Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

You can study full-time or part-time. Full-time takes 52 weeks with about 8 hours of online study per week plus 2 practical days per week. Part-time takes 104 weeks with about 4 hours of online study per week plus 1 practical day per week. You are expected to complete about one unit per month to stay on track.

You need at least 160 practical hours in a regulated early childhood service in Australia. If you are already working in childcare, your current workplace counts toward your practical hours and you don't need to go anywhere else. If you are not yet working, ACCCO can help you find a placement or paid role at an approved childcare service. Your trainer will visit every 4–6 weeks to provide practical guidance and observe your skills. The 160 hours can be spread across all units that require practical experience.

It's not like school — there are no exams. Skills are checked through quizzes, written tasks such as reports or reflections, projects like planning activities or events, role plays that practise real-life scenarios, workplace observations, and feedback from supervisors or mentors.

Depending on your location, state government programs may help cover training costs to make them cheaper or even free. Programs like Queensland Career Start, NSW Smart & Skilled, SA WorkReady, and traineeships provide this support. Some or all course fees may be covered by government funding. If funding isn't available, ACCCO offers flexible payment options including credit card, direct debit, and payment plans.

Finishing this course opens the door to starting the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.