A place on a College programme may be offered to students who meet all criteria as listed on the Application and Enrolment Form.

Our programmes offered are subject to availability and enrolments accepted on a first come, first served basis to those who have meet the following entry requirements to the satisfaction of the College.

• Applicants under 20 years of age are required to have completed four years of secondary school education and gained the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2 qualification

• Have an approved Level 3 or higher Early Childhood Qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Register of Qualification Assured qualifications or equivalent.

• Applicants over 20 years of age are enrolled as adult students and do not required NCEA Level 2 or an approved Early Childhood Qualification.

• A good standard of English is required for all applicants.  Applicants who have not studied English at Level 2 NCEA may be required to complete a literacy test to the satisfaction of the College.

• Three satisfactory written character references from appropriate and relevant referees are required (not immediate family or relatives). 

• We require all students to complete a Police Vetting Check.  The College requires all applicants to be of good character and suitable to apply to the New Zealand Teachers Council for registration as a teacher.

• Students studying in the Distance programme are required to be involved in teaching in a licensed Early Childhood centre for a minimum of 15 hours per week for the duration of the programme.

• Applicants may offer additional information for consideration for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and cross crediting of other qualifications.

Each application is considered on its individual merits.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Prior to graduating from the Diploma of Teaching (ECE) programme all International Students and students who are immigrants to New Zealand for whom English is not their first language must provide proof that their English is at the IELTS grade 7 level in each category of the academic version of the test.  This is at the student expense.

 Recognition of Prior Learning

The College will assess knowledge and skills that have been achieved at another institution and grant credit for such learning if it can be verified to be of appropriate quality and the course learning outcomes match.

As part of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process prospective students may be required to complete Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) tasks to demonstrate academic skills and currency of knowledge.

Qualifications awarded overseas are required to be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority before they can be considered for RPL.

If you have existing qualifications please feel free to discuss the RPL process with a Student Advisor at the College.

All requests for RPL will need to be made by application to the College and will be considered by the College RPL Panel.

Please refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning guidelines summary for further information.

Qualifications

Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

This is a 3 year programme approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the New Zealand Teachers Council.

Status of the College

The New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education is registered as a private training establishment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the provisions of the Education Act 1989 and its subsequent amendments.

The College has approved arrangements with:

University of Canterbury
The College Diploma provides credits towards University of Canterbury's Bachelor of Teaching and Learning.

Massey University
The College Diploma provides credits towards Massey's Bachelor of Education degree.