Since 1976, early childhood teachers who have completed 4-year bachelor’s qualifications have registered as teachers. From 6 June 2024, the Teachers Registration and Standards Regulations, 2021 have been amended to now enable the registration of 3-year trained early childhood teachers.

In order to increase the workforce of early childhood teachers able to staff universal 3-year-old education (from 2026), the South Australian Government committed to amending the Teachers Registration and Standards Regulations 2021 to broaden the range of qualifications accepted as eligible for registration as an early childhood teacher in South Australia.

The amendment regulations support minimum qualification requirements for early childhood teachers holding an Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) approved qualification.  The amendment will permit early childhood teachers who have completed a 3-year, Birth – 5 early childhood qualification to immediately register as a teacher with a condition on their registration. These new arrangements do not extend eligibility for teacher registration to holders of Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates approved by ACECQA.

The condition will limit 3-year early childhood trained teachers to teach in an early childhood setting. This will include pre-schools, kindergarten, early childhood learning centres and in delivering education programmes in out-of-school-hours care.

Holders of recognised qualifications are able to apply for registration immediately by lodging an Application for Teacher Registration. Please refer to the Application for Teacher Registration Guidelines for further information, or visit the Registering to Teach page on our website. The Board will continue to assess applicants and determine whether those applying have the appropriate qualifications and experience for registration.

For more information, please read the Early Childhood Teacher Registration fact sheet.