Canadian · Professional Licensing
RECE public register lookup (Ontario).
Registered Early Childhood Educators in Ontario are members of the College of Early Childhood Educators, and anyone may look a member up in its Public Register. This page explains what the register tells you, what Good Standing means and why a name match is not enough.
The College says the register exists to help the public identify whether a person practising early childhood education in Ontario is a member, check the member’s registration status and verify whether there are any restrictions on their practice.
How the Public Register search works
The register’s search page says members of the public may conduct a search on anyone who is a member of the College, and asks you to complete at least one of the search fields. The College says the register includes multiple members and former members who share a common name, so you may need to verify your search criteria directly with the member, their employer or the College to be sure you have the right record.
The page does not describe a registration number format, so none is given here. If an educator supplies a registration number, use it to narrow the result, then compare the name and status with what you were told.
Search the RECE Public Register
Open the register, complete at least one field and read the status on the record you open.
What Good Standing means
The register states that if an individual is listed as in Good Standing, they are entitled to work as an early childhood educator in Ontario and to use the protected titles Early Childhood Educator (ECE) or Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), and their French equivalents, to describe themselves and their profession. Those titles are the reason the register matters to parents and employers: they identify who may legally describe themselves that way.
The corollary is that a name appearing is not the same as Good Standing. The register’s stated purposes include checking a member’s registration status and verifying whether there are restrictions on their practice, so it is the status and any restriction on the record, not the presence of the name, that answer your question. Read both before drawing conclusions.
Who uses the register and how
The College describes the register as a way for the public to identify whether a person practising early childhood education in Ontario is a member, check the member’s status and see whether there are restrictions. Parents can use it to confirm a person caring for their child is a member. Employers can use the same search to confirm a candidate’s status before hiring, which is a routine check rather than a sign of distrust.
If you are a child care operator or a school board administrator, the sensible habit is to record the date you checked and the status you saw, because statuses change over time. A check done at hiring does not stay true forever.
The College’s accuracy notice
The register carries a plain disclaimer. The College endeavours to ensure the information is current, accurate and complete, but does not represent, warrant or guarantee that it is, and accepts no liability for the information posted. For help using the register or finding information about a member, the College directs people to contact it, using the phone number and email published on the register page. Treat that as a reminder that the register is a strong lead but not a guarantee, and escalate to the College when something is unclear or consequential.
A worked example (hypothetical)
You run a small home child care agency and a candidate, “Taylor Example” (made up), says they are an RECE. You want to confirm the status before the first day. This describes no real person.
Open the Public Register and search the surname with the first name. Expect more than one result if the name is common; the College warns that multiple members and former members share names. Open the record whose details match what the candidate told you and read the registration status. If it says Good Standing, check the record for any restriction on practice. If it shows a status other than Good Standing, or a restriction, pause the hire and ask the candidate and the College. If no record matches, ask the candidate for their registration number and search again. Note the date and status in your files. If you still cannot resolve it, contact the College using the details on the register page.
What this page does not cover
- It does not search the register, store a name or confirm anyone’s status; there is no form on this page.
- It does not cover child care assistants or other staff who are not RECEs, who are not members of the College.
- It does not describe the requirements to become an RECE.
- It does not give legal advice about hiring or child care licensing.
- It does not describe a registration number format, which the register page does not.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if someone is a registered early childhood educator in Ontario?
Use the College of Early Childhood Educators Public Register of Members. Complete at least one search field and read the status on the record you open.
What does Good Standing mean?
The register says a member in Good Standing is entitled to work as an early childhood educator in Ontario and to use the protected titles ECE or RECE and their French equivalents.
Can parents use the register?
Yes. The register page says members of the public may conduct a search on anyone who is a member of the College.
What if two people share a name?
The College says the register includes multiple members and former members sharing a common name, and you may need to verify details with the member, their employer or the College.
Is the register guaranteed to be accurate?
No. The College says it endeavours to keep the information current, accurate and complete but does not guarantee it and accepts no liability.
Can an educator appear in the register but not be allowed to work?
The register is meant to show registration status and any restrictions on practice, so read both rather than relying on the name alone.
Who can I contact for help?
The College directs users to contact it for help using the register. Use the phone number and email published on the register page.
Does TNAADO verify educators?
No. This page explains the register and links to it. It looks nobody up and collects no personal information.
Sources
Retrieved
Official register and regulator pages only. Each link was opened on the retrieval date and the facts above were read from it. The register itself is the authority.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page explains a public register and links to it. TNAADO does not check anyone’s licence or registration, does not copy or proxy the register, and collects nothing you might look up. Nothing here is an official verification or professional advice. Details above were read from the regulator’s own website on 19 October 2026 and can change; always rely on the official register.