Which Childcare Qualifications Do You Really Need?

If you’ve been looking into becoming an Early Childhood Educator, you’ve probably already asked yourself: “What qualifications do I need to be a childcare worker in Australia?” and “What’s the difference between a Certificate III and a Diploma in Childcare?” 

These two courses can cause a lot of confusion around the qualifications you need in order to be certified to take care of children. Before you choose your course, it’s vital that you know the key differences between them so you’re enrolling in the most appropriate qualification for your skill level and career aspirations. 

What qualifications do I need to work in childcare in Australia?

If you want to work with children in Australia, you'll need at least a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or be actively working towards getting one. This is the minimum qualification required by law to get started in the industry. Many centres these days are also looking for educators with higher qualifications like a Diploma. The industry is growing fast, and having better qualifications can open more doors and lead to higher pay. 

Let's look at the main differences between these two qualifications.

What is the difference between a Certificate III and Diploma in Childcare?

There’s a huge range of childcare roles, and most of them require some level of qualification. Both of these early childhood educator qualifications (Certificate III and Diploma in Childcare) provide a fantastic foundation of skills you’ll use throughout your career. 

The main differences between the Diploma and Certificate in Childcare lay in the duration and depth of study, the curriculum and the career outcomes.  

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care   

A CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the absolute minimum childcare qualification that you need in order to become a qualified Early Childhood Educator.  

The Certificate III teaches the core skills required to move into a professional role in childcare. If you’re new to childcare, this is a highly recommended starting point. 

How long does a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education take?  

The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care takes between one and one and a half years to complete, depending on your study load. You’ll also need to complete up to 120 hours of vocational placement, where you’ll have the opportunity to practice the skills you’ve learned and refine your ability to be a great Early Childhood Educator. 

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care  

The CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care contains more advanced content and learning outcomes than the Certificate III. If you’re interested in pursuing an ongoing career in childcare, this is the right choice for you. The Diploma will equip you with the skills to not only become a qualified Early Childhood Educator but also some business and administrative skills as well.  

Some of the more advanced learning content you’ll cover includes: 

• Fostering holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing

• Maintaining a safe and healthy environment for children

• Planning and implementing children's education and care curriculum

• Working in partnership with children's families

• Implementing strategies for the inclusion of all children

• Management and leadership

 How long does a Diploma in Childcare take? 

As a more advanced course, it does take substantially longer to complete. It can take around two years to get qualified and involves up to 480 hours of vocational placement. At the end of your Diploma, you’ll be thoroughly qualified to pursue an advanced career in childcare, with more opportunities available to you than if you’d only completed a Certificate III. 

What are the job options after completing these early childhood courses?  

The career paths in early childhood education vary depending on your qualification level. Let's look at the opportunities available with each qualification to help you decide which path might be right for you.

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care  Jobs

Studying the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the perfect pathway for many entry-level positions in the childcare industry. Some of the roles you’ll be qualified for include: 

Long Day Care Educator 

Working in a Long Day Care Centre, you’ll be in an environment that supports working parents, as these centres provide education and care for children from babies to the age of 12. They usually operate at least 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday, for at least 48 weeks a year and provide full or part-time care.  

Kindergarten Assistant 

As a Kindergarten Assistant, you’ll be working in a childhood education environment that is tailored to helping prepare children for their first year in school. You’ll support children with play-based learning and help them expand their physical abilities, build their confidence and enhance their social skills. 

Childcare Assistant 

A Childcare Assistant provides care and structured learning to children, usually in a daycare centre. As a Childcare Assistant, you’ll provide a caring, non-judgemental and supportive environment for all children and their families. 

Early Childhood Educator 

An Early Childhood Educator, also referred to as a Childcare Worker, is responsible for the care and early education of babies and young children. They work in a range of settings, including kindergartens, childcare centres, community centres and schools.

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care  Jobs

One major difference between a Certificate and Diploma in childcare is that the Diploma provides you with more options. Australian legislation says that at least half of all educators within a long day care or preschool facility must hold (or be actively studying) a Diploma-level qualification or higher.

There’s also an emerging trend of childcare centres seeking workers with higher qualification levels. So if you hold a Diploma, you’ll stand a far greater chance of employment.  

With the Diploma, you can pursue roles such as: 

Group Leader 

As a Group Leader, you'll be in charge of planning and running daily education programs. You'll prepare learning materials, track children's progress and make sure every child in your group is safe, included and supported in their development.

Childcare Director 

Taking on the top role at a childcare centre, you'll manage everything from daily operations to staff leadership. You'll work on creating the best possible environment for children while handling the business side of things like administration and marketing.

Educational Leader 

As an Educational Leader, you'll guide other educators in understanding play-based learning and early childhood development. You'll help both staff and families understand why the early years are so crucial for children's education.

Assistant Director 

Working alongside the Centre Director, you'll help run the centre's operations and lead your team. It's a great stepping stone to becoming a Director yourself, as you'll mentor other educators while developing your leadership skills.

Lead Educator 

In this role, you'll create and deliver quality education programs while supporting children's participation and learning. You'll work closely with centre management, build relationships with families and guide other educators in their roles.

Do I need a Certificate III in Childcare to study for a Diploma?

You will need to complete the Certificate III in order to study the Diploma, as it expands on the materials covered in the former course. That said, both courses have some level of crossover. 

This structure will allow you to get a feel for the industry and gain some experience as an educator so that you can be sure it’s the right career path for you — especially before you commit to the advanced course that’ll qualify you for more senior positions.

Depending on your career goals and your commitment to obtaining childcare qualifications, you may choose to study the Diploma as soon as you graduate from the Certificate III.  

Want to advance your career in childcare? 

If you already hold the Certificate III, you’ve got an excellent knowledge base to build on while studying the Diploma and may find that some concepts come to you more easily. 

Furthermore, you may be able to get your diploma faster. Because the Diploma and Certificate III share some units, you may not have to study them again. You’ll need to prove you hold the Certificate III and may need to prove it was acquired within a certain timeframe. 

This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). You may also qualify for RPL through past work that you’ve completed. In order to do so, you’ll need to provide evidence of your responsibilities, time worked and the kind of skills that you are proficient in. 

If you’re ready to get started today, get in touch with us, and we’ll work out a plan that suits your aspirations, budget and availability.