New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) and (Level 4)

• Childcare Support Worker 
• Childcare Worker
• Home-based Carer
• Nanny 

With further training/qualifications:

• Education Support Worker 
• Tertiary Teacher 
• Private Educator 
• Industry Educator 
• Staff Trainer

For Level 3

Academic requirements 

• For applicants under 20 years old, we prefer NCEA Level 1 including 10 literacy and 10 numeracy credits OR equivalent.
• For applicants over 20 years old, there are no academic entry requirements.

Special entry

• In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme where they supply evidence of their ability to succeed on the programme. 

Other requirements

• Learners must be at least 17 years old. 
• For all applicants, an interview will be held prior to acceptance to assess your suitability for working with children in the community and to ensure Otago Polytechnic meets the legislative requirements of the Children's Act 2014. In accordance with this Act, you will be required to: 
  • complete a New Zealand Police consent to Disclosure of Information form 
  • supply the contact details of two referees who are willing to give a confidential report. Referees must be over 16 and cannot be related to you, be a partner/spouse/friend or live at the same address as you.
  • attend an informal interview to discuss your suitability for working with children in the community. 

English Language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
• If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Please note: This programme is subject to minimum numbers.

For Level 4 

If you meet the below requirements, you can apply for entry straight into Level 4. This six-month certificate starts in July every year. Click here for the Level 4 only programme.  

Academic requirements 

• 40 credits at NCEA Level 2 including 10 Level 2 literacy credits and 10 Level 2 numeracy credits OR the New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) OR equivalent.  

Special entry

• In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme where they supply evidence of their ability to succeed on the programme. 

Other requirements

• Learners must be at least 17 years old. 
• For all applicants, an interview will be held prior to acceptance to assess your suitability for working with children in the community and to ensure Otago Polytechnic meets the legislative requirements of the Children's Act 2014. In accordance with this Act, you will be required to: 
  • complete a New Zealand Police consent to Disclosure of Information form 
  • supply the contact details of two referees who are willing to give a confidential report. Referees must be over 16 and cannot be related to you, be a partner/spouse/friend or live at the same address as you.
  • attend an informal interview to discuss your suitability for working with children in the community. 

English Language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. 

To be eligible for Youth Guarantee funding, you must:

• Be a domestic student between 16-19 years old
• OR be 15 years of age at the time when you commence the programme AND have an early leaving exemption from your school
• Not already hold a Level 3 qualification in any subject
• Have been thinking about leaving school and getting a job OR prefer to be working towards a career rather than staying at school OR have left school and are not sure how to enter higher education or employment
• Want to learn practical skills
• Be more motivated in a non-school setting and be prepared to enrol in a full-time programme.

Fees and allowances

The Youth Guarantee Scheme will cover tuition fees, material and equipment costs of your programme of study. 18-19 year olds enrolled in fees-free Youth Guarantee qualifications will now be able to access the course-related costs part of the student loan and student allowances if they meet the eligibility criteria. Those under 18 years old will not be able to access any part of the student loans. Funding for travel is available, conditions apply. Please visit the Studylink website for full details. We strongly recommend that you read this carefully prior to applying for this programme.  

The process

• There is not a separate Youth Guarantee application form. Please apply for this programme by using our standard Otago Polytechnic application form. To apply online, or to download a paper version, click the apply button at the top right hand corner of this page.
• If you meet the criteria for Youth Guarantee funding you will be offered the funding if it is available. We will ask you to let us know within two weeks if you do not wish to take up the funding.  
• If there is no Youth Guarantee funding available, we will send you a letter advising you of this. Along with this letter, you will receive an invoice, terms and conditions, a Studylink brochure and an equipment list advising what you will need to purchase before starting your programme. 

You will undertake 60 hours of work placements in various early childhood settings. 

Courses 

1. Child Learning and Development 

Describe your practice as an early childhood educator using the bi-cultural curriculum framework, Te Whāriki, as it applies to the services, contexts, and philosophies of childhood learning and development in Aotearoa New Zealand.

2. Health and Wellbeing in Practice 

Learn how to promote the health and holistic wellbeing of infants, toddlers, and young children whilst managing own health, in compliance with legislation and regulations. 

3. Professional Practice 

Explore the role of an educator within the Early Childhood Education context. 

4. Community Engagement 

Engage in respectful relationships across the Early Childhood Education environment and to acknowledge and promote the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. 

You will undertake 115 hours of work placements in various early childhood settings. 

Courses  

1. Sociocultural Theories and Practices

Explore the theories and philosophies relevant to the Early Childhood Education context.

2. The Effective Educator

Examine your personal philosophy of practice; use strategies to manage health, wellbeing, and professionalism. 

3. Bicultural and Inclusive Practice

Learn how to practice as an inclusive educator, promoting diversity and the place of Māori as tangata whenua. 

4. The ECE Profession

Engage effectively with stakeholders within the early childhood education context to protect and support the wellbeing of children and families.

Graduates of this qualification may undertake further study towards the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) or proceed to commence a Level 7 teacher education (ECE) qualification. Otago Polytechnic currently doesn't offer either of these qualifications but if you wish to speak with someone about further learning opportunities, please email our career advisors - careers@op.ac.nz

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.