Skip to content

Copy of Alberta ECE Professional Development Survey: Access, Skills and Confidence

On April 1, 2026, Alberta introduced changes to professional development (PD) and release time funding under the Early Childhood Educator Workforce Supports Program. The current approved training list covers April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

What changed?
• Eligible workshops and conferences moved from a broad selection of training to a specified government-approved list.
• For Level 1 and 2 educators, eligible workshops and conferences focus on Flight and pedagogy. Listed workshops are provided through ARCQE and AECEA, with approved conferences available through additional organizations.
• Level 3 educators can access approved leadership training in addition to Flight and pedagogy-related opportunities.
• Funded post-secondary courses must be eligible early learning and childcare credit courses that support higher certification for Level 1 and 2 educators or educational credentials for Level 3 educators.
• The employment requirement increased from a minimum of 29 hours in an eligible month to 720 eligible wage top-up hours claimed and paid within the previous two years, measured by the date training is completed.
• Release time funding for employers was discontinued. Release time funding remains available to eligible educators.
• Funding requests must be submitted after training is completed, with proof of payment and completion.
ACE wants to understand how these changes are working for educators. Are you able to access the training and resources you need? Do the eligible options meet your learning needs? Does the funding support your participation?

Your feedback will help inform ACE’s discussions with the Government of Alberta about professional development that strengthens educator skills, confidence and quality of practice.

Please answer based on your experience since April 1, 2026. Whether you have used the funding, experienced barriers or have not yet participated, your perspective matters.
Positive experiences, concerns and suggestions are all welcome.
1.What is your current Alberta ECE certification level?(Required.)
2.How familiar are you with the changes to Alberta’s professional development (PD) and release time funding that took effect on April 1, 2026?(Required.)
3.Since April 1, 2026, which of the following have you done?
4.Compared with before April 1, 2026, how has your ability to access training on the topics you need changed?(Required.)
5.Compared with before April 1, 2026, how has the range of training providers and courses you can choose from with PD funding changed?(Required.)
6.Where do you feel you need more support in your work? In which areas of your current role would you most like to strengthen your skills or confidence?(Required.)
7.How well do the training opportunities currently eligible for PD funding meet your professional learning needs?(Required.)
8.What would you like PD Development to cover. What types of training or professional development would be most helpful to you in your current role? Select up to five.(Required.)
9.Since April 1, 2026, have you found training you wanted to take that was not eligible for PD funding?
10.If you found training that was not eligible for PD funding, what did you do? Select all that apply.
11.Since April 1, 2026, what has made it difficult to access the training you need? Select all that apply.
12.How well does the amount of PD funding available meet your training needs?
13.How well does the current release time funding meet your needs for participating in professional development?
14.Based on your experience since April 1, 2026, how easy or difficult is it to apply for PD funding?
15.Overall, what effect have the funding changes had on your ability to participate in professional development?(Required.)
16.What training, resources or professional support do you currently need but have difficulty accessing? Please describe what you need and what makes it difficult to access.
17.What course, workshop, conference or other professional learning experience has been most valuable to your work, and why? Include the title or provider if you remember it, and describe how it helped your skills, confidence or daily practice. This can be training completed before or after April 1, 2026.
18.To your knowledge, would the professional learning experience you described qualify for funding under the current rules?
19.What should be kept, changed or added to make Alberta’s PD and release time funding work better for you?(Required.)
20.Is there anything else you would like the Government of Alberta to know about your experience accessing professional development, training and resources, or the support you need to strengthen your skills, confidence and quality of practice?(Required.)