Closed
Source verified July 18, 2026
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement
Wage top-up for early childhood educators
Latest source updateLast Update: July 19, 2026Latest change: The supporting Child Care Operating Funding information now shows a July 30 platform update and related reporting deadlines for My ChildCareBC Services.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 19, 2026
Latest change: The supporting Child Care Operating Funding information now shows a July 30 platform update and related reporting deadlines for My ChildCareBC Services.
ChildCareBC Services and reporting update
The Child Care Operating Funding guidance now shows a July 30 transition to a single My ChildCareBC Services platform, replacing the Child Care Web Application and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement Reporting Tool. It also adds reporting milestones, including the July 20 deadline to submit enrolment reports and monthly wage enhancement reports through the existing tools to receive payment before August 1, 2026, plus the first day to submit July wage enhancement reports in My ChildCareBC Services on August 1. This update also points applicants to renew their operating funding starting in January 2026 and continue using the operating funding and wage enhancement guidelines for 2026-27.
Funding available
Up to 20% of project cost
Deadline
Closed
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
Providers with an existing Child Care Operating Funding Base Funding agreement.
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.
/100
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
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Providers with an existing Child Care Operating Funding Base Funding agreement.
- 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 educators
- Statutory benefits and premiums arising from the wage enhancement
- Canada Pension Plan employer contributions
- Employment Insurance employer contributions
- WorkSafeBC workers’ compensation premium
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
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.
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.
Is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement is a Grant and Funding