Educator qualifications
The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets out minimum qualification requirements for educators working in children's education and care services.
Below you will find the list of approved qualifications, as well as information on how to apply to ACECQA to have a qualification approved or to have your individual qualification(s) assessed as equivalent to an approved qualification.
Approved educator qualification lists
Education and care qualifications
First aid qualification requirements
Former approved education and care qualification lists
The NQF also transitions individuals with education and care qualifications that were formerly required across Australia. These are broken into two categories:
1. You are taken to hold an approved early childhood teaching qualification if you held prior to 1 January 2012 any of the following approved qualifications. If you commenced any of these qualification before 1 January 2012, you will be taken to hold an approved early childhood teachng qualification when you complete the qualification.
2. You are taken to hold an approved qualification if you held prior to 1 January 2012 any of the following former approved education and care qualifications:
The above diploma and certificate III lists also include formerly approved international qualifications for educators intending to work in Queensland only.
If required, please refer to the list below to check the current and former names of training institutions:
Current and Former Names of Training Institutions
Apply to have your qualifications assessed (including overseas qualifications)
Individuals
If you hold a qualification that is not on the above lists you should determine if you were recognised as a qualified educator under a former education and care services law for the state or territory that you worked in prior to 1 January 2012. If you were recognised as a qualified educator, you will continue to be recognised. To seek advice on recognition under former laws, please contact your Regulatory Authority.
If you were not recognised as a qualified educator under a former education and care services law, you can apply to ACECQA to have your qualification(s) assessed for equivalence.
If your application to have your qualifications assessed for equivalence is successful, ACECQA will issue you a certificate. This certificate will demonstrate to employers that your qualification(s) are recognised as equivalent to an approved qualification for the purposes of the National Quality Framework.
If your application is unsuccessful, ACECQA will provide you with reasons for its decision.
Universities and training providers
If your organisation’s qualification or training is not on ACECQA’s approved lists, you can apply to ACECQA to have it assessed for inclusion on the relevant list:
Qualifications for authorised officers
It is ACECQA's role to determine the qualifications required for authorised officers. Information about current requirements is available here.