Course Description:

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 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.

Nationally Recognised

Career Opportunities

Early Childhood Educator

Funding Options available:

Start a Career in Early Childhood

1. Fee For Service
Fees for self-funded students. The Fee for Service is applied when a student is not eligible for or already exhausted the subsidy at that level or where no subsidies are available under their current visa arrangement.

Administration Fee ($)	Tuition Fee ($)	Total Cost ($)
500	1000	1500

2. Certificate 3 Guarantee – “Funded by the Queensland Government”

Funding Eligibility

This Course is subsidised under the Queensland VET Investment Plan administered by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s (DESBT)
To be eligible to enrol in the Certificate 3 Guarantee, prospective participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
– be aged 15 years or older
– not be currently enrolled in any other certificate or higher course or high school (with the exception of school students in Years 10, 11 and 12 undertaking a VET in School (VETiS) program
– see the VETiS fact sheet for more information)
– permanently reside in Queensland
– be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
– not hold, and not be enrolled in, a certificate III or higher-level qualification, not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training & is not enrolled in a post-school Australian Qualifications Framework

Co-Contribution Fees (For Certificate 3 Guarantee Program)

Certificate 3 Guarantee Program
Metro		Regional
Non-concession	Concession	Non-concession	Concession
$99.00 Total	$69.00 Total	$51.00 Total	$34.00 Total
$5.82 Per Unit	$4.05 Per Unit	$3.00 Per Unit	$2.00 Per Unit

Co-contribution Fee represents the total non-government subsidised portion of essential training costs for the participant to undertake the qualification. This fee includes total cost to the student to enrol, undertake training and be awarded the qualification.

Certificate 3 Guarantee Student Fact Sheet

3. User Choice Program

The program provides the flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a preferred registered training organisation (RTO) from a list of pre-qualified suppliers for the delivery of nationally recognised, accredited training to meet their specific needs. The program works in conjunction with the Commonwealth Australian Apprenticeships System, under which apprentices and trainees (also known in some jurisdictions as “Australian Apprentices”) enter into legally binding training contracts with their employers and receive structured training to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.

a) Co-Contribution Fees (User Choice Program):

User Choice Program:
Fee is calculated at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit of competency

b) For Full Exemption / Partial Fee Exemption

Our Enrolment officers/ Business Development Managers will check your eligibility and recommend you the best possible option.

For more information: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/incentives/userchoice

c) Free apprenticeships for under 21s:

If you are under 21, Free apprenticeships for under 21s will cover the cost of training for Queensland apprentices and trainees who commence or are undertaking a priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualification from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2023.