Accelerated (PLAR) Early Childhood Education Diploma

Together with the NSCC and the NSCECE, the Department is pleased to announce additional spaces for staff with Entry Level, School Age Approval, or Level 1 Classifications to pursue an Accelerated (PLAR) Early Childhood Education Diploma while they work.

  • EECD provides full funding for tuition, books, and student fees charged by the institution.
  • Earn your diploma in a shortened time frame of 16 – 21 months, depending on your experience.
  • A rigorous Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process allows you to be exempt from 50 - 75% of program requirements.
  • The program consists of online courses and workplace practicums so you can continue to work while studying.

Applications are now open for programs at the following institutions:

  • Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education (NSCECE) - Classes start January 3, 2023
  • Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) - Classes start February 27, 2023
  • There is no cost to the applicant to apply to NSCC or NSCECE.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

  • Hold an Entry Level or Level 1 Classification, or School-Age Training Approval issued by EECD
  • Be employed in Nova Scotia in a licensed child care or Pre-primary program on date of application to the program, working a minimum of 15 hours per week, and have the ability to complete practicums at your place of work
  • Provide written verification from your employer that
    • supports your participation in the program,
    • agrees to provide you a minimum of 15 hours of work per week for the duration of the program, and
    • commits to supporting you in workplace practicum experiences
  • Reside in Nova Scotia and have Canadian Citizenship or legal Permanent Resident status
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be out of school (not be currently enrolled in any formal post-secondary course or program at the time of application)
  • Have not have previously completed an ECE diploma 

To be eligible for admission to NSCECE's PLAR Program, applicants must:

  • Have at least one year of work experience in a child care or Pre-primary program in Nova Scotia, equivalent to 1,080 hours or more per year (PLAR up to 50% of program requirements) 
  • Have a Canadian Language Benchmark minimum score of 7 or equivalent in all categories (if English is not your first language)

To be eligible for admission to NSCC's PLAR Program, applicants must:

  • Have at least two years of work experience in a child care or Pre-primary program in Nova Scotia, equivalent to 1,080 hours or more per year (PLAR up to 75% of program requirements) 
  • Have a Canadian Language Benchmark minimum score of 8 or equivalent in all categories (if English is not your first language)

Students who were offered a funded seat in 2021-2022 and withdrew from the PLAR program are not eligible to apply for a funded seat in 2022-2023.
 

 

Application Process

Please ensure you have obtained all the required information prior to beginning your application. Incomplete, or partially complete applications will not be processed, and will require re-submission to be considered.
 

To apply to NSCC, applicants must:

For questions on application and admissions to the NSCC Accelerated ECE Diploma Program, please email: Alana Wiens, Academic Chair (email: ecework.learn@nscc.ca).
 

To apply to NSCECE, please visit their website - https://www.nscece.com/programs

  • NSCECE will provide you with two forms to complete: a funding eligibility application form and an employer verification form – both must be submitted to NSCECE 
  • Submit a copy of your Entry Level, School Age Approval, or Level 1 Classification. 
    • If you require a duplicate copy of your Classification certificate, you must contact Classification Services immediately at ecetraining@novascotia.ca
  • Complete the NSCECE admissions process (if approved for funding) 

Questions about NSCECE's PLAR Program, including application and admissions processes should be sent to hawna Murray, Recruitment Officer, at shawna.murray@nscece.ca 
 

 

Applicants will be accepted on a first come first serve basis until enrollment is full.

  • When seats are filled, other applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be added to a waitlist.
  • If a space becomes available, the next person on the waitlist will be contacted and invited to enroll at NSCC or NSCECE.
  • Those not meeting the eligibility criteria will also be notified by email.

For questions on eligibility to participate in the program, please contact:

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
email: ecetraining@novascotia.ca
phone: 902-424-3207