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Child Care Assistant (CCA)
Overview
In Manitoba, it's a requirement for Child Care Assistants (CCAs) and licensed home-based child care providers to complete a 40-hour early childhood education course within their first year of employment.
Assiniboine is now offering several new and accelerated options for one of the CCA-accredited courses - the Overview of Early Childhood. This is made possible by a recent investment from both the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada.
This initiative from Assiniboine will provide new CCAs and licensed home-based childcare providers with a faster and more efficient means of obtaining their required certification. The Overview of Early Childhood course is a vital component in helping new professionals develop an understanding of the foundational concepts and principles of early childhood education. This is critical as they start working with children and families.
By partnering with the government, Assiniboine is making early childhood education more accessible to individuals in Manitoba who want to pursue a career in child care. This investment demonstrates the government's commitment to providing quality early childhood education services to the community and preparing individuals for this important field.
In addition to Assiniboine's new accelerated in-person delivery for Overview of Early Childhood, we offer Overview of Early Childhood (ECED-0054) as well as two other CCA-accredited courses, Curriculum Planning 1 (ECED-0053) and Health Nutrition & Safety 1 (ECED-0055), in a distance delivery format.
Early Learning Training and Education Programs
Assiniboine offers six new programs, made possible by an $11.4 million investment from the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada. These programs complement our early learning and child care training and education offerings.
Admissions
Admission Requirements
There are no admission requirements for this program.
In-Person
International Applications
If you are an international student (e.g., on a study permit, work visa, visitor visa, or otherwise), you may apply to this program; however, due to the length of the program, you will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit program. Please note that registration in any in-person offering of this course is at a price different than what is stated in the distance fee table.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR EDUCATION JOURNEY?
Start your online application today and join Assiniboine College! You are required to complete an online application, including a CCA Registration Form.
Distance
To view upcoming course offerings, visit the "Distance Education" tab of this program webpage. To register, complete a Continuing Studies Registration Form.
Careers & Connections
Careers
Child Care Assistants can be employed by all childcare and education facilities in Manitoba.
Connections
The Overview of Childcare course, with Curriculum Planning 1, is eligible for a transfer of credit into the Early Childhood Education program with a grade of 66 (C+) or higher.
Assiniboine has a number of agreements with other colleges, universities and professional organizations, making it possible to apply credit taken at Assiniboine to programs at other institutions. For information on agreements, see Articulation Agreements.
Certification
Assiniboine does not issue a certificate for the Child Care Assistant course; however, you can request a transcript for a fee. Then you’ll submit your transcript for classification with the Province of Manitoba.
Application forms or online application options:
To learn more about the CCA classification, visit the Province of Manitoba Education and Early Childhood page or contact Early Learning and Child Care Program at [email protected] or call 204-945-0776, toll-free 1-888-213-4754, fax 204-948-2625, TTY 204-945-3724.
Tools & Supplies
Program Checklists, Textbooks, and Supplies
Technology Requirements
All of the early learning programs require the use of a computer with internet access, and a cell phone to download a security app. Students in this program are required to bring their own laptop. For more details, see At-Home Computing.
Courses & Costs
The Overview of Early Childhood course provides an overview of the field of early childhood education. Students are introduced to a variety of early childhood settings directly through five days of practical experience and indirectly through coursework. Comparisons are made of routines, schedules, activities and the role of staff within the settings. Influences on early childhood education outside of the setting are identified and described.
To view the accelerated in-person delivery options near you, visit the 'Locations' tab.
Distance Education
In addition to Assiniboine's new accelerated in-person delivery for Overview of Early Childhood, we offer two other CCA-accredited courses, Curriculum Planning 1 and Health Nutrition & Safety 1, in a distance delivery format.
Overview of Early Childhood (ECED-0054)
This course provides an overview of the field of early childhood education. Students are introduced to a variety of early childhood settings through course work. Comparisons are made of routines, schedules, activities and the role of staff within the settings. Influences on early childhood education outside of the setting are identified and described.
Health Nutrition & Safety 1 (ECED-0055)
This course introduces students to the basic principles and practices of good health promotion, occupational health and illness prevention, and management.
Curriculum Planning 1 (EDED-0053)
Learning to create play experiences based on children’s interests and development is taught in this course. Students are introduced to the reasons why observing children for their interests directly relates to planning developmentally appropriate play experiences. This course introduces students to the process of planning, implementing and evaluating a rich play-based curriculum for children.
Locations
Permanent Location
Assiniboine has one permanent site in the province that offers one of the Child Care Assistant courses, Overview of Early Childhood, monthly as an in-person delivery.
The following intakes are announced for 2024-25:
Victoria Avenue East Campus | Brandon
- Start: Monthly
- Three weeks | Tuesdays & Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cost: $229.08
- Applications are open
Online
- Starts: Monthly
- Three weeks | Tuesdays & Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Cost: $219.78
- Applications are open
Rural Rotating Sites
In addition to our permanent offering in Brandon, Assiniboine offers in-community training known as rural rotating sites. These offerings rotate throughout the province monthly as an in-person delivery.
Assiniboine has the following rural rotating training sites announced, with more added continuously.
Lorette| June 2025
- Start: June 10, 2025
- Three weeks | Tuesdays & Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Cost: $219.78
- Applications are open
Distance Education
Assiniboine offers three CCA-accredited courses, Curriculum Planning 1 (ECED-0053), Overview of Early Childhood (ECED-0054) and Health Nutrition & Safety 1 (ECED-0055), in a distance delivery format. You can choose to register for any one of these courses. Please note, not all courses are available at the same time.
The deadline to register is the 20TH of the month prior to the specific course start date however, you can register at any time – you don’t need to wait for the deadline. For example, for February 1ST courses, the deadline to register is January 20th.
Please note, payment is required at the time of registration.
2024-25 Distance education schedule
- Distance education course schedule is available with an 'x' indicating the months each course is offered.
- Up to four months to complete.
- No application is required.
- To register, complete a Continuing Studies Registration Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I earn my CCA designation?
Assiniboine does not issue a certificate for the Child Care Assistant course; however, you can request a transcript for a fee. Then you’ll submit your transcript for classification with the Province of Manitoba.
Application forms or online application options:
To learn more about the CCA classification, visit the Province of Manitoba Education and Early Childhood page or contact Early Learning and Child Care Program at [email protected] or call 204-945-0776, toll-free 1-888-213-4754, fax 204-948-2625, TTY 204-945-3724.