Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

When you study with TAFE NSW, we want you to succeed. Entry requirements allow us to make sure that you have the right pre-existing knowledge and skills to achieve your chosen qualification. You will need to provide evidence that you meet the requirements listed in this section.

To be eligible for this course, you need to demonstrate the following:

• Before your first day of class you must complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) skills test and achieve a score of 3 across Learning, Reading and Oral Communication, a score of 2 across Writing and Numeracy and a score of 1 for Digital Literacy.

This helps us to determine that your skills match the demands of the course, to direct you to an alternative study option or to provide you with the appropriate support for your success. Your teacher will let you know when this must be completed.

Traineeship
TAFE NSW also offers the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care as a traineeship. To be eligible to enrol as a trainee you must:

• Be employed in the childcare industry as this course is delivered in the workplace
• Have a signed traineeship contract

Thinking about a traineeship? Enquire today.

COURSE SUCCESS REQUIREMENTS

During your study, you will need to meet specific requirements to complete your coursework.

• Certain aspects of assessment rely on your physical ability to perform two minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult and infant manikin at floor level and respond to an emergency situation where there may be risk to life.

If you are unable to meet the physical requirements, you will not be able to successfully complete this course.

WORK PLACEMENT

Work placement provides you with opportunities to respond to situations and circumstances that cannot be replicated in a learning or simulated environment. Work placement strengthens your training and supports continued learning and assessment in the workplace.

You will undertake a mandatory 160 hours of work placement with a suitable industry employer.

You need to meet the following requirements to be able to undertake work placement. Your teacher will let you know when you need to provide evidence of:

• A Working with Children Check (WWCC)
• Vaccination and health screenings
• Any additional evidence your work placement provider requires

At TAFE NSW we provide training that includes hands-on, practical experience. Work placement ensures you have the job-ready skills to achieve competency in this course.

Depending on your mode of study, TAFE NSW will arrange your work placement for you or support you to find one.

TAFE Digital students:
You are responsible for arranging your own work placement. Our Skills Team can offer support and guidance to assist you.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011), the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes lists of approved early childhood education and care qualifications and information regarding regulatory requirements.

Visit the ACECQA website for more information regarding licensing requirements.

IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?

To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:

• The ability to read, write and speak English
• A basic ability to apply numeracy
• A strong work ethic and professionalism
• Patience and dedication
• Adequate fitness and mobility to deliver First Aid, like performing CPR while kneeling on the floor

If you need help preparing for study, contact us about your options.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

With 130 locations across the state, TAFE NSW tailors qualifications to meet the needs of the local community and specific student groups (like apprentices, fast-tracked and online students). To make sure this course is the right fit for you, we will need you to demonstrate that you can meet the additional requirements below.

To be enrolled in this course offering, you need to be able to meet the following work placement requirements:

A minimum of 160 hours of work placement in a regulated Education and Care Service in Australia is required for this qualification. The work placement will be arranged by TAFE NSW in partnership with the service and implemented within the student's program to enable consolidation, reflection, improvement and assessment to occur.

Work placement is an opportunity to learn on the job and complete assessment requirements and often leads to employment opportunities. The Public Health (COVID -19 Vaccination of Education and Care Workers) Order 2021 states that education and care workers are required to have received 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or be issued with a medical contraindication certificate to be able to undertake relevant work. This applies to students on work placement in an early education and care facility. If you are not vaccinated we cannot assure you that this component of your course can be organized or fulfilled, which will impact your ability to successfully course complete. Details can be found https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/coronavirus/advice-for-services-and-providers. TAFENSW recognizes students' reasons for not being vaccinated. This can be discussed privately with TAFE NSW career counsellors prior to enrolment.

A valid Working with Children Check will be required by the Education and Care Service. This is a requirement for all students who are 18 years and over. To apply please visit https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check.
Be physically fit to undertake first aid responses including performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while kneeling on the floor.