Educator showing a book to a group of children
CHC50125AQF Diploma · Nationally recognised

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care — through RPL or study

The qualification for lead educators and room leaders who plan curriculum and help run a compliant service. Already leading in childcare? Get it through RPL. Hold the Cert III? Study the Diploma with a work placement.

  • Nationally recognised — the same qualification whether you study or use RPL
  • Room leader or senior educator experience may count as RPL evidence
  • Free, honest advice from a real Adelaide adviser
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Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care — RPL or Study
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CHC50125 at a Glance.

For educators who design and implement curriculum under an approved learning framework, help maintain compliance in service operations and may supervise other educators, in long day care, family day care, preschools and kindergartens. It replaced CHC50121 in September 2025 as an equivalent qualification.

Qualification
CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Level
AQF Diploma, nationally recognised
Units
15 units: 12 core + 3 electives
Work requirement
At least 280 hours in a regulated children's education and care service
Entry requirement
Cert III in ECEC, or another listed qualification plus 12 months' experience, or the entry skill set
Issued by
A registered training organisation (RTO) partner
Named in your options, before you enrol.

Source: training.gov.au — CHC50125. EdVenture Global is not an RTO; the qualification is assessed and issued by the RTO.

RPL or Study?

The same nationally recognised qualification either way. Which route fits depends on whether you already do the work.

Educator playing with children in a classroom
RPL · Already working in the field

Get recognised for the work you already do.

Best for
Room leaders, lead and senior educators with regular, recent experience
You'll need
References, payslips or rosters, and certificates
Work hours
Your work in a regulated service may count toward the 280 hours
Funding
Usually fee-for-service
Check My RPL Eligibility →
Educator teaching children about a globe
Study · New to the field

Start with the full course.

Best for
Educators who hold the Cert III and want to step up
You'll do
All 15 units plus at least 280 hours of work placement
Length
Depends on the provider and how you study
Funding
Living in SA? You may be eligible for a government-funded place. Elsewhere, we help you find a full-fee course
Help Me Start Studying →
Our RTO partners

Qualifications available through our network of registered training organisation partners.

What's in the Qualification.

Whether you study or use RPL, you need to achieve all 15 units and meet the entry requirement. Through RPL, the RTO's assessor checks evidence of the work you already do against each unit.

Core units

All 12 required
  • CHCECE041Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
  • CHCECE042Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
  • CHCECE043Nurture creativity in children
  • CHCECE044Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care service
  • CHCECE045Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
  • CHCECE046Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
  • CHCECE047Analyse information to inform children's learning
  • CHCECE048Plan and implement children's education and care curriculum
  • CHCECE049Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
  • CHCECE050Work in partnership with children's families
  • CHCPRP003Reflect on and improve own professional practice
  • BSBTWK502Manage team effectiveness

Elective units

3 required — examples
  • CHCECE052Plan service and supports for children and families
  • CHCECE053Respond to grievances and complaints about the service
  • CHCECE057Use collaborative practices to uphold child protection principles
  • CHCMGT003Lead the work team
  • CHCPOL002Develop and implement policy
  • CHCSAC010Foster holistic learning, development and wellbeing for school age children

3 electives in total: at least 2 from the qualification's elective list, and up to 1 from that list, elsewhere in the CHC training package or another current package.

Preschool educator in a classroom

Jobs It's Commonly Used For.

  • Lead educator / room leader — Long day care centres
  • Educational leader or assistant director — Centre-based services
  • Family day care educator or coordinator — Home-based care

Employers set their own requirements.

RPL Evidence Checklist.

For the RPL route. The RTO decides what is sufficient, but most of it is already in your inbox, HR portal or training folder.

EdVenture Global advisers discussing a student's application
We help you organise it.
Reference

Employer references

Signed statements of service on letterhead listing your duties and dates.

Records

Payslips, rosters & contracts

Proof of how long and how regularly you have worked in the role.

Role

Position description

Shows the tasks and responsibilities your job involves.

Supervisor

Supervisor contact

A manager, coordinator or team leader who can confirm your work.

Training

Certificates

First aid, CPR, in-house training and any short courses you have completed.

Checks

Screening checks

Working with children check, police check or other checks your role requires.

Never send

Children's or clients' records

Records, notes or photos of the people you support stay private. We show you what to send instead.

Why EdVenture Global.

We're not an RTO, so our job is to get you to the right one and help you through it — whether you're using RPL or studying.

The EdVenture Global team in the Adelaide office
Meet the team
Real advisers at 97 Pirie St, Adelaide.
Talk to an Adviser →

Entry requirement check

We check you meet the Diploma's entry requirement before you spend anything.

Work placement support

Studying? We help you find and arrange the 280 hours of work placement the course requires.

Honest eligibility advice

A free 10-minute check. If RPL isn't right for you, we tell you, and point you to the course instead.

Evidence and paperwork support

For RPL, we help you organise references, payslips and certificates so your portfolio is ready for assessment.

Funding options checked

Living in SA? We check whether you may be eligible for a government-funded place.

RTO and fees upfront

You see the RTO, costs and conditions before you commit to anything.

Real Adelaide advisers

Talk to a real person at our office on Pirie St, by phone or WhatsApp, Australia-wide.

Child safety training guidance

We explain the National Child Safety Training you need before placement hours.

From Experience to Assessment.

The RPL pathway for experienced workers. EdVenture supports you through steps 1–5; the assessment decision belongs to the RTO. Starting out? Step 1 is the same free chat — we'll point you to the right course.

EdVenture supportsYou decideRTO decides
Cost transparency: the 10-minute check and initial summary are free. Formal RTO assessment is paid — explained before you decide.
Start step 1 now →
1EdVenture supports

Free 10-Minute Eligibility Check

Tell us about your work history and the evidence you can access.

2EdVenture supports

Initial Readiness Review

We review whether your experience appears aligned with an available qualification.

3EdVenture supports

Receive Your Evidence Plan

What you already have, what may be missing, and the expected process.

4You decide

Review the RTO and Costs

You get the RTO details, fees and important conditions before deciding whether to proceed.

5EdVenture supports

Build Your Evidence Portfolio

We help you organise references, employment records, certificates and supervisor reports.

6RTO assesses & decides

Independent RTO Assessment

The RTO's assessors review your evidence and may interview or observe you. The qualification is issued only when all requirements are met.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Still unsure? Ask us directly — the eligibility check is free.

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Can I get the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care through RPL?

Possibly, if you already do this work. A registered training organisation (RTO) assesses evidence of your skills against all 15 units. If you meet every requirement, it issues the full qualification. If there are gaps, it may recommend gap training.

What is the entry requirement?

You need the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (or its equivalent successor or CHC30113), or an Australian diploma in ECEC, or a diploma or Cert III in Children's Services plus 12 months' full-time-equivalent work in a regulated service in the last 5 years, or the Entry into Diploma of ECEC skill set.

What happened to CHC50121?

CHC50121 was replaced by CHC50125 in September 2025. The new qualification is listed as equivalent. RTOs may still be finishing CHC50121 during the transition period.

Does the 280 hours have to be a placement?

The qualification requires at least 280 hours of work in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. If you study, this is your work placement. For RPL, verifiable work in a regulated service may be used as evidence. The RTO decides what it accepts.

Do I need National Child Safety Training?

Yes. National law requires everyone working or volunteering in a regulated children's service to complete National Child Safety Training, and you must complete it before any work placement hours.

Is it the same qualification as doing it at TAFE?

Yes. It is the same nationally recognised CHC50125 qualification whichever way you complete it.

Is government funding available?

If you live in South Australia, you may be eligible for a government-funded place, depending on your circumstances. Outside SA we help you find a full-fee course. RPL is usually fee-for-service.

What happens if the RTO can't issue my qualification?

For RPL, our 100% money-back guarantee applies: if, after assessing all your evidence, the RTO can't issue your qualification, you get a full refund. Full conditions are in our Terms of Service.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

It depends on the route, the provider and, for RPL, how quickly you gather your evidence. You get the provider, cost and an estimated timeline before you decide anything.

Is getting the qualification guaranteed?

No. It is issued only when the RTO finds you have met every requirement. That is what keeps it nationally recognised.

RPL or study? Let's find your way in.

A free, no-obligation 10-minute chat. We'll tell you honestly which route to the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care suits you.