Review the requirements for early childhood teaching programs under the NQF

In line with Action FA5-2 of Shaping Our Future, the ACECQA Board has completed a review of its requirements for early childhood teaching programs under the NQF.

The Board’s decisions reflect significant and increasingly urgent workforce challenges within the sector, including a pressing shortage of appropriately qualified and experienced early childhood teachers and educators.

From 1 July 2025, all early childhood teaching program applications will be required to specifically reference curriculum content that covers children under the age of three, as well as contemporary content relating to child protection and safe sleep practices. Programs will also be required to include at least 15 days of supervised professional experience with children under the age of three.

The ACECQA Board also took the opportunity to review English language proficiency requirements for individual applicants and its determination of equivalent to an early childhood teacher under regulation 137(3) of the Education and Care Services National Regulations.

From 1 July 2024, there are updated requirements for certificate III and diploma-level educators, and the ISLPR English language test has been included as an evidence option for early childhood teachers.

For the determination of equivalent to an early childhood teacher, the ACECQA Board extended the existing transitional measure by a further three years, until the end of 2027.

More information is available on our website.