Compare Cert 3 Early Childhood Training Providers in New South Wales
Last updated:
If you want to study Cert 3 early childhood in NSW, it helps to understand three local details before you compare courses: who regulates the services you will work in, which check you need for working with children, and how government-subsidised training is described. This page sets out those facts, each with a link to the official source. It also explains how to use our comparison table when you live in New South Wales.
| Training provider | Work PlacementWhether the provider helps you arrange the practical placement that the qualification requires. | Industry ChecksWhether the cost of required industry checks is included in the provider's fee. | Role Play PartnerWhether the provider helps you find someone to practise assessment role plays with. | Teacher AccessHow much one-to-one time you can book with a teacher. | Fast TrackWhether a fast track option is available. | CostThe provider's published full course fee, excluding optional extras. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirana Colleges Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider helps students find a work placement. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider helps students find a role play partner. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | The provider states that students can book unlimited one-to-one sessions with a teacher. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | The provider offers a fast track option. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | The provider advertises this weekly price. Check the provider for the full course fee. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| NCVE The national regulator (ASQA) has imposed conditions on this RTO's registration. Details Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider helps students find a work placement. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider publishes $2,570 as the total when paid in instalments. It also lists $2,056 if paid up front. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| ITAC Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider helps students find a work placement. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The full course fee as published by the provider. Optional extras are not included. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| ACTAC Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider expects students to find their own work placement. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider publishes $2,100 as the total course fee on its weekly payment plan. It also lists $1,199 as a one-time payment. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| ACCSC Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider says learners organise their own placement. An optional paid Work Placement Support service is offered. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider publishes $2,100 as the total course fee on its weekly payment plan. It also lists $1,199 as an upfront price. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| Monarch Institute Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider's Placement Matching Service finds an approved placement for an administrative fee of $250. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | The provider states that industry checks are an additional cost. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The full course fee as published by the provider. Optional extras are not included. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| The Performance College Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider helps students find a work placement. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider publishes $2,500 as the course fee. It lists a separate $250 enrolment fee. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
| CQUniversity Availability in this state: check with provider | The provider says students are required to find placement; staff can assist where needed. Source checked: 1 November 2026 | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm the full course fee from the provider's public information. |
| AIPC | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | We could not confirm this from the provider's public information. | The provider states that the total upfront course cost is $2,630, which includes tuition of $2,490 plus practical sessions of $140 each. Source checked: 1 November 2026 |
Key
- Offered or included
- Not offered, or not included
- Extra cost
- Some access
- Unknown
A note under a training provider's name means the regulator has imposed conditions on that RTO's registration. Follow the link for details.
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Information last reviewed:
Compare Cert 3 early childhood training providers in NSW
The table on this page lists the training providers we have researched for the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30125). For most training providers we could not confirm from public information which states they serve, so we show the same list for every state and territory. For each training provider the table notes that availability in this state is something to check with the training provider. Please confirm that a training provider accepts students in New South Wales before you spend time on a detailed comparison.
If you plan to study from home, read our page on online study options first. It explains the formats and the parts of the course that still take place in person.
The NSW regulator
Early childhood services in New South Wales are regulated by the NSW Early Learning Commission. The Department of Education states that the Commission began operation as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care in New South Wales on 1 December 2025. It also states that the Commission is responsible for regulating over 6,000 early childhood education and care services across the state. These are the kinds of services where you would complete your placement hours. You can read more on the Early Learning Commission page.
The Working With Children Check in NSW
In New South Wales the check is called the Working With Children Check. The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian runs it and states that it is required for work in an early childhood education and care service. The check lasts 5 years. The Service NSW page lists the application fee for paid workers as $112 on the date we checked it. Fees can change, so confirm the amount on the official Service NSW page.
Our work placement guide explains the 160 hours of placement that the qualification requires, and why you should ask each training provider when it expects the check to be in place.
Smart and Skilled and Cert 3 early childhood funding
Many people ask whether Cert 3 childcare is free in NSW. The state’s subsidised training programme is called Smart and Skilled. Skills NSW describes it as government-subsidised training with an entitlement up to and including Certificate III. The eligibility list on that page includes being aged 15 or older, no longer being at high school, living or working in New South Wales and having a USI.
The page describes Certificate III in general and does not name the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. For that reason we cannot tell you that a subsidised or free place exists for this qualification. Eligibility and availability are decided by the relevant authority and by the training provider. Read the official Smart and Skilled page and ask the training provider directly. Our free and subsidised study guide compares the programmes across every state and territory.
Questions to ask before you enrol
- Do you accept students who live in New South Wales, and does the fee shown apply to me?
- Is any government subsidy available for this qualification, and am I eligible?
- Who arranges the 160-hour work placement, and is there a fee for that help?
- When must my Working With Children Check be in place, and who pays for it?
- How is first aid handled, and is it included in the course fee?
You can see the published course fees and what they can leave out in our cost guide.
Nearby jurisdictions and related pages
Training providers and funding differ across borders. If you live near the border of another jurisdiction, you may want to read about the Australian Capital Territory or Queensland. You can also go back to the full comparison of training providers to see every row and column together.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cert 3 childcare free in NSW?
The Smart and Skilled page on the Skills NSW website describes an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III for eligible people. It does not name the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Check the Skills NSW page and ask the training provider whether a subsidised place applies to you.
Do you need a Working With Children Check to work in an NSW early childhood service?
Yes. The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian states that a Working With Children Check is required for work in an early childhood education and care service. Ask your training provider when it needs to be in place before your work placement begins.
Who regulates early childhood services in NSW?
The NSW Early Learning Commission began operation on 1 December 2025 as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care in New South Wales.
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