Compare Cert 3 Early Childhood Training Providers in Victoria

Anyone planning to study Cert 3 early childhood in Victoria should know how the state describes its regulator, its check for people who work with children and its Free TAFE programme. This page brings those facts together with links to the official sources. It also explains how to use the comparison table if you live in Victoria, and what to ask a training provider before you enrol.

Compare Cert 3 early childhood training providers in Victoria

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 of them we could not confirm from public information which states they serve, so the same list appears on every state and territory page. Treat every row as a prompt to ask whether the training provider takes students in Victoria, and whether the fee shown applies to you.

If you intend to study from home, our page on online study options explains the course formats and the parts that still happen in person.

The Victorian regulator

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, known as VECRA, describes itself as Victoria’s independent early childhood education and care regulator. A Victorian Government update from November 2025 stated that VECRA would commence operation on Thursday 1 January 2026, and that the work of the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division would transition to it. You can read more on the VECRA website. The regulator matters to a learner because it oversees the early childhood services where you may complete your placement hours.

The Working with Children Check in Victoria

The Victorian Government describes the Working with Children Check as a screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria. The same page states that from 19 October 2026, applicants for the check must complete mandatory WWC Child Safety Training. You can read the current rules on the Working with Children Check page.

VECRA also states that approved providers of early childhood services must make sure that people working with children hold a valid check or VIT registration. See the VECRA requirements page. Our work placement guide explains the 160 hours of placement that the qualification requires, and the questions to ask about the timing of checks.

Free TAFE and Cert 3 early childhood

Free TAFE is the Victorian programme most learners ask about. The Free TAFE eligibility page lists Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care under the heading Early childhood in its priority pathways. It states that the eligibility rules include being an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen, and training in Victoria.

The page applies to Free TAFE places only. It does not mean that every training provider in our table offers a free place. Availability and eligibility are decided by the Victorian Government and by the TAFE, so read the official Free TAFE eligibility page and confirm the details with the TAFE. Our free and subsidised study guide compares the programmes across every state and territory.

Questions to ask before you enrol

• Do you take students in Victoria, and does the published fee apply to a Victorian student?
• Is a Free TAFE place or another subsidy available for this qualification, and do I meet the eligibility rules?
• Who finds the 160-hour work placement, and does that help cost anything?
• When must my Working with Children Check and child safety training be completed?
• Is first aid part of the fee, or do I arrange it myself?

Nearby jurisdictions and related pages

Funding rules and checks differ between jurisdictions. If you live near a border, you may also want to read about New South Wales or South Australia. To see every training provider and every column together, return to the full comparison.