Child and youth care degree
Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toChild & Youth Care Worker·Degree
A four-year bachelor of arts in child and youth care providing advanced relational practice, child welfare policy, and specialized leadership practicums.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- General BC secondary school curriculum and coursework at the Grade 11 level.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- High school graduation with English Studies 12 (minimum 67% or C+)
- English 12. Requirement varies by school (University of Victoria, University of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island University). Strictest requirement: C.
- Three approved Grade 12 academic subjects
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Minimum 100 hours of documented volunteer or paid work experience with children or youth
- Two structured letters of reference assessing suitability for human service work
- Clear criminal record check under the BC Criminal Records Review Act
- Public university offering; no official regulator list exists in BC not yet verified
- Minimum 100 hours of volunteer or paid work experience with children or adolescents
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online through EducationPlannerBC to UVic, UFV, or VIU
- Submit official secondary and post-secondary transcripts
- Provide documented verification of 100+ volunteer or paid youth experience hours
- Submit written personal statement of intent and reference letters
- Complete provincial criminal record check clearance prior to field placements
Step 5 of 8
Child and youth care degree
⏱ 4 years- 4 academic years (120 credits) of relational, trauma-informed child and youth care education
- Upper-level coursework in child protection policy, youth mental health, and family systems
- Indigenous perspectives, anti-oppressive frameworks, and clinical intervention models
- Two senior supervised clinical practicum placements (over 600 hours) in specialized youth settings
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 3 schools in BC- University of the Fraser Valley — 4 years (Tuition not yet verified)
- University of Victoria — 4 years (About $6,600 per year)
- Vancouver Island University — 4 years (About $5,200 per year)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- No provincial licensing exam; practice requires maintaining employer-mandated clear criminal record check and first aid
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Child & Youth Care Worker
- Explore Child & Youth Care Worker wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(3 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.