Leadership Certification

Everything you need to know in order to apply for a leadership certification.
Achieve Your

Leadership Goals

This program was established to provide financial assistance to Supervisors, front line registered Early Childhood Educators designated to leadership positions and or responsibilities, and to registered Early Childhood Educators aspiring to become Supervisors in the field of Early Childhood Education. The main objective is to fund professional development opportunities in the areas of Pedagogical Leadership in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education administration, management, facilities management, fiscal responsibility, governance, human resources, employment standards, and labour relations.

Financial support is available to eligible applicants in the form of a Leadership education grant, and Leadership travel grant.

Quick Links

Leadership Grant

Learn how to apply and be eligible for financial support, while obtaining a Leadership certification.

Travel Grant

See how you can be eligible for a travel grant that relates to Leadership certification.

Programs

See a listing of potential grant eligible Leadership certification programs, categorized by Ontario colleges.

Questions & Answers

Search the list of most frequently asked questions, in regards to Leadership certification.

Leadership Grant

Leadership education grants are available to cover part-time tuition fees related to courses offered through a recognized Ontario College for Applied Arts and Technology, in an eligible field of study. Funding is based on the number of applications received and available funding per semester.

In order to be eligible to receive funds under the Leadership Education grant, an individual must:

  • Be employed as an RECE for a minimum of two years within:
    • Licensed Child Care Centres
    • Licensed Home Child Care
    • Formal early learning settings, which include:
      • School Boards
      • Early ON Child and Family Centre
      • Head Start programs
      • Private schools
      • Other formal early learning child care, child and family programs, special needs resourcing agencies or school curriculum-linked programs

AND

  • Be enrolled to pursue courses through a recognized Ontario College for Applied Arts and Technology for part-time studies in an eligible field of study, which include:
    • Pedagogical leadership in Early Childhood Education
    • Resource Consultant Program
    • Early Childhood Education administration and management
    • Facilities management
    • Financial management, responsibility and child care governance
    • Human resources, employment standards and labour relations
  • Be living and working in Ontario

NOTE: The following individuals are exempt from the required two years of employment however must be currently employed within an eligible agency:

  • Francophone
  • First Nation, Métis and Inuit Individuals
  • Those with a Director Approval status from the Ministry of Education or those working under a letter of permission from a school board

In addition to better meeting the needs of the childcare and early years sectors across Ontario, funds under the Leadership Certification Program will be prioritized for those registered in the Resource Consultant Program.

There is limited funding available through this grant, and therefore, individuals are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible; preferably prior to the start of classes. A notice stating that no further applications will be accepted will be posted on the website once all the available funding has been awarded for the academic session.

The Program Administrator will contact the applicant in writing within 4 weeks of receiving all required documents to advise whether their application for a grant has been approved.

Grant payments are deposited directly into the recipient’s bank account on the last banking day of month. The signed agreement and/or other documents must be received by our office by the 20th of month. Payments will be deferred to the next month if documents/signed agreements are received after the 20th of the month.

Grant recipients will be issued a T4A slip at the end of every calendar year in which they received payment.

Application Form

Get started on your journey to ECE by completing your application for the Leadership grant. Use the link to access the portal and apply online.

Travel Grant

Travel Grants are available to assist students with daily commute expenses while attending classes, first aid training, and/or completing the placement component of their program. Leadership travel grants are available up to a maximum of $800.00 per semester, to assist Leadership grant recipients travel to a maximum of 14 days per course.

For Travel Grants

In order to be eligible to receive funds under the grant program, the following need apply:

  • Applicants must be approved for a Leadership Education grant under this program.
  • The educational institution must be more than 20 kilometres one-way from the applicant’s home address.

NOTE: If for any reason a travel grant recipient is unable to travel for one or more of their in class weekend sessions, the recipient will be required to reimburse the grant program for the days not traveled. Reasons include but are not limited to, inclement weather, illness, and or family circumstances.

Application Form

Get started on your journey to ECE by completing your application for a travel grant. Use the link to access the portal and apply online.

Eligible Programs

The ECE Grant Assistance Program provides financial support to Early Childhood Educators in Ontario, to advance their leadership skills and knowledge. Please review the list of leadership programs found within Ontario Colleges that may be eligible for funding.

Leadership Certification Program Database

The following educational institutions have programs that may be eligible for financial support through our Leadership certification program. Funding is only available for part time studies.

Program Status
Post Diploma Certificate Programs Part-Time

Questions & Answers

Yes. You must be an existing employee of an eligible agency for at least 2 years and currently employed as:

  • Supervisor or be in a designated supervisory position with Director/Ministry approval if less than 2 years.
  • Front line registered Early Childhood Educator who has been designated to a leadership position and or has leadership/supervisory responsibilities.
  • Registered Early Childhood Educator aspiring to become a Supervisor in the field of Early Childhood Educations.

NOTE: Individuals who meet the following criteria are now exempt from the required two years of employment as an RECE and will only be required to be registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) for one day.

  • Individuals who identify as Francophone
  • Individuals who identify as First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities
  • Those who are working under Director Approval/Letter of Permission

Director Approval (Otherwise Approved)

Pertains to an individual having permission from the Ministry of Education to work in a licensed Registered ECE position without having their designation.

Letter of Permission

Pertains to an individual having permission from the Ministry of Education to work in a Registered ECE position without designation in a publicly funded school setting.

Yes. The total period of time that you have been employed within eligible agencies in Ontario will be considered toward the 2 year eligibility period.

Yes. Financial assistance is available to full-time and part-time employees working within an eligible agency.

No. This program is to support individuals presently working in the field who want to upgrade their qualifications.

The following types of financial assistance are available through this program:

  • Education Grants are available to cover part-time tuition fees related to courses offered through a recognized Ontario College for Applied Arts and Technology
  • Travel Grants are available to assist Leadership Education grant recipients with daily commute expenses incurred to attend classes or to complete the placement component of their program.

No. The Leadership grant does not offer a training allowance.

The education grant is based on your tuition fees minus any other grants or awards; excluding OSAP.

Yes. Grant recipients will be issued a T4A slip at the end of every calendar year in which they received payment.

You will receive an e-mail from the Ontario ECE Grants with a link to access the online portal to review the approval letter and sign the contract.

Payments are only deposited once the program administrator receives your signed Grant Assistance Agreement. The Grant Program issues payments on the last day of every month. Supporting documents must therefore be received by our office no later than the 20th of any given month in order for your grant payment to be issued at the end of that same month.

No. Funding is not available once the semester is completed.

Yes. Funding to cover PLAR fees within a current semester is now eligible for reimbursement under the Leadership program.

The leadership grant currently includes the Honors BA of Early Childhood Leadership program offered at Sheridan College.

No. Only part-time programs within an eligible field of study qualify for Leadership grant funding.

No. Funding is only offered for programs within Ontario.

If you are unable to pay for your tuition to the college you can select the Sponsorship option on the application form and your tuition fees will be paid directly to the college. If you have already paid your tuition or deposit amount to the College you must submit your proof of payment within your application.

If there are any changes during the semester in which you are receiving funding, you must inform the grant Program Administrator immediately.

You can create an account and submit an application through the online portal. All supporting documents can be added to your online application.

Yes. You can apply for the Leadership Education grant and the Leadership travel grant, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria specified for each grant.

EN