To help meet the growing need for Early Childhood Education graduates, Okanagan College is expanding access to its ECE programs with two new flexible options starting in 2026.
The ECE Certificate (Hybrid) will be an 11-month program with online evening classes three nights a week, paired with one in-person lab day at the Penticton or Salmon Arm campus. Classes start January 2026; applications are open now.
The Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Diploma will be a two-year, primarily online program designed for those already working in the sector who want to upgrade their qualifications while completing practicum hours with their employer. Classes start April 2026; applications are open now.
Both programs combine the flexibility of online learning with the hands-on, in-person training that Okanagan College is known for. Practicum placements ensure students are job-ready, while learning communities and supportive mentors create the personal connections that many students say make all the difference.
Employers across the Okanagan continue to emphasize their need for more trained early childhood educators — and their preference for OC-trained graduates.
“We often get messages from local childcare providers stating how they value the training their students received at OC and would welcome more graduates to their centres if they could,” shared Barbara Fay, an instructor in OC’s ECE programs for over 10 years and a graduate from the same program. “That’s why expanding these pathways matters — not just for students, but for families across the communities we serve who rely on quality childcare.”