UPDATE: Become a Qualified Early Childhood Teacher! Start your ACECQA journey today!"

To become a qualified early childhood teacher in Australia, you must hold an ACECQA-approved early childhood teaching (ECT) qualification or an equivalent qualification that meets national standards. If you do not yet have an ACECQA-approved qualification, ACECQA will assess your qualifications under the National Quality Framework (NQF) as part of a dual assessment process. In such cases, you may be asked to provide additional evidence to support your application. For detailed guidance on how ACECQA determines equivalent qualifications, you should consult their official Guidelines.

In terms of English language proficiency, ACECQA offers several pathways for demonstrating your ability. If you have completed one year of full-time tertiary or higher education in English in an exempt country such as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States, this can be used as proof of proficiency. Alternatively, you can meet the language requirements by achieving specific scores in recognized language tests, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic version, with a minimum score of 7.0 in reading and writing, and 8.0 in speaking and listening, obtained within the last three years. Another option is the International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR), where you must achieve a Level 4 across all four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—at an approved testing site within the past three years.

In certain cases, ACECQA may also accept a professional reference from an employer in an English-speaking country, including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States, as evidence of your English proficiency. However, ACECQA reserves the right to request the IELTS Academic test if there is any uncertainty about your language skills.