Early Childhood Teacher Migration to Australia: CSOL, ACECQA, Visas 482, 190 and 186
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Early childhood teachers (ANZSCO 241111 — Early Childhood Teacher) can migrate to Australia through several different pathways. The occupation is on the CSOL , is eligible for employer sponsorship via visa 482, for state nomination via visas 190 and 491, and for employer-sponsored permanent residence via visa 186. However, visa 189 (points-tested independent) does not apply to this occupation. The core requirement is a suitable qualification assessed by ACECQA, together with meeting the English and minimum salary requirements for each visa stream.
ANZSCO and CSOL: where the occupation sits
Early childhood teachers are classified under ANZSCO code 241111, at Skill Level 1 — the group of occupations that require a university degree or equivalent. This is the highest classification level in the ANZSCO system, reflecting the substantial professional requirements of the occupation in Australia.
The occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which means overseas workers are eligible to apply for visa 482 (Core Skills stream), visas 190 and 491 (state nomination), and visa 186 (employer-sponsored permanent residence). Being on the CSOL also means Australia has identified this occupation as having demand for international workers, which is helpful during processing.
Skills assessing authority: ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)
The skills assessing authority for early childhood teachers is ACECQA — the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. ACECQA assesses not only the qualification itself but also whether the applicant’s program is equivalent to Australia’s early childhood education standard. The minimum requirement is a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent, but to be recognised at teacher level you usually need a bachelor degree in early childhood education, or a teacher-training program with a clear early childhood component.
The ACECQA assessment process involves providing official transcripts, certified and translated qualifications (where the original is not in English), and a detailed description of the program. ACECQA compares the subject content against Australia’s requirements framework. The assessment fee (check the current fee on the assessing authority’s official site) and the usual processing time runs from 8 to 16 weeks, though it can take longer during busy periods.
Beyond the skills assessment for migration purposes, early childhood teachers also need to register to practise with the education authority of each state or territory before they can work formally at early childhood settings in Australia. This is a separate step, independent of the visa process.
Suitable visas: an overview
Early childhood teachers can access three main visa pathways in Australia. Visa 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) allows employer-sponsored work for up to 4 years and can lead to PR. Visas 190 and 491 are the state-nominated pathway — visa 190 grants permanent residence immediately, while visa 491 is a 5-year provisional visa with a route to PR via visa 191 afterwards. Visa 186 is the employer-sponsored permanent residence visa, available through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) route after 2 years working on a visa 482, or via the Direct Entry route in certain cases.
Visa 482 — employer-sponsored
The visa 482 Core Skills stream is the common pathway for early childhood teachers coming to Australia. The occupation is eligible for sponsorship under the Core Skills stream , and to be sponsored the applicant needs to find an employer (a childcare service, early learning centre or education provider) that is already approved or willing to register as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). The employer must show it could not recruit a suitable Australian worker for the position (Labour Market Testing — LMT), except in certain exempt cases.
The most important salary requirement is the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold), currently at (current TSMIT level) per year — the employer must pay at least this amount to the sponsored worker. For early childhood teachers, the lower-paid positions in this group may not meet the TSMIT threshold, so confirm the specific salary with the sponsoring employer before proceeding. The visa 482 Core Skills grants up to 4 years and is an important stepping stone to permanent residence via visa 186.
Visa 186 — employer-sponsored permanent residence
The common route to permanent residence through employer sponsorship is Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) — a worker who has worked full-time for 2 years for the same sponsoring employer on a visa 482 can be nominated by that employer for visa 186. The occupation is eligible for visa 186 via both the TRT and Direct Entry routes. There is no need to repeat the skills assessment if you already have an ACECQA result from your visa 482 application. Visa 186 TRT is a permanent visa with no time limit and allows the holder to work for any employer in Australia.
The Direct Entry (DE) route of visa 186 also applies to early childhood teachers if the applicant has a valid ACECQA skills assessment result and the required relevant work experience. However, DE is generally less common than TRT because it has stricter experience requirements and still needs an employer willing to sponsor from the outset, without going through the 482 step.
Visas 190 and 491 — state nomination
Many Australian states have a serious shortage of early childhood teachers and actively place the occupation on their state nomination lists. NSW, VIC and QLD regularly nominate early childhood teachers through both visa 190 and visa 491. Visa 190 is an immediate permanent visa, on the condition that the nominee commits to living and working in the nominating state for at least 2 years. Visa 491 is for rural and regional areas, requiring the holder to live and work in a designated area for 3 years before they can apply for visa 191 (permanent residence).
To apply for state nomination, applicants generally need a valid ACECQA skills assessment, a high enough EOI (Expression of Interest) score on SkillSelect, and possibly evidence of a connection to that state (for example, current employment, study, or past residence there). Each state has different criteria and opening times, so monitor the website of each state’s nominating authority regularly.
English requirements
English requirements for early childhood teachers are generally higher than for many other occupations, because the caring and educational nature of work with children requires clear communication. For visa 482 Core Skills, the usual minimum is IELTS 5.0 overall (or equivalent PTE 36), with no band below 5.0. For visas 190 and 491, the requirement is usually IELTS 6.0 overall, with no band below 6.0. Visa 186 TRT does not require a fresh English test if the requirement was already met at the visa 482 stage.
ACECQA may also require evidence of English as part of the skills assessment, particularly if the original qualification was not taught entirely in English. It is best to prepare your English results before starting the assessment to avoid delays.
Reference salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on city/region, level and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, award classification level, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (figures from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), median weekly earnings for the Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers occupation group (ANZSCO 2411) are 1,906 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 8,260 AUD/month or 99,100 AUD/year on a simple 52-week basis (pre-tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the highest figure, and it is for the whole occupation group rather than one specific role.
Salary range from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job ads. At the time of update, AustraliaHub could not verify the SEEK range; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median above.
Legal minimum floor: Early childhood teachers fall under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award (MA000077) or the Children’s Services Award (MA000120), depending on the type of setting. This is the legal minimum floor, which differs from market pay; the specific amount depends on classification level, type of work, allowances and overtime. Look it up with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — occupation profile for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers (ANZSCO 2411): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2411-early-childhood-pre-primary-school-teachers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
The pathway to permanent residence: a summary
The most common and practical route for early childhood teachers is: complete your qualification and experience overseas or in Australia (if studying there) → complete the ACECQA skills assessment → find a sponsoring employer and apply for visa 482 Core Skills (up to 4 years) → work full-time for 2 years for the same employer → be nominated for visa 186 TRT to reach permanent residence. In parallel, if you accumulate enough EOI points and are nominated by a state, visa 190 is a direct permanent residence route that bypasses the 482, particularly suited to applicants who already have experience and a valid assessment result.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the Certificate III with a teaching qualification: A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the minimum to work in the early childhood sector in Australia, but it is not enough to be recognised as an “Early Childhood Teacher” under ANZSCO 241111. A relevant university degree is required for ACECQA to assess you at the full teacher level.
- Overlooking the state registration requirement: Many people focus on the visa and forget that to actually teach in a classroom you need to register with the state’s education authority (for example, NESA in NSW, VIT in VIC). This takes additional time and cost and needs to be planned ahead.
- Signing with an employer who pays below TSMIT: Accepting a job offer with a salary below (the current TSMIT level), only to find it does not meet the visa 482 sponsorship requirement, is a costly mistake in both time and money.
- Lodging an ACECQA application with an incomplete file: Missing detailed transcripts, insufficient subject descriptions, or documents that are not translated and certified correctly will lead to the file being returned or processed slowly, lengthening the entire visa pathway.
- Not tracking state nomination opening dates: Many states only open nomination in short windows with limited places. Not monitoring regularly means missing the opportunity and waiting another year for the next round.