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Source verified August 18, 2026
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement
Wage top-up for early childhood educators
Latest source updateLast Update: August 18, 2026Latest change: The wage enhancement page now reflects updated eligibility wording, new reporting and application steps, and the move to My ChildCareBC Services.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 18, 2026
Latest change: The wage enhancement page now reflects updated eligibility wording, new reporting and application steps, and the move to My ChildCareBC Services.
Wage Enhancement guidance and portal updated
The Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement guidance was updated to clarify who counts in hours worked, including exclusions for parental leave, long-term disability, vacation, unpaid leave, excess sick leave, and time spent caring for a parent’s own children. The supporting pages also now direct providers to My ChildCareBC Services and updated Child Care Operating Funding materials, with new wording for application, renewal, and reporting steps.
Funding available
Up to 20% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
Child care providers who receive base funding and have opted in to the fee reduction program.
See full eligibility
Overview
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement supports eligible licensed child care providers in British Columbia with wage top-ups for early childhood educators. It also provides additional funding for statutory benefits, premiums, and related Employer Health Tax reimbursement where applicable.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
Eligible Funding
- Up to 20% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Wage top-ups for eligible early childhood educators working in licensed child care facilities
- Funding related statutory benefits and premiums tied to the wage enhancement
Documents Needed
- Primary business BCeID
- A scanned copy or photograph of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act licence for each centre
- ECE Employee Form of Acknowledgement
- ECE Owner/Co-Owner Acknowledgement
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Child care providers who receive base funding and have opted in to the fee reduction program.
- Providers operating as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre.
Who is not eligible
- Providers not enrolled in Child Care Operating Funding Base Funding or not operating as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre.
- Licensed child care facilities that are eligible for the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative but are not participating.
- $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres participating in the Operating Funding Model test.
- Licensed child care facilities that do not employ ECEs.
Eligible expenses
- Wage enhancement for eligible early childhood educator employees.
- Statutory benefits and premiums arising from the wage enhancement, including Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, WorkSafeBC workers’ compensation premium, vacation pay and statutory holiday pay.
How to apply
- Use My ChildCareBC Services to apply or renew funding.
Processing and Agreement
- After submission, the ministry reviews and assesses the information using the eligibility criteria in the funding guidelines.
- Providers may be contacted to make corrections or provide more information.
- Providers receive separate notifications with the outcome of the application for base funding and, if applicable, fee reductions and wage enhancements.
- Once approved, providers must notify all eligible ECEs in writing within 30 days, collect written acknowledgement before submitting a claim, and submit wage enhancement reports between the 1st of the following month and the last day of the sixth month following the applicable reporting month.
Contacts
Availability timeline
2026
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement Program
What is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement?
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement supports eligible licensed child care providers in British Columbia with wage top-ups for early childhood educators. It also provides additional funding for statutory benefits, premiums, and related Employer Health Tax reimbursement where applicable.
How much funding can be received?
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement Funds up to 20% of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program?
To be eligible for the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program, you must:
Provider must be enrolled in Child Care Operating Funding Base Funding or operate as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre.
Eligible licensed child care facilities must be enrolled in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative or operate as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre outside the Operating Funding Model test.
Eligible ECE staff must hold a valid BC ECE Registry certificate and work at an eligible licensed child care facility.
What expenses are eligible under Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement?
Wage top-ups for eligible early childhood educators working in licensed child care facilities
Funding related statutory benefits and premiums tied to the wage enhancement
Who can I contact for more information about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement?
You can contact Prince Edward Island Department of Education (EDU) by email at 10aDayCentres@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 1-888-338-6622 (Option 2).
Where is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement available?
The Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program is available the province of British Columbia.