HomeCoursesEarly childhood education courses
Early childhood education courses
12 early childhood education qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 12
on this page
- Providers
- 732
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $75,400–$115,800
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +12%
3 of 3 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The early childhood education qualifications
12 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
368 providersThis qualification prepares you to work as an educator with young children in a regulated service such as long day care, family day care, a preschool or a kindergarten.
Certificate IIIEarly Childhood EducatorView qualification →Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
325 providersThis 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.
DiplomaEarly Childhood EducatorView qualification →
Degrees
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
9 providersBachelor degree2.5 to 4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
7 providersBachelor degree4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
6 providersBachelor degree4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherPrimary School TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
4 providersBachelor degree4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherPrimary School TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
3 providersBachelor degree3 to 4.5 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five)
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary)
2 providersBachelor degree4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherPrimary School TeacherView qualification →Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)
2 providersBachelor degree4 yearsEarly Childhood TeacherView qualification →Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education
2 providersGraduate certificate0.5 yearsView qualification →Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education
2 providersOther Undergraduate Award Course0.5 yearsView qualification →
What early childhood education study leads to
The 3 roles where a early childhood education qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Early Childhood Teacher
Enter through the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) or the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five) or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary) or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching). Choose an ACECQA-approved early-childhood-teacher qualification for the intended age range and jurisdiction. Complete placements, screening and applicable teacher-registration requirements; educator certificates and diplomas are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median salary for the role
$75,400
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Indicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data, Estimate.
Primary School Teacher
Enter through the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) or the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary). Complete an accredited initial-teacher-education programme for primary teaching, its placements and assessments, and meet the relevant teacher-registration requirements. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median salary for the role
$115,800
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Early Childhood Educator
Enter through the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Verify ACECQA approval for this award and intended work, complete required placement, child-safety training and screening, and meet the service and jurisdiction requirements. This is an educator route, 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.
Median salary for the role
$99,100
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.