requirements for registration.

If your certificate or licence is not listed, you will need to apply for an individual assessment of your educational qualifications. Please see the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and Understanding the Process for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications.

5. How do I apply to the College for an Individual assessment?

Please read the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and Understanding the Process for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications for information regarding the process, the criteria used by the College, and the supporting documents required to assess your file.

6. How long does an Individual assessment take?

Each file is assessed on an individual basis. The complexity of each file is different and therefore, the processing time may vary due to the complexity of files and the volume of files to be processed. To avoid delays please ensure that your application is completed in full and you submit all relevant documents. The College cannot assess a file until all of the relevant documents have been received.

7. Can you speed up the assessment of my file? I have a job on the line.

In fairness to all applicants, applications are processed and reviewed in the order that they are received. The College recognizes that employment offers can be impacted by the time it takes to complete the individual assessment. Please ensure that all requested documents have been submitted to avoid delays.

8. If I tell you my credentials and experience on the phone, can you tell me what my chances are of being issued a Certificate of Registration?

Assessments can only be done once an application is received by the College with all of the required documentation. The College does not assess or speculate on your file or credentials by phone or e-mail. Please read the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and Understanding the Process for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications for information regarding the process, the criteria used by the College, and the supporting documents required to assess your file.

9. What documents should I submit with my application?

Please read the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and Understanding the Process for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications for a complete list of documents that must be submitted for each phase of the assessment process.

10. What is the acceptable format for course outlines?

The College accepts photocopies of these documents directly from the applicant or from the educational institution. The College does not accept faxed or e-mailed copies of the course outlines or course syllabus of your academic programs. Please note the College accepts a printed version of the syllabi from the educational institution. Self-written or self-typed documents are not acceptable. The College recommends that you keep a copy of your course outlines or course syllabi for your records before mailing the application package to the College. Original documents may not be returned.

11. What is the acceptable format for the submission of academic transcripts?

Canadian trained applicants must have official transcripts mailed to the College directly from the educational institution they attended. Official transcripts must bear the institution's seal and signature of the Registrar or equivalent official. The College is unable to accept transcripts mailed directly by applicants even if they are in a sealed, unopened envelope.

The College also accepts transcripts transmitted electronically by the educational institutions directly to the College.

Internationally trained applicants must apply for an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Document-by-Document Report from World Education Services, (WES). WES will mail this report, and your transcripts, directly to the College.

12. My educational institution has mailed the official transcript to my home address in a sealed envelope. Can I submit this to the College as proof of educational qualifications?

The College is unable to accept a transcript from you even if it is in a sealed, unopened envelope. The transcript must be mailed directly to the College by the educational institution where you completed the educational requirements. The transcript must bear the seal of the institution where you completed your program and be signed by the registrar or equivalent official. The College also accepts transcripts transmitted electronically by the educational institutions directly to the College.

Please note, if you are internationally trained, you will require a World Education Services International Credential Advantage Package report.

13. I am moving to Ontario. Can I apply to the College before I arrive?

Yes. You can mail in Application Form for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and supporting documents at any time. Before coming to Canada, you may also apply to World Education Services (WES) for your International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Document-by-Document Report. However, in order to become a member of the College your application must include all the required documents and you must meet all of the registration requirements. For more information, please read the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications and Understanding the Process for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications. Applicants should be sure to provide a current mailing address and remember to update the College if address information changes.

4. If I am internationally trained and have an assessment report from an agency other than World Education Services (WES), will the College accept this evaluation?

No. The College only accepts the ICAP Credential Evaluation Report from WES. We are unable to accept any other third-party evaluation report.

15. World Education Services (WES) sent you the International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Document-by-Document report. Why do I have to submit the course outlines/descriptions?

The WES ICAP report does not include course outlines for your academic program(s). It contains an evaluation report and copy of your verified transcript(s) only. The syllabus or outlines are separate documents and must be submitted by the applicant or by the educational institution. Please contact your educational institution in order to obtain this information.

Course outlines, syllabi represent an essential piece of information that will assist the College in assessing the elements of the performance of each vocational learning outcome. The College strongly recommends that applicants make every effort to obtain these documents to allow for a meaningful assessment of their educational qualifications.

16. I have applied to the World Education Services (WES) in the past and obtained a Credential Evaluation Report. Can I submit this to the College as proof of educational qualifications?

The College is unable to accept the report from you. If the report is not an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Document-by-Document Report, you must contact WES and upgrade your report to an ICAP report. The ICAP report must also indicate the language of instruction. At the present time, this is the only type of WES report the College accepts. You must authorize WES to mail the report and transcripts directly to the College. More information is available at www.wes.org/ca.

17. If some of my required documents are in a language other than English or French, do I need to have them translated?

Yes. The College requires all documentation to be submitted in either English or French. You must arrange for a translator acceptable to the College to translate your documents. Other than official academic transcripts, translated documents may be sent to the College by the applicant.

The translated documents must be accompanied by a cover letter which contains the following information:

the type of document(s) which have been translated;
the date of the translation;
the translator's identification number or seal (or both);
the translator's name and contact information;
the signature of the translator.

To obtain the name of an accredited translator in Ontario, contact:

Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)

Telephone: 613-241-2846

Toll-free: 1-800-234-5030

E-mail: info@atio.on.ca

Website: www.atio.on.ca

COSTI-IIAS Immigrant Services

Telephone: 416-658-1600

E-mail: info@costi.org

Website: www.costi.org

The College will also accept translations from:

• The consulate, high commission or embassy to Canada of the country that issued the documents. This information is available at www.international.gc.ca.

18. Can I request access to the documents that the College has in my file?

Yes. Please contact the College by e-mail at registration@college-ece.ca to make a request for access to any information or documents the College has in your application file.

The Registrar may refuse to give an applicant anything that may, in the Registrar's opinion, jeopardize the safety of any person (Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, c.7, Sched. 8, s.26 (2)).

19. I have answered "YES" to one of the questions regarding Issues Potentially Affecting Practice in the Application Form. Does this mean I cannot be a member of the College?

A "yes" response does not necessarily make you ineligible for registration with the College. You will be asked to provide a detailed explanation in writing. You may submit this in a sealed envelope labelled "confidential". The College reserves the right to decide on an individual basis as to the possible impact of the conduct on the practice of the profession.

20. What happens if I apply and am not considered eligible for membership in the College?

If an applicant does not meet the requirements for registration, the Registrar may propose to refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration to the applicant or propose to issue a Certificate of Registration with terms, conditions or limitations. The applicant will receive a written proposal from the Registrar that includes reasons for the decision.

If an applicant does not agree with the Registrar's proposal, she/he may request a review by the Registration Appeals Committee of the College by filing a request for review within a 60 day period.

The College will send an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant within 1-2 weeks of receipt of request for review. The applicant will have 35 days to provide any additional documents to the Committee.

When the Registration Appeals Committee has completed its review, the applicant will be provided with a written decision and reasons for the decision. If the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, she/he has the right to a further review of the registration decisions of the Registration Appeals Committee through Ontario Divisional Court in accordance with the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007.

For more information, please read the Request for review by the Registration Appeals Committee FAQ section on the College website, under the Applicants tab.

21. I am a member of another regulated profession in Ontario (e.g. Teacher, Social Worker, Nurse, Psychologist). Can I apply to the College of Early Childhood Educators with my current designation?

The College of Early Childhood Educators (the College) is a distinct regulatory body with its own unique requirements for registration. The College regulates the profession of early childhood education in Ontario. Members of the College are professionals who meet the entry to practise requirements and standards of practice of the profession.

Holding membership with another professional regulatory college will not automatically qualify you as an Early Childhood Educator. Assessments can only be done once an application is received by the College with all of the required documentation. The College does not assess or speculate on your file or credentials by phone or e-mail.

To register with the College, all applicants must possess a diploma or degree from a recognized post secondary institution that relates to the practice of early childhood education or a combination of a diploma or degree from a recognized post secondary institution and experience that is equivalent to a diploma from a program in early childhood education offered by an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology.

To be assessed for courses required to obtain a diploma in early childhood education, please contact a Community College (Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology – OCAAT). An OCAAT, as a training institution, may be able to assess your credentials and experience and may be able to offer you advanced standing in their Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma programs, or exempt you from certain credits. Contact the ECE program coordinator at your local OCAAT for more information on Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) or visit www.ontariotransfer.ca.

22. I completed my academic program in a language other than English or French and I have to provide proof of language fluency. What language tests will the College accept as proof of language fluency?

One of the following tests and scores will be considered acceptable proof of language fluency:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: minimum score of 6.5 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. For information on how to register for the test and test centre locations, please visit www.ielts.org.
Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (IBT TOEFL): overall score of 88 and a minimum score of 20 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Please note if you score 20 in a category, you must score higher in other categories to achieve the overall score. For information on how to register for the test and test centre locations, please visit www.ets.org.
Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest): minimum score of 4.0 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. For information on how to register for the test and test centre locations, please visit https://cantest.uottawa.ca/.
Test pour étudiants et stagiaires au Canada (TestCan): minimum score of 4.0 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. For information on how to register for the test and test centre locations, please visit http://testcan.uottawa.ca./.

For more information, please read the Policy on Language Fluency and the College's Application Guide for the Individual Assessment of Educational Qualifications.

23. I have worked in child care for many years but I haven't completed any course work. Can the College register me as a member based on my extensive work experience?

No. Applicants who do not hold a post secondary diploma or degree from a recognized post secondary institution are not eligible for registration under section 7.1.iv. of the Registration Regulation.

24. If my application is not approved, am I refunded the fees I paid?

In the event that the College determines that you do not meet registration requirements, you will be refunded the registration fee. The application fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the registration process.