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The most recent intake period closed on January 15, 2026.
Successful candidates will be contacted by NorQuest College.
Overview
The Early Childhood Educator Bursary helps cover post-secondary costs for up to 300 aspiring and advancing early childhood educators (ECEs) in Alberta over a 3-year period.
Alberta’s government is investing more than $3.3 million from the federal-provincial childcare agreement to make it easier to study close to home.
Qualified recipients will receive $10,000 to cover tuition, textbooks and living expenses. This program is funded by the Government of Alberta and administered by NorQuest College.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are aspiring or advancing early childhood educators who have been accepted into an approved early learning and childcare (ELCC) certificate program (see below).
Funding
Each successful recipient will receive $10,000 disbursed in 2 installments:
- $5,000 after application approval and signing a return of services agreement
- $5,000 upon completing the ELCC certificate at an approved Alberta ELCC certification program
Recipients must repay the bursary if they fail to:
- complete an approved ELCC certificate within 18 months
- begin work as a Level 2 early childhood educator within 3 months of graduation or complete 2,000 hours of work within 2 years
Approved institutions
There are 12 public post-secondary institutions offering approved ELCC programs:
- Bow Valley College
- Centre collégial de l'Alberta (French)
- Keyano College
- Lakeland College
- Lethbridge Polytechnic
- Medicine Hat College
- NorQuest College
- Northern Lakes College
- Northwestern Polytechnic
- Portage College
- Red Deer Polytechnic
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Two independent academic institutions:
- Burman University
- MaKami College
Six private career colleges:
- 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)
For more information, review Appendix D in the Certification Guide for Early Childhood Educators, which outlines all requirements and processes to apply for and maintain certification.
How to apply
This bursary program is administered through NorQuest College. Visit their Early Childhood Educator Bursary Program page to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
Application status
Important: The most recent intake period closed on January 15, 2026.
Application statuses and successful candidates will be updated through NorQuest College.
Contact
Connect with the Early Childhood Educators Bursary Program:
Email: [email protected]
Related
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Early childhood educators