Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC30125
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care provides the foundational skills and knowledge to work in early learning environments, supporting children’s wellbeing, learning, and development.
Begin a rewarding career nurturing and educating young children with the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30125). This nationally recognised qualification provides the foundational skills and knowledge to work in early learning environments, supporting children’s wellbeing, learning, and development. This Certificate is recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and is listed in their National Quality Framework.
You’ll learn how to create safe, inclusive, and engaging environments where children can grow and thrive. This qualification is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to work in childcare centres, preschools, or family day care settings.
Study online with AIPC and gain access to experienced trainers, comprehensive learning resources, and practical work placement opportunities designed to prepare you for success in the early childhood education sector.
You are able to gain entry to the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care if you are over 18 years of age and have:
Completed Year 12, or
Completed a Certificate III qualification, or
Have at least 2 years of sufficient life experience (work or study) (If over 21 years of age)
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is a nationally recognised training program in Australia, so you can be assured of its quality, status and integrity.
Reduced Upfront (and enjoy a substantial discount).
Fortnightly Payment Plan (take advantage of our fortnightly payment plans)
Pay via Credit Card or Direct Debit
Our Student Support Centres are located in:
Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast & Northern Rivers
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Perth
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Course Recognition
Why study our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
With this qualification, you’ll be ready to take on rewarding roles supporting teachers and students in primary and secondary school environments. You’ll develop practical classroom support skills, learn how to implement behaviour and learning plans, and support students with disabilities or additional learning needs. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through your work placement, applying your learning directly in real classroom settings under professional supervision.
Career ready
When you graduate, you’ll be well prepared to step confidently into a rewarding role in education, care, or community support. Our courses are designed with strong links to industry, giving you the skills and confidence employers value most.
Extremely applicable
Our Education and Care qualifications are highly relevant for people from all walks of life. Whether you’re starting a new career or building on existing experience in childcare, education, or support services — these courses offer practical skills that make a difference every day.
Caring education specialists
We believe you’re better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. While many providers offer a wide range of unrelated courses, we focus on developing caring professionals through quality education and training in the human services sector.
Flexible learning
We understand that balancing study with work, family, and life can be challenging. That’s why our courses are designed to offer flexible, supported learning — so you can study from home, progress at your own pace, and achieve your goals your way.
Career ready
When you graduate, you’ll be well prepared to step confidently into a rewarding role in education, care, or community support. Our courses are designed with strong links to industry, giving you the skills and confidence employers value most.
Extremely applicable
Our Education and Care qualifications are highly relevant for people from all walks of life. Whether you’re starting a new career or building on existing experience in childcare, education, or support services — these courses offer practical skills that make a difference every day.
Caring education specialists
We believe you’re better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. While many providers offer a wide range of unrelated courses, we focus on developing caring professionals through quality education and training in the human services sector.
Flexible learning
We understand that balancing study with work, family, and life can be challenging. That’s why our courses are designed to offer flexible, supported learning — so you can study from home, progress at your own pace, and achieve your goals your way.
Course Outline
Participate in workplace health and safety *
Learn to identify hazards, manage risks, and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children, families, and staff.
Support inclusion and diversity *
Develop the skills to promote inclusion and respect for diversity within early learning environments, ensuring every child feels valued and supported.
Encourage understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures *
Build cultural competence and gain strategies to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in early childhood programs.
Follow basic food safety practices *
Understand how to handle, prepare, and store food safely in childcare settings to meet health and safety regulations.
Identify and report children and young people at risk # *
Learn to recognise indicators of harm or abuse and respond appropriately in line with legislation and duty of care requirements.
Meet legal and ethical obligations in children’s education and care #
Gain a clear understanding of your legal and ethical responsibilities as an educator, including privacy, child protection, and professional conduct.
Work effectively in children’s education and care *
Develop teamwork, communication, and organisational skills for working collaboratively in early childhood settings.
Support children’s health, safety and wellbeing *
Learn to support children’s physical and emotional wellbeing through safe practices, healthy routines, and responsive care.
Develop positive and respectful relationships with children *
Gain the skills to communicate effectively with children and build trusting, respectful relationships that encourage learning and confidence.
Use an approved learning framework to guide practice *
Learn how to apply national learning frameworks to design and deliver age-appropriate educational experiences.
Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning *
Explore how to create play-based learning opportunities that stimulate curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Support children to connect with the natural environment *
Discover ways to foster children’s connection to nature through sustainable practices and outdoor exploration.
Nurture babies and toddlers *
Develop the skills to care for and support the unique needs of infants and toddlers, including feeding, sleeping, and emotional regulation.
Observe children to inform practice *
Learn to observe, record, and interpret children’s behaviour and development to plan meaningful learning experiences.
Support the holistic learning and development of children *
Understand how to support all aspects of a child’s growth — cognitive, physical, social, and emotional — through purposeful activities.
Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Build reflective habits to continuously improve your professional performance and contribution to the early childhood sector.
Provide first aid in an education and care setting
Gain nationally recognised first aid skills tailored to early childhood settings. This unit is completed externally through an approved provider.
Work Placement – Minimum of 160 hours of work placement
Apply your learning in a real childcare environment under supervision, gaining hands-on experience supporting children’s education and care.
Units marked with a # require the practical demonstration of skills in a simulated work environment. A variety of options are available to complete practical assessments including through private one-on-one or small group assessment (in person or online) or submitting a video recording.
Units marked with an * require completion of a work placement. The work placement involves an average of 12 hours per week in the workplace with some time spent at home completing activities that contribute to assessment.
At AIPC we have a payment method to suit every student. If you decide to pay for your course upfront you will enjoy a substantial discount, and you can concentrate on your studies without thinking about further payments.
If you would prefer to spread your payments, you can take advantage of our fortnightly payment plans over 26 fortnights.
We always strive to keep tuition as affordable as possible, opening up quality education for everyone.
Course* | Reduced Upfront Payment | Fortnightly Payment** |
|---|---|---|
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care | $2,490 | $129 |
*Total upfront course cost is $2,630, which includes tuition of $2,490, plus 1 practical sessions each of $140. The practical elements are paid as they are undertaken. They can be completed either online (via Zoom/Skype), by uploading a video demonstration, or by having a private assessor assess your skills.
**Fortnightly payments can be made by Credit Card or Direct Debit.
For over 30 years, AIPC has set the benchmark for service and support in education. We offer a complete external study support system that has been developed and refined over decades of research and continual student feedback.
Unlimited access to the Institutes Toll Free 1300 Study Assistance Line, 9am to 5pm EST Monday to Friday.
The structure of the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care ensures you graduate with sufficient practical skill so you can apply your knowledge with confidence.
Students can elect to complete the practical components through alternate means, such as a one-on-one or small group session with a private assessor. We have private assessors in numerous regional areas across Australia.
Students can also complete their practical components by video recording a demonstration of their skills. We have guidelines available to assist students compile their recordings and develop effective role plays to demonstrate their skills.
The Institute website is an extremely helpful study resource. Via the website you can access the My.AIPC Student Portal which is your link to numerous study support and e-learning functions. You can:
Download electronic versions of your workbooks
Complete your activities and upload for marking
Contact an Online Education Adviser for study assistance
Access the Knowledge Base, a massive database of the most commonly asked academic questions, categorised for particular subjects, activities and concepts
See when seminars are available in your area
Plus much more.
Request a Course Guide
Please complete this form and we will respond within 24 working hours.
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30-day money-back guarantee.
If you're not satisfied we'll give you your money back.
Zero Risk
Your enrolment comes with a guarantee that empowers you to enrol risk-free. If, for any reason whatsoever you decide you do not want to proceed with your course within 30-day, we will give you a 100%, no questions asked, money back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualifies you to work in childcare centres, preschools and family day care settings. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) recognises the qualification and lists it in the National Quality Framework, which is what employers check when they hire. Graduates work as early childhood educators, assistant educators, childcare workers and family day care educators.
An early childhood educator supports the wellbeing, learning and development of young children. They create safe, inclusive environments where children can grow and thrive. Day to day, you’ll plan and run activities, observe how each child is progressing, manage hazards and risks in the room and keep families updated on their children’s progress. You’ll work as part of a team under the direction of a qualified early childhood teacher or centre director.
We teach the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care online, so you can study from anywhere in Australia and set your own pace. Full-time study takes 12 months over 17 units. The part you’ll do in person is your work placement, which asks for a minimum of 160 hours in a real childcare service at an average of 12 hours a week.
Over 17 units, you’ll learn to:
Identify hazards and manage risks in an early learning environment
Create inclusive spaces where every child can participate
Support children’s physical, social and emotional development
Observe and document how individual children are progressing
Work with families and colleagues about a child’s care
Meet the health and safety requirements of a childcare service
Several units also require practical demonstration of your skills, which you can complete through a one-on-one small group assessment or by completing a video recording.
A Certificate III qualifies you to work as an educator under supervision. The Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care qualifies you to take responsibility for planning educational programs and to work as a room leader or centre director. Under the National Quality Framework, services need diploma-qualified staff in specific ratios, so the diploma opens up positions that a Certificate III can’t.
Yes. The Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care is the standard next step, extending your skills into program planning and team leadership. You might choose to continue straight into the Diploma or spend time working in a service first, building on the practical experience gained during your 160 hours of placement.
You can also sign up for both qualifications at the same time and study them as one streamlined pathway. If the same units are included in both qualifications, they’ll be credited towards your next course, reducing the number of units you need to complete and potentially shortening your overall study time. Our admissions team can talk you through everything, including credit transfers and costs.
Early childhood educators can play an important role in supporting children’s learning, wellbeing and development before they begin school. Childcare centres, preschools and family day care services operate in every part of Australia, so you can take the qualification with you if you move. To apply, you’ll need to be over 18 and have completed Year 12, a Certificate III, or two years of relevant life experience if you’re over 21.
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Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care provides the foundational skills and knowledge to work in early learning environments, supporting children’s wellbeing, learning, and development.