A customised Bridging Program has been developed to assist Queensland registered primary trained teachers, who wish to work in Early Childhood services, gain Early Childhood Education and care qualifications. This program recognises that the skill set of these teachers is relevant to the Early Childhood Education and Care Vocational Education and Training qualifications. It is acknowledged that people with primary teaching qualifications have already gained many of the critical skills and knowledge necessary to work as an educator in an early childhood education and care or in school-age care service.
ACECQA has determined that registered/accredited Primary Teachers can be recognised as an ‘equivalent Early Childhood Teacher’ if they also complete a CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. This Early Childhood Teacher Bridging Program (ECTBP) has been developed by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) to assist with this requirement allowing registered Primary School Teachers to have as many of their skills and knowledge recognised as possible.
Through the ECTBP, eligible students only complete training and assessment in areas that haven’t been completed as part of their Primary Teacher qualification.
A current first aid certificate or will gain one prior to completion of the program (HLTAID004).
The Bridging Program is based on the current CHC Community Services Training Package. The Queensland College of Teachers Australian Professional Standards for Teachers were mapped against units of competency in CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
TLC was not involved or responsible for the model of delivery of this course or the clustering of the units. This was designed and implemented by the Department and RTO’s contracted for the delivery of this course utilise resources provided by the Department.
Credits were then granted for the following 4 units.
The Bridging Program is separated into six clusters for ease of study and assessment. Within each cluster the students must complete a number of assessment items or apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
This recognition arrangement is in place for any person who completes the ECTBP by the end of 2021.
All primary teachers enrolled in this program are ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’ under the ‘actively working towards’ provision.
After the end of 2021, this transitional measure is scheduled to cease, however educators who had obtained this combination of qualifications before the end of 2021 will continue to be recognised under this provision.
Your quoted fee will depend on study mode chosen, whether you have any further credit transfers or, if applying for RPL, whether there is any gap training required.
N.B. There is no set textbook for the Bridging Program but there are strongly recommended texts. The Department of Education and Training advise the following texts would greatly assist students in completing assessments and provide useful resources for the role of early childhood educator or teacher.
Walker, L., Miller, S., & Tansey, S. (2014). The Early Childhood Educator for Certificate III.
As the texts aren’t compulsory, TLC Training Solutions does not include a text book fee in the cost of the course or supply the texts. TLC can purchase these texts for you for $200 or you can source resources independently.
