Early Childhood Qualifications

For Licensed Children’s Services

For a person to work as a qualified staff member in a licensed children’s service they must have successfully completed a two year full-time, or part-time equivalent, post secondary early childhood qualification or hold a qualification that is substantially equivalent.

A current list of approved qualifications can be found at – Qualified Staff Member - Children's Services - Children’s Services Act 1996 (PDF - 28Kb), Regulation 5 (1) of the Children’s Services Regulations 2009.

The list includes qualifications that are recognised for work as a qualified staff member in a licensed children’s service in Victoria. The list also includes the relevant training institutions.

If your qualification does not appear in the Schedule you can apply to have your qualification assessed for equivalence. For information and forms for the assessment of qualifications for equivalence, see Assessment of Qualifications for Equivalence.

Please note, a Certificate III in Children's Service is not an approved qualification for this purpose.

For funded Kindergarten Programs

Funded kindergarten programs in Victoria are planned and delivered by a qualified staff member holding an approved early childhood teaching qualification.

A list of approved early childhood teacher qualifications is available in the Victorian Kindergarten policy procedures and funding criteria. This is a policy guide that includes a list of institutions and the name of the qualification that is recognised for early kindergarten funding. See Early childhood teaching staff member - Children’s Services Act 1996 (PDF - 31Kb).

If your qualification does not appear on the list you can apply to have your qualification assessed for equivalence. For information and forms for the assessment of qualifications for equivalence, see Assessment of Qualifications for Equivalence.

For information about professional standards for Kindergarten teachers, see Validation Process for Early Childhood Teachers.