CPL FAQs

Yes. Ontario Regulation 359/15: Continuous Professional Learning under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, requires you to fulfill the requirements of the CPL Program.

As regulated professionals, all RECEs are required to fulfill the CPL requirements, regardless of employment status, role or practice setting. This includes members who are retired or working outside the scope of practice.

Here’s a tip sheet to help you understand the CPL Cycle Details table.

Yes. A member’s Certificate of Registration may be suspended by the Registrar if the member does not comply with a requirement of the CPL Program. These requirements are set out in the Continuous Professional Learning regulation under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007.

Members who falsely declare compliance with their CPL Program requirements could be found guilty of professional misconduct.

To learn more about what happens if you do not complete your CPL requirements, read the Notice of CPL Program Requirements.

RECEs are required to complete the Expectations for Practice Module and the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program in their first year of membership.

After renewing, RECEs complete a CPL Portfolio Cycle every year while they are College members. CPL is an ongoing, recurring process.

Information about the required steps, timelines, record keeping, and the auditing process are explained in the Notice of CPL Program Requirements.

Current Members: Those registered with the College prior to July 1, 2022, will continue to complete their CPL Program 2019 requirements until their next renewal date. On their first renewal after July 1, 2022, they will begin the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program. Their first one-year CPL Portfolio Cycle will begin in the year following completion of the required Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (on their first renewal after July 1, 2023).

New Members: Those registered with the College on or after July 1, 2022, will complete Expectations for Practice and the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program during their first membership year. They will begin their one-year CPL Portfolio Cycle after their first renewal date (after July 1, 2023).

For more information, please review the timeline chart here. 

Yes, you will still need to confirm compliance with your current CPL Program 2019 requirements on your next renewal submission. You will continue to engage in your current learning plan up until your next renewal period. For more information, please review the timeline chart here.

If you have extenuating circumstances, you may be granted a deferral of your CPL Program requirements. A CPL Deferral Request Form and supporting documents can be submitted to the College through My College Account. It is recommended that you submit a request for deferral when an extenuating circumstance arises.

All members must keep their CPL program records for at least two years. At any time, the Registrar may request that members submit their CPL program records to the College to confirm compliance or for an audit of their records.

No. You are not required by the College to submit or share your CPL Program records with your employer. In some cases, employers may integrate aspects of the CPL Program into performance management processes or professional development plans. You are welcome to share and collaborate with your employer or your colleagues in completing program requirements.

Yes, all members will have access to the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program as of July 1, 2022. You can complete it at any time; however, you are still required to complete your current CPL requirements up until your next renewal date. You will declare that you have completed the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program on the schedule outlined in the timeline chart, even if you have completed it early.

You may choose to complete the program alone or with colleagues. Engaging in reflection and dialogue with colleagues may enhance your learning. Each member must complete the knowledge validation test and quiz in their own profile and confirm completion of the program components upon renewal.

While there are some similarities with the OCT’s Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (i.e., Commit to Kids), the College of Early Childhood Educators’ program also includes an online module called Teatree Tells, along with resources developed by the College specific to the practice of early childhood education in Ontario.

RECEs who are also OCTs will need to complete the Commit to Kids Knowledge Validation Test and the other elements required by the College of Early Childhood Educators.

The CPL Portfolio Cycle 2022 is a one-year portfolio process where RECEs reflect on their practice, develop one professional learning goal, plan, and engage in and document their professional learning activities.

The CPL Portfolio 2022 includes two required components:

• Reflection and Planning Tool
• Record of Professional Learning

The CPL Portfolio Cycle 2022 components and handbook is available here. Completing the CPL Portfolio Cycle 2022 is optional during the year that a member is completing the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program educational requirement.

Beginning July 2023, all renewing members will start the CPL Portfolio Cycle 2022 upon renewal.

For more information, please review the timeline chart here.

Members have the option to continue to engage in their CPL Portfolios during the year when they are required to complete the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, but it is not a requirement. Once it is time for you to begin the revised CPL Portfolio, you will complete the Reflection and Planning Tool in the new CPL Portfolio. If one of your previous goals is still a priority, you can use it as your professional learning goal in your new Portfolio Cycle.

When you begin the CPL Portfolio Cycle 2022, you will receive an email from the College with a link to download a copy of the CPL Portfolio Handbook 2022. You will also have the option to request a hardcopy of the Handbook to be mailed to you.

No. You do not need to send your portfolio to the College when you renew your membership.

You are required to:

• Fulfill your CPL requirements by the time of your annual renewal
• Confirm compliance with the CPL Program when you renew your membership
• Keep your portfolios and documentation (electronically and/or print) for two years

Members who falsely declare compliance with their CPL Program requirements could be found guilty of professional misconduct.

The College is committed to supporting the learning needs and styles of all RECEs and may accept the use of alternative formats in completing required CPL Program portfolio components.

RECEs may choose to keep their CPL portfolio documentation in any format (e.g., paper, electronic, audio/video/voice recordings, web- or app-based portfolio platform) that reflects the required content of the portfolio components.

RECEs need to be prepared to share or provide access to their documentation if requested by the College. It is each RECE’s responsibility to ensure that records, whether maintained on a web-based platform, app or as a hard copy, are safely stored for future access.

No. You are not required to complete a specific number of hours or take part in specific professional learning activities for your portfolio. The choice of learning activities or experiences and how many you engage in to meet your goal is up to you. Here are some examples.

Yes. The CPL Portfolio is different than a general professional portfolio.

To find out when you start the CPL Program 2022, review the Timeline Chart. 

Log into My College Account to check your current requirement in the CPL tab.

Generally, eligible members are selected at random for an audit. The Registrar, however, has the authority to request information and documents from a member to demonstrate their compliance at any time. There may be circumstances in which a member may be selected specifically for an audit.

Each year the Registrar will determine the number of members to be selected for an audit of CPL Program records.

You will receive a notice from the College via email and mail, if you are selected for a CPL Program audit.

All members must keep CPL records for at least two years and make them available to the College if requested to submit them.

The College will accept CPL records electronically or hard copy. Members selected for an audit will be provided instructions for submitting a copy of their documents to the College. Members are advised not to submit original documents because they will not be returned.

The College is committed to supporting the learning needs and styles of all RECEs and may accept the use
of alternative formats in the completion of the portfolio components. Please contact the College for more information.

Members who are selected for an audit will have 30 days to submit a copy of their documents to the College.  Members are advised not to submit original documents because they will not be returned.

Members who do not submit their complete CPL program records within 30 days will be deemed to be in non-compliance with CPL program requirements and will be sent a Notice of Intention to Suspend their Certificate of Registration. The suspension will be carried out after 60 days if the member fails to provide the required documents.

The College will take an educational approach when auditing member’s CPL records, providing remedial feedback, as needed.