The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is set to become the new assessing authority for the ACECQA Early Childhood Teacher Skills Assessment (ANZSCO 241111) starting December 7, 2024. This significant change enhances the recognition and quality of early childhood education in Australia, marking an important shift for educators planning to apply for skills assessments.
What Does This Change Mean?
From December 7, 2024, ACECQA will handle all skills assessments for the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) occupation. Before this date, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) will continue to accept applications until midnight on December 6, 2024. After this cutoff, any new applications must be submitted to ACECQA.
Key Points to Consider:
- If you submit your ECT skills assessment application to AITSL before December 6, 2024, AITSL will review and process it. The outcomes will remain valid for two years and will be accepted by the Department of Home Affairs for visa purposes.
- Starting from December 7, 2024, all new ECT skills assessment applications must go through ACECQA.
- If you wish to withdraw an application submitted to AITSL and apply with ACECQA instead, AITSL may offer a partial refund (AUD 861) if the assessment has not started. However, no refund is provided once the assessment process has commenced.
Qualification Requirements by ACECQA:
To be assessed successfully by ACECQA, applicants must hold a qualification that is either:
- An ACECQA nationally approved early childhood teaching qualification or an equivalent qualification. If your qualification does not meet ACECQA’s national approval, you may need additional evidence under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
English Language Proficiency:
Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency, which can be fulfilled by any of the following:
- Completion of at least one year of full-time higher education in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the UK, or the USA.
- Achieving specific scores on standardized tests such as the IELTS (Academic version) or ISLPR (Teacher-focused assessment). For IELTS, an overall score of 7.0 or higher in reading and writing, and 8.0 or higher in speaking and listening, is required. This must be completed within the last three years.
- Other case-by-case evaluations, including employer references from exempt countries, may also be accepted.
What Should You Do?
- Before December 6, 2024: You may choose to apply through AITSL if their criteria align with your qualifications and plans.
- After December 7, 2024: Submit your application to ACECQA, ensuring you meet their updated assessment criteria.
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