Revised CPL Program FAQs

Current Members: Those registered with the College prior to July 1, 2022 will continue to complete their current CPL 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 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 Portfolio cycle after their first renewal date (after July 1, 2023).

For more information, please review the timeline chart here. 

The CPL Portfolio Cycle components and Handbook will be available on the College website in July 2022.

This mandatory CPL requirement will be available in July 2022 and must be completed by all members. It will be offered online and includes two modules, Commit to Kids and Teatree Tells, developed by the Canadian Center for Child Protection, along with resources developed by the College specific to the practice of early childhood education in Ontario.

The program will build on the skills and knowledge RECEs already have in sexual assault prevention and equip them to apply it in their work.

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

The CPL Portfolio includes two required components:

• Reflection and Planning Tool
• Record of Professional Learning

The new one-year CPL Portfolio Cycle components and handbook will be available on the College website in July 2022. However, completing the CPL Portfolio Cycle is optional during the year that a member is completing the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program educational requirement.

Beginning July 2023, renewing members will start the new one-year CPL Portfolio Cycle upon renewal.

For more information, please review the timeline chart here.

The new CPL Portfolio is a simplified version of the two-year CPL Portfolio.

The Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) program is an ongoing professional learning program that is grounded in self-reflection, self-directed learning and the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

The CPL Program is designed to support RECEs to:

• enhance their knowledge and skills
• strengthen their professional judgment
• improve their practice throughout their career

It also communicates to families, colleagues and the public that RECEs are members of a distinct profession that demonstrates accountability, maintains public trust, remains current in practice and values ongoing professional learning.

As regulated professionals, RECEs are required to engage in professional learning. The CPL Program requirements are described in the Notice of Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) Program Requirements.

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.

Log into My College Account, then click on the Continuous Professional Learning tab to see:

• your current step in the CPL Program
• your past compliance declarations, and
• deferrals, if applicable.

If you have been contacted by the College due to potential non-compliance with CPL Program requirements, you can upload your declaration of compliance or CPL records through My College Account.

If there are extenuating circumstances that significantly interfere with your ability to comply with CPL Program requirements during your membership year you can submit a request for deferral through My College Account.

When you are starting the new one-year CPL Portfolio Cycle for the first time, you will receive an email communication from the College around your renewal month with a link to download a copy of the CPL Portfolio Handbook from the College’s website.

You will also be able to request a hardcopy of the Handbook to be mailed to you.

Additional hardcopies of the Handbook are available for $5.00 plus shipping. To order copies, please complete this order form.

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!

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

However, you are required to:

• Fulfill your CPL requirements by the time of your annual renewal
• Declare 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.

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.

In extenuating circumstances, you may be granted a deferral of your CPL Program requirements. A request for deferral​ form and supporting documents can be submitted to the College through My College Account. It is recommended that you submit a request for deferral as soon as possible once the extenuating circumstance arises.

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.

The Registrar determines the number of members to be selected for an audit of their CPL Program records. RECEs who are selected for an audit are requested to submit their documents within 30 days. Members selected for audit who do not submit the requested documentation enter the non-compliance process. The College takes an educational approach when auditing records by providing remedial feedback to members, as needed.

To learn more about the auditing process, read the Notice of CPL Program Requirements.