Answer a few questions about one educator and the checker tells you whether they can be counted toward the certificate III group, the 50% diploma group or as an early childhood teacher in a centre-based service for children preschool age or under. It applies the “actively working towards” test in regulation 10, the 3-month probation exception (not in NSW), the regulation 242 rule for people studying towards an ECT qualification (ending 31 December 2026), and the family day care rules. A qualification counts only if it is on ACECQA’s approved lists.
A free check of how one educator counts under the National Regulations’ qualification rules, with the regulation behind each answer.
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who counts in ratio | At least 50% of the educators needed for ratio must hold, or be actively working towards, an approved diploma. Every other one must hold, or be actively working towards, at least an approved certificate III | r 126(1) |
| Actively working towards | Enrolled; documentary evidence from the course provider of commencement, satisfactory progress and meeting enrolment requirements; for a diploma, a certificate III or the ACECQA-determined units or ECT percentage | r 10 |
| Probation | Up to 3 months’ probationary employment with the provider switches off the certificate III requirement (not the diploma requirement); not in NSW | r 126(1A), (1B) |
| Persons taken to be ECTs | Working towards an approved ECT qualification with 50% completed or an approved diploma held. Expires 31 December 2026 in the ACT, NSW, NT, Tasmania and WA; never applied in Queensland or Victoria; SA has its own requirements | r 242; ACECQA |
| Family day care | Educators at least 18 and holding an approved certificate III | r 119, r 127 |
| Under 18 (centre-based) | Must not work alone; adequately supervised by an educator aged 18 or over | r 120 |
| Approved means listed | Only qualifications on ACECQA’s published lists, or determined equivalent, count | r 137; ACECQA lists |
To check a whole shift rather than one person, use the roster checker. The full rules are in childcare educator qualifications and early childhood teacher requirements.
Only if they are actively working towards an approved qualification under regulation 10, or, outside NSW, during up to 3 months of probationary employment with the provider (regulation 126(1A)), which counts toward the certificate III group only.
Yes, if they meet regulation 10: enrolled, with evidence from the course provider of commencement, satisfactory progress and meeting enrolment requirements, and they hold a certificate III or have completed the ACECQA-determined units or ECT percentage.
Under regulation 242, only until 31 December 2026, in the ACT, NSW, NT, Tasmania and WA, if they have completed at least 50% of the qualification or hold an approved diploma. It does not apply in Queensland or Victoria, and SA has its own requirements.
No. It asks whether the qualification is on the list. Check the exact qualification title and code on ACECQA's approved qualifications list.
WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.
14-day free trial, no card →This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.