New Cert 3 and Diploma Of Early Childhood Education and Care Qualification Courses Now Released

As of 20 July 2021, the Cert 3 and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care Qualifications has been updated with new and changed course units.

New Qualification Code (Current as of 20/7/2021):

• CHC30121 - Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
• CHC50121 - Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Previous Qualification Code (Superseded):

• CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
• CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

What Happens To Students Completing Previous Cert 3 and Diploma Qualification?

Students completing the following courses:

CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

These have now become superseded qualifications. A qualification being superseded means it is being replaced.

When a qualification is superseded, RTOs have one year (transition times may vary) to finalise students, or transition them to the new qualification. Students who are already well progressed in the qualification or unit, and will complete their study and be issued with a qualification or statement of attainment within the one-year transition period do not need to be transferred to the new qualification course. If students are not going to finish their studies within the one-year transition period, they must be offered transition, as long as the student is still within their enrolment timeframes.

Transition

If a student has completed a previous version of the Children’s Education and Care Qualifications or Units of Competency and wish to upgrade to the current version the enrolling RTO must:

• undertake a mapping exercise to confirm which elements, performance criteria and assessment requirements have been addressed and identify any gaps
• conduct gap training and assessment as necessary and
• issue the required statement of attainment

Entry Requirements For Diploma Qualification

For those wanting to complete a Diploma Of f Early Childhood Education and Care Qualification new entry requirements are required:

Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who hold:

• CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care Or
• CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

The entry requirement has been introduced to address significant issues of concern in the sector with unduly short courses and a lack of quality and consistency in qualification outcomes. The Certificate III qualification is the solid foundation for commencing a career in early childhood and a basis for ongoing professional development.

Minimum Mandated Work Hours for Qualifications within the Children’s Education and Care

CHC30121 - Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care - To achieve this qualification, the individual must have completed a total of least 160 hours of work in a regulated children’s education
and care service in Australia as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours

CHC50121 - Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care - To achieve this qualification, the individual must have completed a total of least 280 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.

Note: The work placement should be arranged by the RTO in partnership with the employer and staggered throughout the student’s program to enable consolidation, reflection and improvement in the application of the program to practical environments.

New and Updated Changes Made To The Cert 3 and Diploma Qualifications

Reference: 
Children’s Education and Care (CEC) Companion Volume Implementation Guide, CHC Community Services Training Package Release 5.0 July 2021, Department Of Education, Skills and Employment