From 1 January 2020, an educator will need to have completed their ECT qualification to be considered a qualified ECT. However, educators ‘actively working towards’ an approved ECT qualification may still be counted as a certificate III or diploma level educator, depending on how much of the approved ECT qualification they have completed.
In September 2017, the Education Council agreed to extend regulation 242 of the National Regulations. Under regulation 242, you are ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’ until 31 December 2019 if you:
- are enrolled in an approved early childhood teaching qualification, and
- give the approved provider documentary evidence from the course provider that you:
- have started the course, and
- are making satisfactory progress towards completing the course, and
- are meeting the requirements for maintaining the enrolment, and
- hold an approved diploma level educator qualification, or have completed at least 50 per cent of the course.
Regulation 242 does not apply in Victoria after 31 December 2017 or if you are working in a centre-based service educating and caring for 30 or more children preschool age or under in NSW.
Reference:
Actively Working Towards A Qualification, ACECQA

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