The IIE Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education (HCECCE), available at Emeris, is an entry level/introductory qualification (at NQF Level 5) to the study of early childhood development (ECD) education from birth through to 4 years of age. It is intended to provide students with “basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools and practical techniques to enable further study in ECD” (DHET, 2017: 24).
For alternative admission options, please click here or reach out to student recruitment.
Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change.
Early Childhood Experience is an integral part of any Early Childhood Care and Education programme and grants students an opportunity to work within an authentic Early Childhood Development (ECD) environment. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 6 weeks in work-integrated learning which comprises both ECD Centre-based experiences and online supplementary activities. ECD Centre-based experience must take place in a suitable, registered South African ECD Centre (as determined by the institution) within reasonable range of one of Emeris campuses.
The IIE HCECCE Student is required to meet specific criteria for entrance into the School/ECD Centre for ECD Experience. The following is important in this regard:
For the Faculty of Education, graduates of The IIE Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education may be eligible to apply for The IIE Bachelor of Education in Foundation & Intermediate Phase Teaching, subject to meeting admission requirements.
The IIE Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 137-credit qualification on level 5 (SAQA ID: 104532).
At Emeris, we believe that effective teaching is about creating experiences that foster student growth. Our academic team will design activities that challenge students and identify their strengths, allowing for real-time adaptation in the learning journey. By combining subject expertise with teaching insights and digital tools, we extend learning beyond the classroom. This approach ensures students not only keep up but thrive.
For students based in South Africa, online students may select any campus of Emeris as their Examination Centre.
An alternative examination centre is only permissible for students studying abroad and those located in a province of South Africa where there is no Emeris campus. If there is no Emeris campus within reach, an alternative venue will need to be sourced by you. For non-Emeris venues, there is an alternative venue levy per module
Duration
1 year full-time / 2 years part-time
Intakes
February
Campuses
Mode/s of study
Information
Explore your options, plan your future, and discover life at SA’s top private institution.
An educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education
Formed by the strategic evolution of The IIE's Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and
the School of Hospitality and Service Management, uniting under the Emeris name.
Emeris is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07. View certificate here.
