CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

RTO no. 5025

The C&K College of Early Childhood Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care course will prepare you for employment in regulated care services such as child care, long day care, kindergartens, occasional care and family day care. It is also a popular qualification for those working as nannies, children's programs and running playgroups.

With a Certificate III qualification you could:

• Become an educator in a long day care or kindergarten service
• Become a family day care educator
• Work in an outside school hours care service 

Certificate III level educator 

You need to: hold or be studying towards an approved certificate III qualification to work in a regulated care service.

Study time: 6 to 12 months full-time. Students studying part-time may take 12-18 months.

Vocational placement: students completing a Certificate III qualification who do not work in a regulated care service, must complete unpaid vocational placement.  This practical component will allow each student to gain experience in a variety of work situations and to put their learning into practice. Students participating in vocational placement will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and receive a positive notice and blue card. 

Why study with C&K College of Early Childhood?

The C&K College of Early Childhood delivers high-quality courses which are capable of delivering the skills and competencies required in the workplace in a meaningful way.

What we do well is provide vocational placement opportunities with sufficient and planned on-the-job learning as this builds shared knowledge and is an effective way of making procedures and expectations of the learning environment explicit. The support provided by the supervisor in the workplace is key to the success of each student’s learning and progress.

The importance of continuing professional development should not be underestimated – it is a career-long obligation for practicing professionals. The C&K course incorporates a number of ECEC sector professional development (PD) activities. These PD activities will deliver a deeper understanding of what it means to be an early childhood professional, along with a greater appreciation of the implications and impacts of your work. Carefully selected PD opens you up to new possibilities, new knowledge and new skill areas. The assessment process will confirm you have absorbed the necessary skills and your capability to apply them correctly in your work.

Students are encouraged to keep their resumes updated with ongoing professional development and to attach copies of certificates of completion. This will assist you to advance in your career and move into new positions where you can lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others. 

The Certificate III program offered by C&K College of Early Childhood incorporates the following PD:

• Dr Kaylene Henderson Raising Good Kids: Managing behaviour and emotions in early childhood care and education settings. Online early childhood professional development course series developed specifically for childcare and education professionals. 
• Nutrition Australia QLD LEAPS (Learning, Eating, Active Play, Sleep): online training specifically designed to meet the needs of Early Years Educators. 
• Early Years Connect: online module series covering inclusion, governance, disability support and transdisciplinary practice. 

Study Pathways

C&K College of Early Childhood offers adaptable courses that respond to the latest industry developments and are linked to real employment opportunities.

We support students to secure vocational placement and provide a link to employment opportunities, with graduates eligible to apply for a position with the Crèche and Kindergarten Association. Students may alternatively arrange their own vocational placement in an organisation of their choice.

All assessment is competency based and completion of the placement will be based on competent completion of required tasks, however there is a mandatory requirement for you to complete a minimum number of hours for certain units. 

The College offers multiple delivery options for our courses, so you may choose to study in a way that suits your lifestyle. Students may study on a full-time or part-time basis.

Flexible learning means you may study through distance learning.  If you prefer the campus experience, you may study in a classroom environment at our training campus at Kedron or anywhere a structured program is running.

If you’re not sure what’s right for you, give us a call. We’re happy to talk you through the options and help you make the best choice to suit your individual situation.

26-week intensive program: this training to employment pathway program combines a mixture of classroom learning, self-directed study, vocational placement and work-based assessment.

External learning: blended and flexible (self-directed study, phone tutoring, can opt in and out of classes, vocational placement and work-based assessment) 12-18 months …the more time allocated to study will determine when a qualification is achieved.

Traineeship: as per the training contract (self-directed study, block release time and/or appropriate structured work-based learning and assessment) – we specialise in finding a training solution which is right for the Trainee, the service and timeframes (usually 12 to 18 months). 

Graduates of the C&K Certificate III course, will have up to 13 units which will be a direct credit towards the Diploma qualification. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

If you have current Early Childhood sector skills and experience, but not a formal qualification, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).  The C&K College of Early Childhood recognises prior experience and learning. Students work through a toolkit which allows them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without completing additional learning. Students can work through the toolkit at their own pace and are assessed on skills and knowledge through the Recognition process. Please contact the C&K College of Early Childhood to discuss how RPL might benefit you. 

Course Summary

Students are provided with the McGraw-Hill The Early Childhood Educator for Certificate III textbook and NAQ LEAPS online and Raising Good Kids: Managing Behaviour and Emotions in Early Childhood Education Settings online professional development course.

To gain CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, participants are required to competently complete 18 units of competency (15 core and 3 electives) as follows:

Credit Transfer and First Aid

The C&K College of Early Childhood does not offer the First Aid competency standard, at this time. Students will need to undertake the required First Aid course (HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting) and provide a copy of the Statement of Attainment to the College for the Credit Transfer process.
Should the College engage a specialist first aid trainer, students will be advised of the cost of attending the first aid course prior to enrolment in the unit and attendance at training workshop.

Funding Options QLD Department of Education and Training (DET)

To assist with studying funding may be available to eligible students…

Certificate 3 Guarantee Program 

The Certificate 3 Guarantee Program is for any Queensland resident who does not already hold, or is not already enrolled in, a post-school Australian certificate III or higher level qualification this includes any equivalent certificate III or higher level qualification irrespective of whether the qualification is through a university degree, apprenticeship or traineeship pathway. (Note: certificate III qualifications completed at secondary school are not counted).

For more information, please refer to the DET’s website.

Cost to participant: a student co-contribution fee of $50 per unit, or $20 per unit for concessional students is required. The full cost of the certificate is $850 (or $340 for concessional students).

This course is FEE FREE for year 12 students graduating in 2017 under the Year 12 Graduate Fee-Free Training Strategy. 

For more information, please refer to the DET’s website

User Choice Funding: Traineeship Program

The C&K College of Early Childhood provides training for Traineeship study pathway for learners who have secured employment within an approved Early Childhood Education and Care service.  State and Federal subsidised training may be available.  Please contact us for more information. Calculation of the student co-contribution fee is as per the nominal hours per unit of competency.

If you wish to become a Trainee, visit the Australian Apprenticeships website for tips on securing employment as a Trainee. Then let your employer know you want to study with C&K College of Early Childhood. 

Full fee paying students

The full cost of the certificate program is $5,780 ($340 per unit). 

C&K staff discount 

• C&K support staff undertaking a Traineeship through structured on-the-job and off-the-job paid training when studying with the C&K College of Early Childhood. Please refer to C&K Careers.
• Employees who enrol in a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, outside of a Traineeship pathway, may be eligible for DET subsidised training and receive a staff discount. The discount cost of the certificate course is $340 (or $170 for concessional students).
• Where staff are not eligible for DET subsidised training, C&K staff may undertake individual units at the reduced cost of $250 per unit.
• C&K employees may also seek financial assistance with the cost of the course under the C&K Education Assistance Policy.

Applications for study in 2018 are now open

Lodging an Application

When you are ready to lodge your application, please read the Student Guide, Fact Sheet and complete an Application Form and email to ckcollege@candk.asn.au

Need help?

For assistance with completing your enrolment application, or if you have any questions about the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care course, please contact the College Helpdesk on 07 3513 2524 and/or email ckcollege@candk.asn.au