Professional Learning Funding

Programs

• ECE Education Support Fund (ESF) - Student Bursary and Workforce Development Bursary, administered by ECEBC
• ECE Wage Enhancement (ECE-WE) via Child Care Operating Funding
• ECE Specialized Certification Grant (Infant/Toddler and Special Needs)
• BC Early Years Professional Development Hub - free/funded PL that counts toward renewal

Key amounts

• Student Bursary: up to $500 per course, $4,000 per semester (paid on successful completion)
• Workforce Development Bursary: up to $5,000 per semester - tuition plus lost wages and travel for working educators
• Wage enhancement: up to $6/hour for certified ECEs, plus 19.90% benefits funding (Jan 2026)
• Specialized Certification Grant: $2,000-$3,000 per year

Who's eligible

• BC residents (citizens/PRs) in ECE Registry-recognized programs; the Workforce stream requires current employment in licensed child care with employer verification. Priority to Indigenous applicants.

How to apply

• Apply online at the ECEBC Bursary Portal. Summer 2026 window: July 6-17, 2026 - transcripts due September 15. Wage enhancement flows through your employer via My ChildCareBC Services.

Programs

• Early Childhood Educator Workforce Supports Program (renamed from Child Care Grant Funding on April 1, 2026) - wage top-up, professional learning, release time and employer contribution funding

Key amounts

• Workshops and conferences: up to $500 per year - post-secondary coursework and textbooks: up to $1,500 per year (combined max $2,000)
• Release time: up to $787.50/yr for workshops ($17.50/hr x 45 hrs) and up to $1,600/yr for courses ($800 per 3-credit course, max 2)
• Wage top-up: Level 1 $2.64/hr, Level 2 $5.05/hr, Level 3 $8.62/hr (up to 181 hrs/month) + 9.51% employer contribution funding

Who's eligible

• Certified Level 1, 2 or 3 ECEs providing direct care in licensed daycare, preschool, out-of-school care or family day home agencies; Canadian citizen/PR or valid permit; 720+ hours worked in licensed child care by completion date.

How to apply

• Your program signs a grant agreement in the Child Care Licensing Portal, then submits the PD Funding Request form (CDEV12397) with receipts and proof of completion, within 3 months.
• Read the Funding Guide for full details.

Programs

• Tuition-Free ECE Training & PL - via 10 post-secondary institutions
• Tuition Reimbursement Grant (tuition + required books; employer applies)
• ECE Wage Enhancements & Workforce Grants
• Bursaries at Sask Polytech, Collège Mathieu (up to $3,500/yr) and SIIT ($500-$1,000)

Key amounts

• Wage enhancements: ECE I up to $5.85/hr, ECE II up to $7.35/hr, ECE III up to $8.85/hr
• Tuition Reimbursement: tuition plus required books (no published per-person cap)

Who's eligible

• Priority: SK citizens/PRs working in regulated child care, then permit-holders working in the sector, then those entering the field.

How to apply

• Tuition-free seats: apply directly through participating institutions. Tuition Reimbursement: your employer applies on your behalf. Questions: 1-855-824-9419 / ececertification@gov.sk.ca.

Programs

• ECE Tuition Reimbursement
• Training Grant & Staff Replacement Grant
• ECE Recruit-Back Incentive
• ELCC Wage Grid Supplement

Key amounts

• Tuition Reimbursement: up to $5,000 per school year (taxable) for recognized MB ECE II/III programs
• Training Grant: up to $400 per person per calendar year for PL and 40-hour courses (licensed non-profit facilities)
• Recruit-Back Incentive: $5,000 for ECE II/IIIs returning to the sector full-time
• Wage grid (April 2026): frontline ECE III $30.27/hr, ECE II $28.36/hr

Who's eligible

• Tuition support: students in recognized Manitoba ECE II/III programs (2025/26-2027/28), citizen/PR, with a 2-year work commitment in licensed MB child care.

How to apply

• Tuition Reimbursement: application form (PDF) - deadline for 2026/27 is March 1, 2027. Training Grant: your facility applies via Child Care Online. Recruit-Back: online form by January 1, 2027.

Programs

• ECE Qualifications Upgrade Program - Education Grant, Travel Grant, Training Allowance, CECE fee reimbursement and Leadership Certification Grant
• CWELCC workforce compensation (2026 wage floor: $25.86/hr RECE staff, $26.86 supervisors) + Wage Enhancement Grant via employers
• Local PL funding through your municipal service system manager ($18.5M invested in 2025)
• College of ECE Continuous Professional Learning - mandatory portfolio, free member resources

Key amounts

• Education Grant: tuition covered (minus other awards) for recognized Ontario college ECE diplomas
• Training Allowance: up to $5,000/semester if you leave employment to study full-time; $300/course while working
• Travel Grant: $0.40-$0.41/km plus $45/day temporary living allowance

Who's eligible

• 6 months' employment in licensed child care or early learning settings (exemptions for Francophone, First Nations/Métis/Inuit, EarlyON and Director Approval applicants); domestic student status; up to 2-year return-of-service.

How to apply

• Online only at portal.ecegrants.on.ca - first-come, first-served. Fall 2026 intake: past applicants July 27; everyone else (including Leadership Grant) August 10, 2026.

Programs

• Parcours travail-études en petite enfance - fully paid 18-month work-study AEC (COUD)
• Qualification incentives: Prime d'encouragement, RAC completion lump sum, RAC96 paid release time
• Bourses Perspective Québec - closed to new entrants; existing recipients can claim to Winter 2029
• Quality-improvement program funding free training and coaching for CPE/garderie teams

Key amounts

• COUD work-study: wages paid for both work and class hours; student fees capped at $200/session
• Prime d'encouragement: $450 per 15 credits completed while working unqualified (until June 1, 2028)
• RAC: lump sum of 2% of paid hours in the 12 months before graduating + up to 96 hours of paid release time

Who's eligible

• COUD: 18+, citizen/PR, Secondary V, with an employment link to a CPE or licensed garderie. Qualification incentives: unqualified educators employed in CPEs/garderies.

How to apply

• Fall 2026 COUD cohort: job postings open July 6 - September 6, 2026 (classes start November 2). Your employer files the application. Primes and RAC claims go through your employer within 90 days.

Programs

• ECE Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Recruitment, training & retention supports - free Introduction to ECE, free NBCC micro-credential, wage grid
• NB Professional Learning Hub - bilingual PL opportunities

Key amounts

• Tuition Reimbursement: up to $3,000 for a completed ECE Certificate/Diploma
• NBCC micro-credential: one-year certificate in 6-8 months at no cost
• Wage grid (April 2026): Level 1 $23.69-$27.79/hr; plus 14% admin fee to operators

Who's eligible

• Credential completed after Jan 1, 2007 at a recognized NB institution + current employment in a licensed NB facility. Micro-credential: 3+ years' experience with under-5s and the Intro course done.

How to apply

• Email your application with proof of employment, credential and payment to ECETRP-PRFSEPE@gnb.ca - processed monthly. Intro training: register through your employer.

Programs

• Continuing Education Program - course reimbursement for working educators
• Excellence in ECE Bursary Program and Pathway Programs
• Provincial wage scale tied to classification
• Early Years Professional Development Committee (EYPDC) - recognized sector PL

Key amounts

• Continuing Education: up to $5,000/yr (full-time staff) or $1,000/yr (part-time) for approved credit coursework - note: one-off PL workshops are not eligible
• Excellence Bursary: up to $5,000 over an ECE diploma (up to $10,000 at Université Sainte-Anne)
• Wage scale: Level 2 $25.42-$28.61/hr, Level 3 up to $29.64/hr

Who's eligible

• Permanent NS residents working directly with children in licensed child care or Pre-primary; courses from 8 approved NS institutions; 750-1,500 hour work commitment.

How to apply

• Submit the Application for Course Reimbursement with documents within 60 days of course completion to ecetraining@novascotia.ca. Bursaries: through your institution's awards office.

Programs

• Early Childhood Education Grant - 100% tuition for eligible courses
• Early Years Centre Wage Grid tied to certification
• ECDA of PEI - 80+ hours of qualifying PL annually, fall conference, mentoring

Key amounts

• ECE Grant: 100% of tuition up to $1,000 per year (April 2026 guidelines) for Holland College and Collège de l'Île ECE courses - fees, books and travel excluded
• Wage grid (Oct 2025): ECE (2-yr diploma) $29.15-$31.12/hr; Director up to $38.50/hr

Who's eligible

• Employees (including casual and part-time) of licensed PEI early childhood centres, preschools and family home centres. Courses April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027.

How to apply

• Apply online via the PEI eServices portal with an employer support letter - deadline March 1, 2027.

Programs

• ECE Trainee Bursary Program (delivered by AECENL)
• ECE Recruitment and Retention Grant + On-Campus Field Placement Bursary
• ECE Needs-Based Incentive Grant via StudentAidNL
• ECE Wage Grid + Francophone Bonus ($5,178/yr) and Labrador Allowance

Key amounts

• Trainee Bursary: $250 per completed certificate course
• Recruitment & Retention: $2,500 at certification + $2,500 at each 3-year renewal (max $7,500)
• Field Placement Bursary: $835/week up to $2,500; Needs-Based Grant: $100-$10,000 per study period

Who's eligible

• Working in regulated NL child care with valid AECENL certification (Trainee for the bursary; Level I-IV for the grants). Renewals need 1,440 hours over 3 years.

How to apply

• Through AECENL with hand-signed forms and transcripts: ecebursary@aecenl.ca / register@aecenl.ca. Trainee Bursary claims go in within the quarter of completion; R&R Grant within 6 months of certification. Full program hub: gov.nl.ca child care resources.

Programs

• Learning and Professional Development Funding
• ECE Bursary for post-secondary study anywhere in Canada
• Wage enhancement tied to certification (up to +$15.31/hr Whitehorse Level 3; rural higher)
• YFNED "Understanding the Early Years" First Nations-led pathway (earns Level 1)

Key amounts

• PL funding: up to $500 per educator per learning opportunity (webinars, courses, conferences)
• Bursary: full-time $2,000/term up to $8,000; part-time $500/course up to $1,000/yr

Who's eligible

• ECEs in licensed Yukon programs (PL funding); Yukon residents/past residents for the bursary, with a rural seat reserved and First Nations sponsorship spots.

How to apply

• PL funding: email earlylearning@yukon.ca (ongoing intake). Bursary: application + personal statement + 2 references; full-time deadline June 30 annually.

Programs

• Early Learning and Child Care Scholarship
• NWT Early Childhood Essentials course + free year-round workshops
• Wage grid with education top-ups (in force Nov 2024)
• Technology Grant for PL equipment

Key amounts

• Scholarship: part-time $500/course up to $2,500/yr; full-time $5,000/school year - deadline September 30, 2026
• Wage grid minimums $35.50-$46.75/hr by zone/step; education top-ups +$0.25 (certificate), +$2.50 (diploma), +$5.00 (degree) plus Northern Experience and Indigenous Educators bonuses

Who's eligible

• NWT residents (scholarship preference to first-time recipients, small communities, returners and working part-time students); licensed centre staff for the wage grid.

How to apply

• Scholarship: fillable PDF via GNWT Secure File Transfer. Free PL: licensed programs are notified by email; the Essentials course is self-paced online. Questions: earlylearning@gov.nt.ca.

Programs

• ECE Certification Funding - tuition and textbooks
• ELCC Wage Scale Program - top-ups by role, certification and experience
• Free group and individual training via regional Early Childhood Officers; Nunavut Arctic College ECE programs

Key amounts

• Certification funding: tuition + textbooks (amounts set case-by-case - confirm with your regional Early Childhood Officer)
• Wage scale: CPI-indexed (+3.9% April 2024) plus Northern Allowance $7.70-$14.63/hr by community; credentials move you up the scale

Who's eligible

• Staff of licensed child care centres (wage scale covers centres serving ages 0-6). Recognized programs include Nunavut Arctic College and 13 southern colleges.

How to apply

• Through your regional Early Childhood Officer using the consolidated ELCC Funding Application - there is no online portal. Start at the GN ELCC page.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) - summer wage subsidies

• Non-profit child care organizations can receive up to 100% of minimum wage plus mandatory employment costs for summer staff aged 15-30 (private/public: up to 50%). Jobs run 6-16 weeks, minimum 30 hrs/week.
• The 2026 intake is closed; the 2027 employer window is expected late November - December 2026 - mark your calendar. Canada Summer Jobs

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) - practicum & co-op subsidies

• Up to $5,000 per placement toward wages when you hire a registered post-secondary student (including ECE students). Apply year-round through delivery partners like Magnet. Program details

Employer training grants (Canada Job Grant family)

• Ontario Job Grant (replaced COJG, June 2026): up to $10,000/trainee - small employers pay just 1/6; up to $15,000 at 100% when training an unemployed new hire. Year-round. Apply
• B.C. Employer Training Grant: 80% back up to $10,000/employee/yr - education and social services are priority sectors. Apply via WorkBC
• Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (relaunched Feb 2026): 50% up to $5,000/trainee (75%/$10,000 for unemployed new hires) - technical/operational training only. Apply
• Saskatchewan ECE Training & Financial Supports: tuition reimbursement grant, tuition-free ECE I seats, dual-credit and bursary programs. Apply
• Nova Scotia WIPSI: small employers get 100% of the first $10K (annual spring intake). Details - Manitoba's CMJG has been replaced by BUMP; NB training supports run through WorkingNB; PEI (SkillsPEI) and NL job grants cover roughly 2/3 of training costs - confirm current terms locally.

Canada Student Loan Forgiveness for rural ECEs - NEW

• As of December 31, 2025, ECEs working in communities of 30,000 or fewer can have up to $15,000 of Canada Student Loan forgiven over 5 years ($2,000 rising to $4,000/yr). Apply through your NSLSC account within 90 days of completing each service year.

Canada Training Credit - for every ECE

• Workers 25-64 accumulate $250/year (lifetime $5,000) with the CRA and can claim up to 50% of eligible tuition/course fees as a refundable tax credit. Check your Notice of Assessment for your balance. CRA details

Indigenous training funds

• ISET: 110+ Indigenous delivery organizations fund ECE tuition, books, travel, living costs and child care while training for First Nations, Inuit and Métis learners. Find your ISET office
• Indigenous ELCC Framework / FNICCI fund training through Indigenous governments and regional partnership tables. Learn more

Youth employment (YESS)

• Local YESS-funded agencies (YMCA, community employment services) can place wage-subsidized youth workers in child care organizations year-round. About YESS - Young Canada Works may apply to francophone/official-language community organizations.