Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (ANZSCO code 241111) is one of the most in-demand occupations on Australia's skilled lists, with roughly 33,400 Expressions of Interest waiting in SkillSelect. Your assessing body is the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), and this is where people get confused: ACECQA runs three different skills assessments, and only one of them is for the early childhood teacher occupation. This guide explains which assessment applies to you, who assesses what, and which visas 241111 opens.

What counts as an Early Childhood Teacher under ANZSCO 241111?

ANZSCO 241111 is an Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, a degree-qualified teacher who plans and delivers education programs for children before they start primary school. It's a separate occupation from Primary School Teacher (241213) and from the childcare support roles, and importantly it's assessed by ACECQA, not AITSL. Primary and secondary teachers go to AITSL; the early childhood teacher goes to ACECQA. Getting that right at the start saves you from lodging with the wrong body.

Who assesses Early Childhood Teachers?

ACECQA is the assessing authority for 241111 across the skilled and employer-sponsored program:

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Which of ACECQA's three assessments do you need?

This is the part that trips people up. ACECQA runs three separate skills assessments, and they serve different occupations and different visas. The early childhood teacher occupation uses the first one.

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So if you're an early childhood teacher aiming at a skilled visa, you use the Migration Skills Assessment. The Provisional and DAMA assessments exist for other occupations and other visa purposes in the early childhood and care sector, which is why ACECQA is careful to tell applicants not to lodge the wrong one.

How does the ACECQA migration skills assessment work?

You apply through ACECQA's online portal, and your occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List with ACECQA as the assessing authority. ACECQA assesses your application against its published Assessment Standards for the Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher occupation. What you provide depends on your qualification. If you already hold an approved early childhood teaching qualification, you provide your identity documents, your certificate and full transcripts, and evidence of English language proficiency. If your qualification needs to be assessed under the National Quality Framework as part of the process, you also provide certified colour copies and an extra NQF form.

On timing, ACECQA aims to complete an assessment within 80 days of receiving a complete, "assessment ready" application, though it has flagged that high volumes are pushing real times longer. The 80-day clock only starts once your application is complete, so missing documents cost you twice. Fees are set out on ACECQA's fees page; confirm the current amount when you apply. As with every skills assessment, a successful outcome does not guarantee your visa will be granted.

Which visas can an Early Childhood Teacher apply for, and how competitive is it?

Because 241111 is on the skilled and employer-sponsored lists, the options include the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas, plus the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). For 482 Core Skills and 186 nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423.

On the numbers: as at April 2026 there were around 33,400 submitted EOIs for Early Childhood Teacher. The invited EOIs on hand in June 2026 were spread across the points-tested and state-nominated streams, with the state-nominated regional (491) route the largest, followed by state nomination (190). As with many high-demand occupations, state and regional nomination are doing more of the work than the 189 points race. Early childhood teaching also sits inside the priority occupation group for skilled visa processing, which can help timing.

FAQ

Who assesses Early Childhood Teacher 241111 for migration?

ACECQA (the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority), as set out in LIN 19/051 and the related occupation instruments. Primary and secondary teachers go to AITSL instead.

Which ACECQA assessment does an early childhood teacher need?

The Migration Skills Assessment. The Provisional Skills Assessment is for the subclass 485 visa and only the Child Care Centre Manager occupation, and the DAMA Skills Assessment is for Family Day Care Worker and Preschool Aide under the Western Australia DAMA.

How long does an ACECQA skills assessment take?

ACECQA aims to complete an assessment within 80 days of a complete application, but has advised that current volumes are extending real timeframes. The 80 days only start once your application is assessment ready.

Is Early Childhood Teacher on the 482 list?

Yes. 241111 is on the Core Skills Occupation List for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.

How many EOIs are waiting for Early Childhood Teacher?

Around 33,400 submitted EOIs as at April 2026, per SkillSelect data.

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Planning an early childhood teaching pathway to Australia? [Book a consultation] and we'll confirm the right ACECQA assessment and your visa options.