Applying for the bursary

Approved institutions are identified in the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators Version 1.7 , appendix D, and include (at time of posting):

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

• Complete all the fields in the ECE bursary application form, including the personal information required.
• Submit proof of acceptance to an approved ELCC Certificate program at an Approved Institution.
• Sign the RSA and Acknowledgement of Terms.

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed and you will be advised of the decision via email within 30 days. We may reach out to you if additional information is required to complete your application.

We will send the first $5,000 to you via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

• Once approved, you will be sent the EFT form
• You will need to complete the form and return to us at abecebursaries@norquest.ca
• Your payment will be processed and sent via Electronic Funds Transfer within 30 days after submitting your EFT form.
• We will reach out to collect your social Insurance number in order to issue a T4A form for taxation purpose.
• Funds will not be sent to your Post-Secondary institution. It is your responsibility to ensure all payments are made according to your institution’s policies and deadlines

You will have a maximum of 18 months to successfully complete the ELCC Certificate program.

• Upon completion, submit
• You are responsible to ensure you remain in good financial and academic standing with your Post-Secondary Institution.
• If you do not successfully complete the program within 18 months, you will be required to repay any funds received.

• Apply for your Level 2 certification through the Government of Alberta.
• Secure employment with a licensed provider or day home within 3 months of successful program completion.
• Submit updated RSA with:
  • Your transcript from your post secondary institution, proving program completion 
  • proof of program completion
  • employer details
  • proof of Level 2 Certification

• Funds will be issued via Electronic Funds Transfer

• Work a minimum of 2000 hours in the following two years
• Update proof of hours worked in revised RSA
• Close out your RSA

If you do not meet all your obligations in your RSA, you will be required to repay your bursary funds.