Qualifications for centre-based services with children preschool age or under

The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets out the minimum educator qualification requirements for working with children preschool age and under in centre-based services.

Centre-based services refers to long day care, as well as preschools and kindergartens in most states and territories. These services must meet the following educator qualification requirements:

At least 50% of educators must be diploma level qualified or higher

Under regulation 126 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations, 50% of educators required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios in centre-based services with children preschool age and under, must have, or be actively working towards, an approved diploma level education and care qualification (or higher).

Under the NQF, a person is considered a diploma qualified educator if they:

hold an approved diploma level qualification, OR
hold a former approved diploma level qualification completed before 1 January 2012 OR
hold a qualification that ACECQA has assessed as equivalent to an approved diploma level educator qualification.

If an individual is ‘actively working towards’ an approved diploma level qualification, they may be counted as a diploma level educator, if they meet the requirements under the 'actively working towards' provisions. For more information visit ACECQA's actively working towards web page.

The roles and responsibilities of a diploma level educator may include, but are not limited to:

supporting and leading children's learning and development
designing, planning, implementing and evaluating educational programs and practices, including following and implementing an approved learning framework
working with community members and external agencies
complying with, and supporting other educators to comply with, service policies and legislation.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations do not specify what roles or responsibilities a diploma level educator must undertake. This is up to the approved provider of each education and care service.

All other educators must be certificate III level qualified

All other educators required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios at the service must hold, or be actively working towards at least an approved certificate III level education and care qualification.

Under the NQF, a person is considered a certificate III level educator if they:

hold an approved certificate III qualification, OR
hold a former approved certificate III level qualification completed before 1 January 2012, OR
hold a qualification that ACECQA has assessed as equivalent to an approved certificate III level educator qualification.

If an individual is ‘actively working towards’ an approved certificate III level qualification, they may be counted as a certificate III level educator, if they meet the requirements under the 'actively working towards' provisions. For more information visit ACECQA's 'actively working towards' web page.

The roles and responsibilities of a certificate III level educator may include, but are not limited to:

supporting children's learning and development, including contributing to the educational program and practice
assisting the delivery of an approved learning framework
developing positive relationships with children and families
supporting the daily routines of children
complying with service policies and legislation.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations do not specify what roles or responsibilities a certificate III level educator must undertake. This is up to the approved provider of each education and care service.

Access to an Early childhood teacher (ECT)

Services must engage or have access to an early childhood teacher (ECT) based on the number of children in attendance at the service. Please refer to the Summary of the ECT requirements for centre-based services table below*.

An individual can be counted as an ECT if they:

hold an approved early childhood teaching qualification, OR
hold a former approved early childhood teaching qualification that commenced before 1 January 2012, OR
hold a qualification that ACECQA has determined to be an equivalent early childhood teacher qualification, OR
hold a qualification that ACECQA has assessed as equivalent to an approved early childhood teaching qualification.

If an individual is ‘actively working towards’ an approved ECT level qualification, they may be counted as an ECT, if they meet the requirements under the 'taken to be an early childhood teacher' provisions in regulation 242. However, regulation 242 does not apply in all states and territories. For more information visit our actively working towards web page.

For NSW state specific provisions in relation to ECT requirements please see regulation 272.

Teacher registration is not a requirement for ECTs under the NQF, but is a requirement under some state and territory legislation. For more info visit ACECQA's teacher registration and accreditation web page.

The roles and responsibilities of an ECT may include but are not limited to:

designing, planning, implementing and evaluating educational programs and practices, including following and implementing an approved learning framework
leading and supporting the wellbeing, learning and development of children
providing pedagogical leadership
coaching, mentoring and supervising staff
building and maintaining strong relationships with children and their families
complying with, and supporting other educators to comply with, service policies and legislation
working with community members and external agencies.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations do not specify what roles or responsibilities an ECT must undertake. This is up to the approved provider of each education and care service.

Summary of the ECT requirements

Number of children in attendance at any one time	Early childhood teacher requirement
Fewer than 25 children*	The service needs to have access to an early childhood teacher for at least 20 per cent of the time the service is operating. This may be achieved through an information communication technology solution.
25 – 59 children*	The service must employ or engage a full-time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher, or have an early childhood teacher in attendance for: • 6 hours per day, when operating for 50 hours or more per week OR • 60% of the time, when operating for less than 50 hours per week
60 – 80 children*	The service must employ or engage a full-time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher, or have an early childhood teacher in attendance for: • 6 hours per day, when operating for 50 hours or more per week OR • 60% of the time, when operating for less than 50 hours per week. Additionally from 2020, the service must employ a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person in attendance for: • 3 hours per day, when operating for 50 hours or more per week OR • 30% of the time, when operating for less than 50 hours per week These requirements do not apply if the service has 60 to 80 approved places, and employs or engages a full time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher at the service, and employs or engages a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person for half the hours or full time equivalent hours at the service.
More than 80 children*	The service must employ or engage a full-time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher, or have an early childhood teacher in attendance for: • 6 hours per day, when operating for 50 hours or more per week OR • 60% of the time, when operating for less than 50 hours per week. Additionally from 2020, the service must employ a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person in attendance for: • 6 hours per day, when operating for 50 hours or more per week OR • 60% of the time, when operating for less than 50 hours per week These requirements do not apply if the service has more than 80 approved places, and employs or engages a full time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher at the service, and employs or engages a second full time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person at the service.

* Saving provisions apply In NSW - see regulation 272.

Suitably Qualified Person

Approved providers of long day care services and preschools/kindergartens must have a second ECT or, alternatively, a 'suitably qualified person' when 60 or more children preschool age or under are being educated and cared for.

A 'suitably qualified person' can be:

An individual who is 'actively working towards' an approved early childhood teaching qualification AND has completed at least 50% of the qualification or holds an approved diploma level qualification

An individual who is registered (accredited in New South Wales) as a primary or secondary school teacher in Australia AND holds an ACECQA approved diploma level qualification (or higher).

Services located in NSW are unaffected by these changes, as additional ECT staffing requirements have been in place for several years under regulation 272.

For further information, please refer to the ACECQA web page on recognition as a 'suitably qualified person'.