Certification Council of Early Childhood Educators of NS
~ committed to the development of a high quality, professional, certified body of early childhood educators.

  What Early Childhood Practitioners say about Certification.
  Why Should I become certified?
  How does the Early Childhood Educator Certification process work?
  Am I eligible for certification as an Early Childhood Educator?
  How does the Early Childhood Centre Administrator process work?
  Am I eligible for Early Childhood Centre Administrator Certification?
  What is the Certification Council of Early Childhood Educators of Nova Scotia?

What Early Childhood Practitioners say about Certification~

"I believe fully in certification. It is the single most important thing that has happened to the ECE field in Nova Scotia in a long time."
"I look at myself as a true professional in the field."
"{I got} support from people who really believed and valued things in connection to child care."
"I became a better teacher in my classroom. I felt I had more to offer the daycare I worked in."

Why should I become certified?

On a personal level, certification is a path to greater professional development. Certification is a recognition that you have successfully integrated and applied the body of knowledge you acquired through your training. Becoming certified acknowledges that you are living up to your own standards and ideals and that your peers have recognized the quality of your work.

On a broader level, certification will provide a high standard for early childhood professionals and will improve the quality of care for children in Nova Scotia. It will assure parents that individuals who have been certified have reached a standard of excellence and will demonstrate that early childhood practitioners are credible professionals.

How does the ECE Certification Process Work?
Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certification is an examination of your practice that takes at least nine months. Each candidate works as part of a group of three candidates, called a Triplet. The Triplet is supported and assisted by a facilitator, a validator and the executive of the Certification Council.


Each member of the Triplet:

• Evaluates her/his own strengths and weaknesses on 15 standardized criteria


• Observes, shares with and evaluates the other Triplet members


• Produces three written evaluation reports -- a self-evaluation and an evaluation for each of the other
  two Triplet members


• Is coached by a Mentor
• Is observed and assessed by a Validator


• Is assessed by the Executive of the Certification.
  
  The Facilitator:
  
• Supports, mentors and monitors the triplet throughout the certification process


The Validator:

• Reviews the reports and paperwork submitted by the Triplet and the Facilitator
• Validates their observations
• Makes a report and recommendation to the Certification Council


Certification Council:
• Reviews all the information and determines the certification status of each applicant
  
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Am I eligible for certification as an Early Childhood Educator?
You are eligible for ECE certification if you:

• Work directly with children for a regular amount of time per week at least nine months of the year

or

• Work directly with children as a substitute at least three days a week for at least nine months of the year

AND

• Have at least two years experience working directly with children

AND

• Are a graduate of any recognized Early Childhood Education program as offered in the province of Nova Scotia or that meets the standards as set down by Early Childhood Development Services of the Department of Community Services.


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How does the ECCA certification process work?
Early Childhood Centre Administrator Certification is a four-step process. You will be assigned a facilitator who will act as your mentor throughout the process.

Step 1: Application
Applying for acceptance as a certification candidate involves:
• Training in the ECCA certification process
• Compilation of a professional portfolio that describes the experiences and professional development activities that have affected your work as an early childhood centre administrator.
• Submission of the portfolio to the Certification Council for review and decision on your acceptance as a candidate.

Step 2: Examination
Phase A: Case Study Response

Phase A includes:

• Training in developing and presenting five assigned case studies on management responsibilities. The case studies relate to staff, families, licensed operator (owners and boards), facility and community.
• Training in how to effectively present your case study responses and how to evaluate your own presentations and those of your peers.
• Self-evaluation of your presentations and evaluation by five of your peers and a validator.
• On-going communication with your facilitator through journal entries regarding your responsibilities as an early childhood centre administrator.




Phase B: Written Case Study:

Phase B includes:

• Training in writing and presenting five case studies of management responsibilities related to staff, families, licensed operator (owners and boards), facility and community.
• Training in the application of ethics.
• Self-evaluation of your presentations and evaluation by five of your peers and a validator.
• Organizing a practice binder that includes copies of your centre forms, policies, procedures, philosophy and a record of the legal sanctions that affect your work.

Step 3: Validation

• Assessment of the organizational climate of your centre through the completion of a Work Environment Study by each member of your staff
• Assessment of the customer service aspect of your work through the completion of a Client Satisfaction Survey by at least sixty percent of your parents
• Site visit by a Validator who will conduct an Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) on at least 50% of your classrooms to assess your effectiveness in leading your staff in their program delivery.
You will receive a written report of the results of each of these assessments and have an opportunity to discuss them with the validator.

Step 4: Recommendation

• All reports and recommendations are forwarded to the Certification Council.
• Candidate Review Committee, made up of validators, facilitators, and the Certification Council executive, considers all the information and makes a decision regarding your certification status.