Qualifications | Early Childhood Teacher

Early Childhood Teacher Qualifications and Requirements List

The lists of approved early childhood teacher qualifications replace the current state and territory lists of qualifications from 1 January 2012.

A person who holds a qualification on the list of approved early childhood teaching qualifications is an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT).

A person who holds a qualification on the list of former approved early childhood teaching qualifications is an early childhood teacher if they obtained that qualification on or before 31 December 2011.

Also, a person who was enrolled on 31 December 2011 in a course for a qualification
that is published in the list of former approved early childhood teacher qualifications is taken to hold an approved early childhood teaching qualification when they complete that qualification.

Fewer than 25 approved places or fewer than 25 children in attendance

From 1 Jan 2014 in all states and territories:

At least 20 per cent of the time that the service provides education and care, the service must have access to an early childhood teacher working with the service.

25-59 children in attendance

From 1 Jan 2014 in all states and territories
 (Saving provision applies in NSW*):

  • If a service operates for 50 or more hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance at the service for six hours on the given day.
  • If a service operates for less than 50 hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance for 60 per cent of the operating hours of the service on the given day.
  • These requirements do not apply if the service has 25‑29 approved places, and employs or engages a full time or full time equivalent early childhood teacher at the service.

60-80 children in attendance

From 1 Jan 2014 in VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT (
Saving provision applies in NSW*):

  • If a service operates for 50 or more hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance at the service for six hours on the given day.
  • If a service operates for less than 50 hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance for 60% of the operating hours of the service on the given day.
  • 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.

From 1 Jan 2020 in VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT (Saving provision applies in NSW*):

  • If a service operates for 50 or more hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance at the service for six hours on the given day, and second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person must be in attendance at the service for at least three hours on the given day.
  • If a service operates for less than 50 hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance for 60 per cent of the operating hours of the service on the given day, and a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person must be in attendance for at least 30 per cent of the operating hours on 
that day.
  • 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 in attendance on any given day

From 1 Jan 2014 in VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT (
Saving provision applies in NSW*):

  • If a service operates for 50 or more hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance at the service for six hours on the given day.
  • If a service operates for less than 50 hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance for 60 per cent of the operating hours of the service on the given day.
  • 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.

From 1 Jan 2020 in VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT(Saving provision applies in NSW*):

  • If a service operates for 50 or more hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance at the service for six hours on the given day, and a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person must be in attendance at the service for at least six hours on the given day.
  • If a service operates for less than 50 hours a week, an early childhood teacher must be in attendance for 60 per cent of the operating hours of the service on the given day, and a second early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person must be in attendance for at least 60 per cent of the operating hours on 
that day.
  • 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.