Early Childhood Education CertificateSAIT
The Early Childhood Education certificate is a one-year program with two required practicum placements. Its courses align with the first year of SAIT's ECE diploma, offering a route to complete that diploma with one further year of study.
Plan the study budget ↓
Prepare for both placements as well as classroom study
The certificate includes work with children in community settings, so police-check, First Aid and CPR preparation matters alongside admission and tuition. Graduates are eligible to apply for Alberta Level 2 certification; graduation is not itself the certification award.
Plan the published study costs
International estimates for entry in 2026/27. Your letter of admission may show a higher maximum tuition guarantee.
Tuition and listed additional fees
| Period | Semesters | Tuition | Additional fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | $13,770.00 | $1,764.50 | $15,534.50 |
| Published program total | $15,534.50 | |||
The additional-fee column is already included in each total. The certificate estimate is $15,534.50, comprising $13,770 tuition and $1,764.50 listed fees. The program quotes approximately $50–$100 for verification; confirm your actual package rather than adding different initial verification fee quotes together.
Recheck the official cost table ↗Make a study budget
- Selected tuition and listed fees
- $15,534.50
- One international application
- $175.00
- Your living estimate
- $0.00
- Planning subtotal
- $15,709.50
Includes the selected table totals, one application and your entered living budget. It excludes unentered books, equipment, software and separately charged course costs. Use the same dollars as the published table.
Non-refundable · One application with ranked choices
Allow approximately $1,000–$1,500 per full-time year for books and supplies. A portable Apple or Windows laptop or tablet is preferred; a phone is unsuitable. Police and vulnerable-sector checks, Canadian First Aid and CPR, verification and any relocation expenses are additional.
Select the Early Childhood Education certificate when checking intake and entry. The ECE diploma is a separate credential. Ask SAIT about the later diploma pathway if that is your intended goal.
Read the application payment guide ↗Check the academic route
SAIT assesses the documents and course equivalents for education completed outside Canada. Demonstrating English proficiency does not by itself establish that your academic subjects meet the program requirements.
Check the complete admission requirements ↗-
English subject
At least 65% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, or an accepted equivalent.
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Language and documents
English proficiency and assessment of education completed outside Canada remain required. The admission block does not add mathematics, PSEA or CASPer requirements.
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Placement preparation
Practicum documents are a separate requirement from the academic English subject. Follow the program's readiness process and timing.
English proficiency is a separate requirement
Assessment results must be from within the year before your application. A transfer or deferral can require updated results when that period has passed.
Compare common tests and education routes
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 in each skill; IELTS Indicator accepted |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 53 |
| Duolingo | 115 overall and 95 in each Individual Subscore |
| CAEL | 60 overall and, effective Winter 2023, 60 in each skill; CAEL Online accepted |
| TOEFL before 21 January 2026 | 20 in each category; Home Edition accepted, MyBest excluded |
| TOEFL from 21 January 2026 | 4.5 overall and 4.5 in each category; Home Edition accepted, MyBest excluded |
The policy also lists CLBA/CLBPA, MET, Cambridge, Oxford Test of English, LanguageCert and Oxford ELLT. Use the official policy for their individual score requirements and for country or institution exemptions.
- Education in EnglishOfficial transcripts or a completed international assessment must verify at least three years of full-time secondary study in English at 12 or more hours a week, or at least two years of study taught in English at a recognized post-secondary institution, or a recognized English-taught credential from a SAIT-approved institution.
- A post-secondary English courseA credit course in English, comparative literature, communications or an equivalent at SAIT or a recognized post-secondary institution requires at least a C.
- English Language FoundationsThe SAIT route requires both COMN 155 and SPCH 155. Other recognized pathways have their own levels and assessment conditions; check the complete policy before choosing one.
Two semesters including two practicums
Complete 30 credits across 11 courses. The certificate's two placements are required parts of the program. A later year of diploma study is a further education decision with its own costs; the certificate's fee table does not price both credentials together.
Read courses and prerequisites ↗Documents for the ECE practicums
- The central checklist requires consent, a Police Information Check, CPR and Standard First Aid. Immunization documents and N95 testing are marked not applicable for this program.
- Use the required Canadian provider and CPR Level B or C documentation, valid through the placement rotations. Follow the emailed timing instructions before arranging police checks or CPR.
- Confirm the vulnerable-sector check, document-verification package and any placement arrangements with SAIT. The program's approximate verification range is not an individual invoice.
Related study guides
Return to the SAIT program finder ↗Sources and planning scope
- Official program requirements and costs ↗
- English proficiency ↗
- International application policy ↗
- ECE practicum checklist and timing ↗
Sources checked 29 October 2026. Costs use the published 2026/27 entry estimate. Annual table labels do not determine your months of living costs. Confirm current intake availability and your own admission assessment with the institution.