September 28, 2026
Canada needs about 24,400 more early childhood educators to staff its new child care spaces, according to Employment and Social Development Canada’s August 2026 update. That gap is an opening for Montessori, playgroup and daycare teachers in Pakistan, many of whom do not realize their work can count toward Canada PR. Canada PR for early childhood educators is possible through the Express Entry education category, and British Columbia now holds regular provincial draws only for early childhood educators.
Worked in a Montessori, preschool or daycare in Pakistan? Send AIRCS Group a WhatsApp message to find out if you’re qualified for Canada PR or Not?
Can Early Childhood Educators Get Canada PR?
Yes. Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) are one of five occupations in the Express Entry education category. You must also qualify for an Express Entry program, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Here is where each route stands in 2026:
- Federal route: the education category held two draws in 2025, with cut-offs of 479 on 1 May and 462 on 17 September. As of mid-September, no education draw has taken place in 2026.
- Provincial route: British Columbia issued 365 invitations to early childhood educators in two Care: Childcare draws in August and September 2026.
- Demand: the Canadian Occupational Projection System projects over 100,000 new job openings for early childhood educators and assistants by 2031.
Does Your Childcare Job in Pakistan Match NOC 42202?
NOC 42202 covers early childhood educators and assistants who plan and run programs for children from infancy to age 12. It is a TEER 2 occupation, which usually requires a college diploma. IRCC compares your daily work with the NOC description, so what you do matters more than your job title:
Your role in Pakistan | Likely Canadian code |
Montessori or playgroup teacher | NOC 42202, Early childhood educators and assistants |
Daycare teacher or supervisor | NOC 42202, Early childhood educators and assistants |
Kindergarten or Prep class teacher in a school | NOC 41221, Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
Nanny caring for children in a private home | NOC 44100, Home child care providers |
Child-care centre administrator | NOC 40030, Managers in social, community and correctional services |
NOC 41221 is also in the education category, and our guide on Canada immigration for teachers covers that route. Nannies under NOC 44100 have a separate route through the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots.
Why Canada Needs Early Childhood Educators
Canada needs about 24,400 more early childhood educators to staff its growing number of affordable child care spaces, according to Employment and Social Development Canada. Under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system, which aims to bring average fees down to $10 a day, the federal government set a target of 250,000 new spaces, and provinces had created 176,945 of them by 31 March 2025.
Ontario has one of the largest gaps. In 2023, the province estimated it would need 14,700 new registered early childhood educators by 2025-26 and could face a shortfall of about 8,500 educators without new recruitment.
Job Bank rates the 2025 to 2027 outlook for NOC 42202 as follows:
- Very good: Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia
- Good: Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador
British Columbia is rated moderate, but it regularly holds provincial nominee draws only for childcare workers, which makes it a strong option for early childhood educators planning PR.
How Much Do Early Childhood Educators Earn in Canada?
Early childhood educators in Canada earn a median wage of CAD 22.30 an hour, according to Job Bank. Hourly wages range from CAD 16.95 at the low end to CAD 30.03 at the high end, based on 2023 to 2024 data. Median wages vary by province:
Province | Median hourly wage (CAD) |
British Columbia | 24.00 |
Quebec | 24.00 |
New Brunswick | 23.47 |
Ontario | 22.00 |
Nova Scotia | 21.49 |
Alberta | 19.00 |
Saskatchewan | 18.75 |
Yukon has the highest median in Canada at CAD 30.00 an hour.
Certification also raises pay. British Columbia gives certified early childhood educators at eligible licensed centers a wage enhancement of up to CAD 6 an hour. ECE assistants do not receive it.
Canada PR for Early Childhood Educators Through Express Entry
Yes, early childhood educators can get Canada PR through Express Entry. IRCC has an education category that includes NOC 42202, along with teachers, teacher assistants and instructors of persons with disabilities.
To get an invitation, you need to meet two sets of rules.
1. Federal Skilled Worker Program rules
Most applicants from Pakistan apply through this program. You need:
- One year of continuous full-time paid work in the same job in the last 10 years, or the same hours part-time
- At least 67 out of 100 points on the FSW grid, which is different from your CRS score
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from WES or another approved organization
- CLB 7 or higher in all four English skills on IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core
2. Education category rule
You need 12 months of full-time work, or the same hours part-time, in one eligible job in the last three years. The work can be in Canada or abroad, and it does not need to be continuous.
Keep in mind that your ECA only shows what your degree equals in Canada. You still need provincial ECE certification to work in a licensed child care center.
Education draw results
| Draw date | Invitations | Lowest CRS score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2025 | 1,000 | 479 |
| 17 September 2025 | 2,500 | 462 |
The cut-off changes with every draw. IRCC has not held an education draw in 2026 so far.
Reference letters
Your reference letters prove your work experience. Each letter should:
- Be printed on the school’s or daycare’s letterhead
- Show the employer’s address, phone number and email
- Be signed by your supervisor or HR officer
- State your job title, work dates, weekly hours, salary and benefits
IRCC checks that your duties match NOC 42202, so only list work you really did. Common duties for Montessori and daycare educators include:
- Planning activities that help children grow and learn
- Watching and assessing each child’s progress
- Talking with parents and staff about each child’s progress
Provincial Nominee Routes for Early Childhood Educators
A provincial nomination linked to Express Entry adds 600 CRS points, which lifts a score of 454 to 1,054. That is well above the cut-offs of 697 and 734 in the two most recent Express Entry PNP draws. British Columbia and New Brunswick both run programs for internationally trained early childhood educators.
British Columbia Childcare Draws
The BC Provincial Nominee Program has held five childcare draws in 2026, all for early childhood educators under NOC 42202. The minimum score has dropped in every round:
Draw date |
| Minimum BC score | ||
6 May 2026 | 86 | 115 | ||
2 June 2026 | 91 | 111 | ||
9 July 2026 | 91 | 108 | ||
6 August 2026 | 183 | 102 | ||
10 September 2026 | 182 | 99 |
New Brunswick ECE Pathway
New Brunswick publishes an eight-step pathway for internationally trained early childhood educators, from completing your studies to starting work in the province. You can have your credentials evaluated through WES or IQAS.
Licensed designated child care centers must pay at least the rates set in the provincial ECE wage grid. The required New Brunswick curriculum course is free for educators trained outside the province.
Once you have a job offer, your employer can endorse you for PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program, or you can apply through a New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program stream.
How to Get ECE Certification in Canada
To get ECE certification in Canada, you apply to the regulator in the province where you plan to work. Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta all require certification to work in licensed child care. Certification does not give you a work permit or PR.
Ontario: College of Early Childhood Educators
Only members of the College of Early Childhood Educators can use the title early childhood educator in Ontario. The College requires a two-year diploma or degree with a major in early childhood education, so a one-year Montessori diploma does not qualify.
You need a WES ICAP document-by-document report sent directly from WES to the College. If your studies were not in English or French, you also need IELTS 6.5, CELPIP 8 or PTE 56 in each skill.
British Columbia: ECE Registry
The BC ECE Registry takes an average of 30 business days to assess a complete application. You need:
- A comprehensive report from BCIT’s International Credential Evaluation Service, with a fee waiver for eligible applicants
- Detailed course outlines for the year you completed your program
- A character reference from someone who has known you for at least six months
The five-year certificate also requires 500 hours of work supervised by a Canadian certified ECE. These hours are waived only if you hold ECE certification from a country that regulates the profession and have two years of practice within the last five years.
Alberta: Three Certification Levels
Alberta has three certification levels: Level 1 requires an orientation course, Level 2 a one-year certificate and Level 3 a two-year diploma. Staff in licensed child care must be certified within six months of starting work.
How to Apply for Canada PR as an Early Childhood Educator from Pakistan
Follow these six steps to prepare your Canada PR application from Pakistan:
- Get your credentials assessed: order an ECA from WES for Express Entry. If you plan to work in Ontario, order a WES ICAP report at the same time, because the College accepts only that report.
- Take an English test: choose IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, and aim for CLB 9 or higher in every skill.
- Collect reference letters: get a letter from every school, preschool or daycare you have worked for, using the format described in the Express Entry section.
- Create your Express Entry profile: list your experience under NOC 42202. Your profile stays in the pool for 12 months.
- Apply for provincial certification: Ontario and New Brunswick assess international credentials before you arrive. In British Columbia, you must hold a work permit before you apply.
- Get your police certificates: you need one from every country where you have lived for six months or more in a row since age 18, within the last 10 years. Request your Pakistani police character certificate early so it does not delay your application.
After you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to submit your application and complete a medical exam with an IRCC panel physician. A single FSW applicant needs CAD 15,263 in settlement funds. Government fees are CAD 1,675, including biometrics, and IRCC aims to process 80% of complete applications within six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Montessori diploma from Pakistan count for ECE certification in Canada?
Yes, if its course content and practicum hours match the provincial standard. Your provincial regulator compares your course outlines with local ECE programs and may ask you to complete extra courses to cover any gaps.
Is a nanny job the same as an early childhood educator job for Canada PR?
No. Nannies are classified under NOC 44100, Home child care providers, while early childhood educators fall under NOC 42202. NOC 42202 is part of the Express Entry education category, but NOC 44100 is not.
Can a daycare owner apply under NOC 42202?
Your NOC depends on your actual duties, not on ownership. If you mainly manage the center, your work falls under NOC 40030, but if you teach children or supervise educators, those duties fit NOC 42202.
Do I need a job offer for Canada PR as an early childhood educator?
Not for Express Entry. British Columbia’s childcare draws require a job offer from a BC employer, and the Atlantic Immigration Program requires one from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada.
Can early childhood educators apply through Canada’s caregiver pilot?
Not right now. IRCC paused new applications to the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots in December 2025 and did not reopen them in 2026. Express Entry and provincial nominee programs remain open to early childhood educators.
Not Sure If Your ECE Profile Qualifies for Canada PR?
AIRCS Group checks your NOC 42202 experience, calculates your CRS score and matches you with the right route, whether that’s Express Entry, BC’s childcare draws or New Brunswick’s ECE pathway.
Message AIRCS Group on WhatsApp or book your profile assessment.
