Career Options
Early Childhood Studies is an excellent foundation for a range of careers working with young children, as well as their families.
Careers in Early Childhood Education and Care
What They Do
Registered early childhood educators (RECE) work directly with infants, toddlers and preschool children in early learning and child care programs and with school-age children in before and after school programs. Research confirms the value and importance of well-educated early childhood educators in the provision of high-quality early childhood education and care programs.
Requirements
To work as an early childhood educator in Ontario, graduates must register with the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators, external link.
Where They Work
RECE in Full Day Kindergarten Programs
Certified teachers and registered early childhood educators work together as an educator team in Ontario full day kindergarten programs. These educators bring complementary knowledge and skills that create a rich early learning environment for four and five-year-old children. School boards are responsible for the hiring of RECEs for full day kindergarten programs.
Alumni Profile
What They Do
Multi-service agencies often provide a range of employment opportunities: for example, RECEC in an ECEC setting, early literacy consultant, and home child care consultant. Early literacy consultants deliver programs for parents and children that focus on the development of emerging literacy skills. Home child care consultants provide a variety of supports to licensed home child care providers, including curriculum development and resources for children with disabilities.
Careers Working with Young Children with Disabilities and their Families
What They Do
School of Early Childhood Studies’ graduates are qualified along with relevant experience in the ECEC field to work as resource consultants in Ontario. Resource consultants (sometimes referred to as resource teachers) support licensed early learning and care programs in their work to include all children and to monitor and promote the optimum development of young children who require extra support. Resource consultants also help families access a range of services within the community.
Where They Work
What They Do
Early intervention specialists provide direct services—in the home or center-based programs—for infants and toddlers and young children with a range of specialized needs (i.e. sensory, physical, cognitive, medical). Early intervention specialists work closely with families and in an interprofessional team (occupational/physical therapists, social service-providers, and medical personnel) in planning, delivering, and evaluating interventions that support and enhance a child’s development.
Where They Work
- Centennial Infant and Child Centre, external link, opens in new window
- Infant and Child Development Services Peel, external link, opens in new window
- Regional Municipality Children's Services
Our graduates can be found working with children with a variety of specialized needs (i.e. children who are deaf and hard of hearing; children on the ASD spectrum) in a range of settings such as:
- Surrey Place Centre, external link
- Adventure Place/Child and Family Centre, external link
- Community Living Ontario, external link
- Geneva Centre for Autism, external link
- Centennial Infant and Child Centre, external link
Other Requirements
Some positions require post-degree additional qualifications such as certification in deaf education or Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) training.
Alumni Profiles
Careers in Early Childhood Research, Policy and Advocacy
Our graduates assume positions that focus on early childhood research, policy and advocacy.
What They Do
Professional associations in Ontario such as the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), external link and Association francophone à l’éducation des servicesà l’énfance de l’Ontario (Aféseo), external link promote the interests of their members and the early childhood education profession and support ECEs through professional development and networking opportunities.
The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, external link and the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, external link collect and develop research to advocate for a system of publicly funded and delivered ECEC services.
Where They Work
Graduates also work in the areas of early childhood research and public policy in research institutes, the Ministry of Education and municipal planning and development.
Alumni Profiles
Leadership and Administration
With many changes in the early learning and care field comes opportunities for an array of positions in leadership and administration. Some of these positions combine front line work with administrative duties; others focus solely on administration in various ways. Careers in leadership and administration may include:
What They Do
ELC managers are responsible for the direct operations of an Early Learning Centre (ELC), including staff management, ensuring all ministry program criteria are met, liaising with municipal and provincial licensing specialists, curriculum design, budgeting, and enrollment of families.
Where They work
What They Do
Assistant supervisors, supervisors or directors of Early Childhood Education Care (ECEC) programs play an important role in pedagogical leadership and building effective teaching teams.
Where They Work
They may serve on local committees focused on ECEC services or as advisors for professional organizations and government.
Alumni Profile
What They Do
Field Education Coordinators facilitate the organization of the field education component of students’ ECE/ECS program. They liaise with field education sites, students and faculty. Field Education Coordinators also mentor students regarding career opportunities in the ECS field.
Where They Work
Universities or Colleges offering Early Childhood Studies programs.
What They Do
Licensing specialists are employed in both municipal and provincial governments to ensure ELC programs are adhering to government regulatory criteria. They are responsible for visiting ELC programs and collaborating with the ELC manager to ensure the provision of high quality ELC programs.
Where They Work
Municipal and provincial, external link levels of government.
What They Do
Executive Directors (EDs)/Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) oversee the direct operations of multi service agencies serving children and families.
Agency programs may include children with disabilities, early learning and care centres, research initiatives, family support programs, and/or children’s mental health services. Responsibilities may include, curriculum development, management of staff, drafting budgets, producing grant proposals, liaising with the public, the Agency’s Board of Directors, and various levels of government.
WhereThey Work