All staff working with children in child care centres, nursery schools and school-age child care centres must be classified.  There are three levels of classification:

• Child Care Assistant (CCA): No post-secondary credentials are required. The CCA must complete 40 hours of ECE course work (or a related course that, in the opinion of the Director of Manitoba Child Care Program, is relevant to ECE) within the first year of employment. Relevant course work completed within the previous eight years is considered valid.
• ECE II: Requires
  • Completion of a two-year ECE diploma from a post-secondary institution whose program has been approved by the Child Care Education Program Approval Committee (CCEPAC) of the Manitoba Department of Advanced Education and Literacy or
  • Completion of competency-based assessment programs offered by the Manitoba Child Care Program or
  • Are deemed equivalent by the Director of the Manitoba Child Care Program
• ECE III: Requires
  • Completion of an ECE II program and completion of a post-diploma specialization or degree recognized by CEEPAC, including leadership, administration, infant care, aboriginal child care and special needs child careor
  • A Bachelor of Arts degree in Developmental Studies: Stream C - Child Development and Child Care

Two-thirds of staff in a full-time child care centre for 0-6 year olds, and one-half of staff in a school-age centre or nursery school, must be classified as an ECE II or III.

A director in a full-time child care centre must be classified as an ECE III; a director in a school-age centre or nursery school must be classified as an ECE II. Directors are required to also have at least one year of experience in working with children in child care or in a related field.