Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
163 CRICOS providers offer this course to international students in 14 Australian cities. Typical tuition for the whole course is AUD $9,000 - $18,000, and it usually takes about 1 year.
- Typical tuition, whole course
- AUD $9,000 - $18,000
- Course length
- 6 mo - 2 yr
- Providers
- 163 providers
- Cities
- 14 cities
About 160 hours of work placement
Typical = the middle 80% of CRICOS tuition fees across providers. Full range AUD $5,500 - $26,500. Fees change, so confirm with the provider.
CHC30121 · Teacher Education: Early Childhood
What it prepares you for
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the starting qualification for work with young children in long day care centres, family day care, preschools and kindergartens.
You learn how to keep children safe and healthy, support their play and development and work with families. The course includes at least 160 hours of work in a regulated early childhood service.
Many students continue to the Diploma, which leads to a more senior role in the room.
From the national register
This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children’s education and care services in Australia. They support children’s wellbeing, and development in the context of an approved learning framework. Educators use a range of well-developed skills and knowledge using discretion and judgment when carrying out their work in the context of established policies and procedures. They may work independently or under the guidance of others, though in some contexts that guidance may not be on-site.
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
To achieve this qualification, the individual must have completed a total of at least 160 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
What you study
15 core units every student completes, plus 2 electives chosen by the provider. Unit names as listed in the official qualification.
- CHCECE030Support inclusion and diversity
- CHCECE031Support children's health, safety and wellbeing
- CHCECE032Nurture babies and toddlers
- CHCECE033Develop positive and respectful relationships with children
- CHCECE034Use an approved learning framework to guide practice
- CHCECE035Support the holistic learning and development of children
- CHCECE036Provide experiences to support children's play and learning
- CHCECE037Support children to connect with the natural environment
- CHCECE038Observe children to inform practice
- CHCECE054Encourage understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' cultures
Where it can take you
Typical jobs for this qualification, as listed on training.gov.au.
Career ladder
- 01 · This courseCertificate III in Early Childhood Education and Careleads toEarly childhood educator
- 02Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Careleads toDiploma-qualified educator, room leader
- 03Bachelor of Early Childhood Educationleads toEarly Childhood Teacher
Child Care Worker
Child Care Workers provide care and supervision for children in child care centres. They care for the social, emotional, physical and educational needs of infants and young children.
Registration and next steps
- Early childhood services in Australia must employ educators with qualifications approved by ACECQA, and this certificate is one of them.
- To work with children you also need a Working with Children Check from the state you work in.
- To become an Early Childhood Teacher you need a Bachelor degree in early childhood education.
Cities that offer it
Pick a city to see this field's courses there in our course search.
Levels in the same field
Many students start lower and move up: a Certificate IV or Diploma can lead into a Bachelor degree, often with credit for what you have already studied.
- 01Certificate III · This courseCertificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care163 providersAUD $9,000 - $18,000
- 02DiplomaDiploma of Early Childhood Education and Care165 providersAUD $11,000 - $24,000
- 03Associate DegreeAssociate Degree of Early Years Studies1 providerAUD $49,280
- 04Bachelor DegreeBachelor of Early Childhood Education9 providersAUD $73,920 - $124,000
- 05Bachelor (Hons)Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) (Honours)2 providersAUD $142,496
- 06Grad. CertificateGraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education2 providersAUD $13,872
- 07Grad. DiplomaGraduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education6 providersAUD $22,400 - $36,000
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