Indigenous Early Childhood Education Certificate

About this programme

The Indigenous Early Childhood Education (IECE) program at NVIT prepares learners to provide quality care and education for young children while honouring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. The program integrates Indigenous worldviews with contemporary child development practices and provincial licensing standards, supporting culturally grounded and responsive early learning. The Indigenous Early Childhood Education Certificate equips learners with foundational skills and knowledge to support young children, families, and communities. Learners are encouraged to examine the roles of the child, family, and educator through concepts of belonging, learning, and sharing that strengthen identity through culture. The program recognizes that Indigenous approaches to child development have continually evolved alongside societal and regulatory contexts. Learners reflect on how the image of the child has shifted over time and how Indigenous ways of knowing and being are upheld within British Columbia’s licensed childcare framework. The IECE Diploma is designed to meet provincial licensing standards for Infant and Toddler Educator and Special Needs Educator accreditation. The program ensures both academic and First Nations standards are met, preparing graduates to be effective early childhood educators and childcare professionals in British Columbia. Successful completion allows graduates to work as supervisors in daycare settings, support children with special needs, and work with infants and toddlers under three years of age.