Waldorf Birth to Three Educator Training
Birth to Three

14 Month Option of our Part Time Waldorf Early Childhood Educator Program
Entry Every Two Years
Cohort Begins Summer, 2025

Apply Now for 2025

With a specific focus on the care and development of the young child, birth to three, this 14 month option of the part-time Waldorf Early Childhood Educator Program offers artistic, practical, and philosophical studies in Waldorf Education, Anthroposophy, and an approach to care based on practices with the child’s wellbeing at heart.

With an emphasis on this unique time of childhood, the courses will focus on participants’ self-development, creativity, and an environment that fosters the young child’s free movement. Guided by an enthusiastic and deeply devoted faculty, courses in painting, eurythmy, speech, singing, storytelling, music, clay modeling, Spacial Dynamics, and child development will ignite capacities for deepening sensitivity for the care of young children from birth to three.

Participants meet for a three-week intensive for two summers, two online foundation studies and six-day intensives in fall and spring.

The Birth to Three certificate training offers:

• A cohort approach that builds relationships and community in the Birth to Three realm
• Can be completed in two summers and two six-day sessions – one in the fall and one in the spring
• 8 weeks of class time and two online studies
• Practicum and observation experience in other classrooms
• Mentoring with an experienced Waldorf Educator
• Some online study
• Shared studies with other students enrolled in the birth to seven program

Career Applications

Waldorf Early Childhood Education teacher – preschools, kindergartens, parent/child programs, extended care programs, childcare in the home and in centres and/or parent education seminars and/or handwork presentation opportunities.

Program Format

The first year of the 14 month option includes:

• 3 weeks summer intensive in Duncan on Vancouver Island, BC.
• 1 week in November (5.5 day intensive) in North Vancouver, BC.
• 1 week in February (5.5 day intensive) in North Vancouver, BC.

The second year of the 14 month option includes:

• 3 weeks summer intensive in Duncan on Vancouver Island, BC.

Further requirements:

On Completion of Program

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Birth to Three Waldorf Early Childhood Educator Certificate*

* The West Coast Institute Waldorf Early Childhood Program is approved by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE) and the Independent Schools Branch of the BC Ministry of Education, and has Designated Status with the Private Training Institutes Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education of BC (PTIB).

* Students who wish to teach kindergarten in Waldorf Schools in BC must hold either a provincial teaching certificate or a degree accepted by the Independent Schools Branch of the BC Ministry of Education.

* Students who plan to teach in a licensed Early Child Care Facility will require an Early Childhood Education Certificate (ECE), from the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Registry.

List of Courses

More Details

Upcoming Session Dates

• The summer, 2023 session dates are July 2nd to July 21st, 2023.
  This session is held at Sunrise Waldorf School on Vancouver Island.
• The November, 2023 session dates are November 4th to 11th, 2023.
  This session is held at the Vancouver Waldorf School in North Vancouver.
• The February, 2024 session dates are yet to be decided.
  This session is held at the Vancouver Waldorf School in North Vancouver.

Program Fees

• The first year has 5 weeks of course work plus the follow up mentoring meetings and is $7000 Cdn. The second year has 3 weeks of course work plus the follow up mentoring meetings and is $4200 Cdn. (Tuition may be subject to an annual increase.)
• One-time, non-refundable application fee of $125 Cdn.
• Additional costs for required course textbooks and some supplies.
• Tuition fees can be paid in full on June 1, or in the following instalments: June 1 – $4000; October 1 – $1500; Jan 1 – $1500.
  Students receiving AWSNA loans and grants or Vidar loans will have their invoices adjusted in October and January. The payment deadline is mid month after which a late fee of $100 Cdn will be charged.
• Electronic payments are preferred, always using the link on the website: Interac payments for Canadians and PayPal for International Students.
• Payments should always be made in Canadian dollars.
• NSF cheques will be charged a $30 fee Cdn.
• Cancellations/withdrawals will be refunded in accordance with the requirements of PTIB of British Columbia. Please see our Refund Policy for details.
• The West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy reserves the right to make changes to fees, policies, regulations and courses when deemed necessary and as permitted by PTIB.

Technology Needs

• Students are required to have access to the internet for online sessions,  an active email account, and use of a cell phone, tablet or computer that can host Zoom video calls, Google Classrooms and Google Documents.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants should have experience working with children, preferably in a Waldorf setting.
• Applicants are required to have a secondary school diploma.
• Applicants should be at least 23 years old.
• Applicants must be proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. Please see our Language Proficiency Policy for details.

Application Process

An interview with one of the Institute’s Program Directors, or someone in your local area requested by them to do so, is necessary prior to acceptance.  Please complete the process as described below, being sure to show details of any post-secondary diplomas and/or degrees earned or description of life experience since leaving high school.

Policies

Please visit our Policies Page.

All previous debts to the West Coast Institute must be settled prior to admission.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: May 15th, 2025.

• Applications that are received after this date will be considered if there are still places available.

Meals & Accommodation

Summer Session

• In summer, housing is available in private homes in the community.
  (WCI Housing Information and Form)
• During training sessions, meals are available on campus.
  (WCI Program Meals Form)
• All travel arrangements are to be made by students.
  (WCI Driving Directions, WCI Travel Directions)
• Students coming from outside Canada should check the status of their medical insurance.

Spring & Fall Sessions

• For accommodation options please consult e.g. www.airbnb.ca, www.hellobc.com, www.tourismcowichan.com, www.vrbo.com/en-ca or any other accommodation search engine of your choice.
• During training sessions, meals are available on campus.
  (WCI Program Meals Form)
• All travel arrangements are to be made by students.
  (February/November Travel & Driving Directions, Vancouver Bus Map, North Vancouver Street Map)
• Students coming from outside Canada should check the status of their medical insurance.