Course details

Summary

UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) will give you a solid grounding in all aspects of early childhood education.
Learn how to care for infants, toddlers and young children as an entry-level carer in an early childhood centre in UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3). The Certificate covers health, safety and nutrition; caring for young children; development and learning; and how to develop educational programmes for infants, toddlers and young children.
As part of this early childhood education programme you will take on a practicum placement in an early childhood setting to put your learning into practice.

This course is also offered in Horowhenua.
Online:
The New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) is available online via UCOL's online training partner, Training for You. You can apply anytime for online study.

Career & Study Outcomes

Successful graduates of UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) have introductory knowledge of children's learning and development and will be able to contribute to the workplace as an entry-level carer. Job opportunities include:

Early childhood centres
Home-based childcare centres

Education pathway

Graduates who wish to go on to further study can enrol in:

New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education (Level 5)
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Accreditation

The programme is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, and Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Trading as Universal College of Learning (UCOL) is accredited to teach it.

Entry criteria

NCEA Level 1 OR
Equivalent academic achievement OR
On a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Executive Dean

International student applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS General or Academic score of 5.0 with no band score lower than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL).

Under 20 years of age
For international applicants under 20 years of age who do not hold NCEA, International Academic Qualifications Entry Criteria apply.