HomeCoursesEarly childhood educationDiploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
This diploma is for people already working in early childhood who want to take on more responsibility: designing the curriculum, keeping the service compliant and guiding other educators.
- Duration: 1 year to 2 years
- Study mode: Online, on campus, blended and workplace based
- Course code: CHC50125
Where you can study this course
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
- Campuses
- 13 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.
- Campuses
- 19 campuses
- Duration
- 1 year to 2 years
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- Not stated by provider
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
- Campuses
- 11 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Most students praise the student support, while others find it frustrating. Many rate the facilities and campus well, and some criticise the organisation and admin.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Stanley College
- Campuses
- 4 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Most students rate the student support highly, while many also praise the trainers and teaching. Opinions are mixed on organisation and admin, and some found communication frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
- Campuses
- 12 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students often praise the facilities and campus, while some value student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on trainers and teaching, with communication also a concern.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
- Campuses
- 11 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
- Campuses
- 26 campuses
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $7,485
- Eligible students: subsidised from $1,380, concession $75
What students say
Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who hold: CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (or its equivalent successor) OR CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Alternatively, individuals may hold: An Australian diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care OR An Australian diploma or certificate III in Children’s Services. AND Demonstrate at least 12 months of cumulative employment (full-time equivalent) within the last 5 years in a regulated education and care service in Australia, supported by verifiable evidence. OR Hold the CHCSS00147 Entry into Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- a genuine interest in how young children learn and grow
- patience and a calm approach to guiding children
- good communication skills for working with families
- a willingness to reflect on and improve your own practice
What will you learn?
You learn to plan and run a program built on an approved learning framework, observe children and use what you see to shape what comes next, work closely with families, and include children with additional needs. Study includes a substantial placement in a regulated education and care service, and national child safety training must be completed before any placement hours start. Entry usually calls for a Certificate III in early childhood education and care plus recent experience in the sector, though a bridging course is available if you do not already hold one.
- Keeping children safe and healthy
- Planning and running the curriculum
- Observing children to plan learning
- Guiding behaviour and inclusion
- Working with families
- Compliance and leading a team
Units of competency (12 core, 3 elective)
The qualification is made up of 15 units. Everyone completes the 12 core units below, and the remaining 3 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Early Childhood Educator
Early Childhood Educator
Early childhood educators care for and teach children from birth to school age in long day care, preschool and kindergarten rooms.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,906
- Full-time share
- 57%
- Employment size
- 71,900 workers
- Average age
- 37 years
- Average full-time hours
- 41 hours
- Gender share
- 95% female
- Future growth
- +12.1%
- Job market
- In shortage (national)
Verify ACECQA approval, meet diploma entry requirements, complete required placement, child-safety training and screening, and meet service and jurisdiction requirements. This is not an early-childhood-teacher qualification. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Where this fits
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in early childhood education: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
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Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
After
No later step listed.
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).