Frequently asked questions

Alberta public post-secondary institutions offering early learning and child care (ELCC) programs:

• Bow Valley College
• Centre collégial de l'Alberta (French)
• Keyano College
• Lakeland College (English)
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Medicine Hat College
• NorQuest College
• Northern Lakes College
• Northwestern Polytechnic
• Portage College
• Red Deer Polytechnic
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Independent academic institutions offering ELCC programs recognized for certification:<

• Burman University
• MaKami College

Private career colleges offering approved ELCC programs recognized for certification:

• Bredin College, Edmonton
• CDI College, Edmonton/Calgary
• Maskwacis Cultural College
• MCG Careers Inc. O/A Train Alberta Inc., Red Deer
• Robertson College, Edmonton/Calgary University
• Blue Quills, St. Paul

Answer: Reach out to the Registrar's office at your post-secondary institution to request a letter to be issued to you.

The time frame for processing your application depends on the number of applications received; our intent is to process applications and notify you as quickly as possible, ideally within 30 days of applying.

Payment will occur within 30 days after you have been notified of your successful application for funds.

The second payment will be sent to you via e-transfer once you have successfully completed the ELCC Certificate program, obtained Level 2 Certification, and obtained employment in an Alberta licensed Childcare Program or day home.

This certificate is issued by the Government of Alberta. Go to the Alberta Early Childhood Educator Certificate website to learn the steps and to apply.

For more information about the Early Childhood Educator’s Certificate, find the certification guide here.

RSA is an acronym for a Return of Service Agreement. In exchange for receiving the bursary, you agree to work in the Early Childhood Education field for a minimum number of hours.

You must work at a licensed facility for a minimum of 2000 hours of employment within two years after graduation.

You will be required to repay any bursary money you have received under this agreement.

Bursaries were given to the first 100 complete applications. Those 100 applicants had complete information on their applications and provided the necessary documents to prove they had the requirements for the bursary.

An enrollment letter from an approved institution stating the program's full name and start and end dates of the program.

If you meet the requirements and have not already received an ECE bursary you can apply when the applications open again. Before you apply again, make sure to review any information you previously provided and make sure it has all the required information.

You must submit another application with the correction or documents attached. This will change your placement in the queue. No documents are to be sent to the bursary email unless requested by the administrator.

If you have been rewarded with the bursary, contact the administrator. If you have submitted an application, you must do a new application.

They are reviewed in the order they arrive.

This bursary is specifically for Early Child Care Certificate level training, leading to a Level 2.

Only successful applicants will be contacted. We will contact applicants only if clarification is needed about their information.