Early Childhood Teacher Registration in Australia: AITSL and State Authorities
Two types of assessment for international early childhood teachers
Early childhood teachers trained overseas who want to work in Australia must complete one of two types of assessment, depending on the specific role:
Type 1 — AITSL assessment (for school teachers, public or private): If you want to teach at an early childhood setting within the formal school system (kindergarten/preschool for 4–5 year olds run under the state Education Act), you need an assessment from AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) and then registration with the state’s teacher regulatory authority.
Type 2 — ACECQA assessment (for early childhood education and care settings): If you want to work as a Nominated Supervisor or Person in Day-to-Day Charge at a childcare service, childcare centre, or family day care (under the National Quality Framework), your qualification needs an equivalency assessment from ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority).
The two systems are different — AITSL does not replace ACECQA and vice versa. Identify the correct type of assessment from the outset to avoid wasting time.
AITSL assessment for early childhood teachers
AITSL assesses an international applicant’s teaching qualification against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). The process:
1. Lodge an assessment application via the AITSL portal (aitsl.edu.au). Select “International Teacher Assessment” for early childhood or primary (depending on the qualification you hold).
2. Documents to lodge:
- Your early childhood teaching qualification or bachelor of education (early childhood education)
- A detailed transcript with a course description for each subject
- Evidence of post-graduation teaching experience (if any)
- Certified English translations for all documents not in English
3. AITSL result: An assessment of “Comparable” (equivalent to the Australian standard) or “Not comparable” with reasons. A comparable result is a condition for registering with a state authority.
AITSL fees and processing time: check the AITSL website for current information.
Note on early childhood qualifications: AITSL requires an early childhood education qualification that includes a teaching practicum component. A “care worker” or “childcare certificate” is not a teaching qualification — AITSL will not assess it as a teaching qualification.
Registering with a state authority after AITSL
After receiving a “Comparable” AITSL result, you must register with the teacher regulatory authority of the state where you want to work. Each state has its own authority:
| State | Registration authority |
|---|---|
| NSW | NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) |
| VIC | VIT (Victorian Institute of Teaching) |
| QLD | QCT (Queensland College of Teachers) |
| SA | TRB (Teachers Registration Board of South Australia) |
| WA | TRBWA (Teacher Registration Board of WA) |
| TAS | TRB (Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania) |
| ACT | TQI (Teacher Quality Institute) |
| NT | TRB (Teacher Registration Board of NT) |
Each authority has its own process and fees — check the website of the state authority you choose. State registration does not automatically transfer to another state; if you move states, you need to register again.
ACECQA assessment for childcare/early learning
If your goal is to work at a childcare or early learning setting (not the school system), ACECQA assesses your qualification under the National Quality Framework:
- Qualification equivalent to a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care: Required for an Educator
- Qualification equivalent to a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood): Required for some leadership roles
ACECQA also has an online application process. Refer to the ACECQA website for which overseas qualifications are accepted for assessment and the current processing time.
English
Both AITSL and the state authorities require proof of English. The specific requirement varies by authority, but is typically:
- IELTS Academic: 7.0–7.5 overall, with certain minimum band scores
- OET or PTE Academic are also accepted by many authorities
Check the specific English requirement of the state authority you want to register with — there are differences between states.
Relevance to migration visas
The AITSL assessment result is used for a migration visa under the early childhood teacher ANZSCO code. Common visas:
- Visa 190/491: If the state nominates under the teacher occupation list
- Visa 482: If the school/education provider is an approved sponsor
For an overview of the early childhood teacher migration pathway, see the dedicated early childhood teacher migration guide.