If you’re in secondary school and want to stay connected to your community while making a difference, the school-based traineeship (SBAT) in CHC30121 Early Childhood Education and Care might be for you.

This program lets you complete Year 12 and earn your Higher School Certificate (HSC) while also becoming qualified as a Certificate III early childhood educator. You’ll gain the skills and confidence to start working right after school.

The traineeship includes both practical and theory learning to prepare you to work with children from birth to school age.

Jobs you can do with this training include:

• early learning educator in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service

• school learning support officer Preschool (SLSO) or Aboriginal education officer (AEO) and work in a NSW Government public preschool

• family day care educator or operate your own family day care service

• out of school hours care educator and work in a before and after school or vacation care service.

Find out more about the ECEC school-based traineeship.

Once you gain a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care you can continue study towards a diploma.

If you’re not in high school and thinking about a career in early learning, the Certificate III (CHC30121) is a great first step. You can start studying for it right after school or at any age.

There are no entry requirements, and it usually takes 6 to 12 months to complete. You will learn how to provide safe, meaningful, and inclusive care and education for children using play-based learning.

Jobs you can do with this training include:

• early learning educator in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service

• school learning support officer Preschool (SLSO) or Aboriginal education officer (AEO) and work in a NSW Government public preschool

• family day care educator or operate your own family day care service

• out of school care educator in a before and after school or vacation care service.

The NSW and Australian Governments also fund thousands of fee-free training places that will allow you to study at no personal cost, which you can learn more about on the ECEC skills page.

If you have a Certificate III in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and want to advance your career, you can become a diploma-qualified educator.

Studying a Diploma of ECEC (CHC50121) takes 12 to 24 months and requires you to have completed the Certificate III first. This diploma prepares you to lead and manage early childhood services and help ensure children get quality, inclusive care.

Jobs you can do with this training include:

• room leader/lead early learning educator in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service

• early learning service manager
  

• early learning centre director in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service

• early learning educator in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service

• school learning support officer Preschool (SLSO) or Aboriginal education officer (AEO) and work in a public preschool

• family day care educator or operate your own family day care service.

The NSW and Australian Governments also fund thousands of fee-free training places that will allow you to study at no personal cost, which you can learn more about on the ECEC skills page.

If you are passionate about childhood development, teaching methods, ethics, and social justice, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education might suit you.

This degree focuses on the important first five years of a child’s life and teaches you how to support their cognitive, emotional, and social growth through play-based learning. Most degree courses take three or four years to study.

Career pathways include:

• early learning teacher in a long day care, community or public preschool or regional mobile preschool service
  

• service educational leader
  

• coordinator/leader of a multi-service hub or facility

• family day care coordination unit educator or manager

• child and family services support worker or manager

• primary school teacher for years Kindergarten to year 6 in a government or non-government school.
  

If you already hold a Diploma in Early childhood Education and Care you could become degree-qualified in just two years through an intensive pathway by receiving credit for your qualification and experience. This type of course is usually offered from universities that offer the standard four year Bachelor of Education- Early Childhood. The Early Learning Diploma to Degree program is an example of intensive pathways.

If you already have a degree in early childhood education, a Master of Inclusive Education can add specialised knowledge and skills. This master's degree usually takes 6 to 12 months to complete and is available at many universities.

University is not the only option for a degree. TAFE NSW also offers the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5) at multiple campuses across NSW. It also offers an intensive degree pathway recognising prior knowledge and qualifications to complete study in less than three years.

Explore bachelor’s and master’s degrees in NSW at UAC and search for campuses near you. When searching for courses make sure to apply for those that are recognised by Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Visit ACECQA’s website to Check your qualification is NQF approved.

As a graduate, you're eligible to apply for NESA Provisional accreditation.

You don’t need to be an educator or teacher to join the early learning sector. Support roles are essential to providing the best care for little learners. Each of these roles have unique requirements including a Working with Children Check (WWCC) and can include first aid, emergency asthma management and anaphylaxis management training.

Consider these roles:

• early learning service administrator in a long day care, community preschool or regional mobile preschool service
  

• cook in a long day care service

• volunteer.

Enquire at your local early learning service for current or upcoming job opportunities or search for job vacancies at IWorkForNSW, Worforce Australia and Work in Early Learning.