Recognition as an ‘equivalent early childhood teacher’

This transitional measure was most recently reviewed by the ACECQA Board at the end of June 2024, at which point the Board decided to extend the measure until the end of 2027.

A person who has achieved ALL of the following will be recognised as equivalent to an early childhood teacher:

• a primary or secondary teaching qualification

AND

• teacher registration in Australia (called ‘accreditation’ in New South Wales)

AND

• an ACECQA approved certificate III level (or higher) early childhood education and care qualification.

After the end of 2027, this transitional measure is scheduled to cease, however individuals who have obtained this combination of qualifications before the end of 2027 will continue to be recognised under this provision.

The ACECQA Board’s deliberations focussed on the following:

• Achieving a balance between the ongoing goal of building a highly skilled workforce while recognising persistent and increasingly urgent issues with the attraction, supply and retention of early childhood teachers (particularly in regional and remote areas)
• Aligning the extension of the transitional measure with the deadline for the medium-term actions in Shaping Our Future, the national children’s education and care workforce strategy (2022-2031). These medium-term actions include action FA5-1 (‘Review staffing and qualification requirements under the NQF, with a focus on early childhood teachers and outside school hours care educators’).

If you are a registered/accredited primary or secondary school teacher:

• You will not need to apply to ACECQA once you achieve a qualification on ACECQA's list of approved qualifications as, in combination with your primary or secondary teaching qualification and Australian teacher registration, you will automatically be considered to meet the qualification requirements for an equivalent early childhood teacher. 
   
• You may be able to be ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’ upon starting your approved early childhood education and care qualification. Find more information about the 'actively working towards’ provision and Regulation 242.
   
• Alternatively, you may be able to be recognised as a 'suitably qualified person'. Find more information about 'recognition as a suitably qualified person'.

If you do not have teacher registration/accreditation:

You will need to obtain provisional or full teacher registration/accreditation to meet the requirements of an equivalent early childhood teacher under Regulation 137(3). A list of teacher registration/accreditation bodies in your state or territory can be found on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership website.