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Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care

Graduate Certificate

Are you a primary or secondary teacher wanting to expand your qualifications into early childhood education? The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care provides you with essential qualifications to deliver crucial early childhood and Kindergarten learning.

Key details

Degree Type

Graduate Certificate

Study Mode

Online

Intake Months

Feb, May, Sep

Domestic Fees

$2,220 per year

About this course

Overview

Are you a primary or secondary teacher wanting to expand your qualifications into early childhood education? The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care provides you with essential qualifications to deliver crucial early childhood and Kindergarten learning.
One of the most significant times of a person's life is during their first 5 years, where brain development is at it's peak and a supportive, nurturing environment is essential to build a foundation for future learning, health and life success. Expand your teaching qualifications to deliver learning that makes a life-long difference.
This Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)-accredited degree is an ideal option for teachers who have the desire to take a role in the early childhood education space, for example, in rural areas where teachers are often limited and the need for staff to become multi-skilled is essential.
Once graduated, you will have a broad range of qualifications giving you the ability to deliver essential learning in an early childhood education setting, or to become a manager or advisor of an educational centre for children aged from birth to 5 years of age.

Professional accreditation

This degree is an approved Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) qualification with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Completion of an undergraduate initial teacher education qualification in Primary or Secondary Education which leads to teacher registration, such as a Bachelor of Education.
or
Completion of a postgraduate initial teacher education qualification in Primary or Secondary Education which leads to teacher registration, such as a Master of Learning and Teaching.

English language requirements

English language requirements apply to applicants whose previous undergraduate study was completed in a country other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America or undertaken in a language other than English. Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Additional requirements for placements

You must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of professional experience placements within this degree.

Some childcare centres may require evidence of vaccination prior to undertaking professional experience at the site.

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, are required to hold a current Positive Exemption Card (Blue Card) or hold a valid Working with Children Check. Students in other Australian states or in overseas contexts need to ensure they have complied with the equivalent requirements and have registered the details with the UniSQ Education Placement Office.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

Study locations

External

Distance

Online

Career pathways

Career outcomes

This degree suits teachers who want to broaden their career opportunities and be qualified for in-demand kindergarten career vacancies. This qualification also suits those wishing to pursue management or advisory positions within education settings to work with children from birth to 5 years of age.

Course structure

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 4 units. Most courses (similar to 'subjects') are valued at 1 unit.

Students can enrol in a maximum of 2 courses per semester due to the time constraints which are required to attend professional experience placements. This enrolment pattern is provided to accommodate students' needs, many of whom, in addition to study, are teaching on a full or part-time basis. Therefore, this qualification can only be studied part-time.

Courses to be studied Units Core courses 4 Total 4

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Professional experience / education placements

A student of the Graduate Certificate of Early Education and Care, you will embark on the following professional placements:

20 days with children aged 3-5 (Kindergarten)
10 days with children aged from birth - 35 months
30 days with children before they start formal schooling or another approved context.

How to apply

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Apply direct to UniSQ

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You can select to start your study in Trimester 1, 2 or 3.


Study period	Application closing date	Orientation	Study period s tart date	Finish date
Trimester 1, 2024	Monday 22 January	Monday 15 January	Monday 22 January	Friday 26 April
Trimester 2, 2024	Monday 20 May	Monday 6 May	Monday 13 May	Friday 16 August
Trimester 3, 2024	Monday 2 September	Monday 26 August	Monday 2 September	Friday 6 December


Study period	Application closing date	Orientation	Study period s tart date	Finish date
Trimester 1, 2025	Monday 10 February	Monday 3 February	Monday 10 February	Friday 9 May
Trimester 2, 2025	Monday 26 May	Monday 19 May	Monday 26 May	Friday 22 August
Trimester 3, 2025	Monday 8 September	Monday 1 September	Monday 8 September	Friday 5 December

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Teacher Education courses at University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

81.8%

Overall satisfaction

78%

Skill scale

70.5%

Teaching scale

85%

Employed full-time

$80.5k

Average salary

Data source