42202 Early childhood educators and assistants

What this occupation covers

Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, daycare centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 17 main duties for this code.

• Develop and implement child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Lead activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, taking children to local points of interest and providing opportunities to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical activity
• Plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
• Assess the abilities, interests and needs of children and discuss progress or problems with parents and other staff members
• Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents, guardians or supervisor
• Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers and community service providers working with children
• May plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
• May supervise and coordinate activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants.
• Support early childhood educators in carrying out programs that promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Engage children in activities by telling stories, teaching songs and preparing crafts
• Prepare snacks and arrange rooms or furniture for lunch and rest periods
• Assist with proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Submit written observations on children to early childhood educators or supervisors
• Maintain daycare equipment and assist in housekeeping and cooking duties
• Attend staff meetings to discuss progress and problems of children
• May assist early childhood educators or supervisors in keeping records.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 17 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services
• 43100 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
• 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

Excluded from this code

• Child-care centre administrator (See 40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services)
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (See 43100 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants)
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (See 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

baby-care worker · baby-care worker assistant · baby-care workers supervisor · child care worker - daycare · child care worker assistant · daycare aide · daycare attendant · daycare coordinator · daycare helper · daycare supervisor · daycare teacher · daycare worker · daycare worker assistant · early childhood assistant · early childhood education worker · early childhood educator - junior kindergarten · early childhood educator - kindergarten · early childhood educator - preschool · early childhood educator (ECE) · early childhood educator (ECE) assistant · early childhood educator assistant - junior kindergarten · early childhood educator assistant - kindergarten · early childhood program staff assistant · early childhood program supervisor

Employment requirements

• Early childhood educators
• Completion of a two- to four-year college program in early childhood education or A bachelor's degree in child development is required.
• Licensing is required in Ontario and certification is required in British Columbia for early childhood educators. Licensing for early childhood educators is usually required in all other provinces and territories.
• Early childhood educator assistants
• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Experience in child care is required.
• Completion of an early childhood education assistant certificate program or post-secondary courses in early childhood education may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association as an early childhood educator may be required.