How TAFE Can Help You Get Your Dream Teaching Job

Studying teaching doesn’t have to start at university. Instead, you can choose a TAFE pathway that will help you land a fulfilling job in education.
From early childhood education through to education support, TAFE offers a wide range of accessible and flexible education courses, like certificate IVs and diplomas. These can lead you to multiple career pathways or further university-level study. With no ATAR prerequisites, people from all walks of life are eligible to start studying.
Online study methods allow you to complete a teaching qualification while still keeping up your responsibilities, like work, family and hobbies. Coupled with FEE-HELP schemes and reasonable entry requirements, a TAFE education course is a great way to step into your teaching career.
VET teaching courses that lead to exciting careers include:
Degrees that a TAFE course can lead into:
Table of Contents
Certificate IV in Education Support
Duration | 1-2 years full-time study, part-time available |
Study method |
|
Entry requirements |
|
FEE-HELP? | Commonwealth funding may be available depending on the VET provider. |
Other requirements |
|
This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills required to support children with disabilities and learning difficulties in a classroom situation. You’ll learn core skills, such as:
What career opportunities will I have?
A Certificate IV in Education Support can lead to positions such as:
Is this course for me?
A certificate IV is a great way to jump into the education industry quickly, while still feeling equipped for the job’s challenges. This course pathway is perfect if you’re passionate about fostering and supporting children to become more well-rounded, independent learners, despite learning challenges.
Some people turn their education training into a two-year process, choosing to complete a Certificate IV in their first year, which then feeds straight into a Diploma of Education for their second year. These two qualifications form a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will see you thrive in both education support and teacher roles.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
A diploma qualification goes more in-depth into learning frameworks, teaching strategies and workplace development. You’ll develop critical knowledge, such as:
Duration | 1-2 years full-time study, part-time available |
Study method |
|
Entry requirements |
|
FEE-HELP? | Commonwealth funding may be available depending on the VET provider. |
Other requirements |
|
What career opportunities will I have?
A Diploma of Education allows you to move into a more senior early childhood teaching role, including:
Is this course for me?
This qualification is the right choice for people who know they want to build an early childhood educator career. You will guide and encourage healthy learning and development for children during their critical younger years.
A diploma qualification can also lead into a degree, enabling you to become a fully qualified early childhood teacher.
TAFE as a pathway to university
TAFE education courses, such as a Diploma of Education, can also be used as a direct pathway to a university teaching degree. This is an excellent option for someone who knows they want to become a fully qualified teacher but isn’t eligible for entry into a degree just yet.
Some VET providers offer diploma courses that are explicitly linked to a university stream, allowing successful graduates to move seamlessly into a bachelor’s degree. Some commonly linked qualification streams include:

Become a qualified teacher with a Bachelor of Education
This course will take you through the critical skills required of an early childhood teacher, including:
These courses also require you to complete four practical work placement units, which will see you actively engage your learnings in a supportive educational environment.
Duration |
|
Study method |
|
Entry requirements |
|
FEE-HELP? |
|
Other requirements |
|
Early childhood education stream
A bachelor of early childhood education allows you to start a career as a fully qualified early childhood or kindergarten teacher. These roles can lead to specialist positions — or even directorships for those who thrive in management and leadership.
If you’re passionate about enhancing a child’s learning throughout their critical early years, this qualification is for you. It’s suitable for both newly interested students or for people with experience in education support or childcare.
Primary stream
This qualification ensures you’re capable of embarking on a career within the primary education sector as a:
Primary education is a great route for people who wish to work with younger children (aged five to twelve) and guide them through important cognitive, emotional and intellectual milestones before they embark on their senior schooling.
Physical and health education stream
This course prepares you to move into a specialist teaching career in physical and health education, with career options including:
Upskill further with a Master of Education
This course will elevate your teaching knowledge and skills, focusing on people management, leadership and a specialist discipline of interest. Alternatively, you can also choose to complete a generalist Master of Education, which allows you to choose multiple specialist units across various disciplines.
Duration |
|
Study method |
|
Entry requirements |
|
FEE-HELP? |
|
Other requirements |
|
What career opportunities will I have?
A Master of Education allows you to move forward into a position of leadership within education institutions, including:
Is this course for me?
If you’re ready to take the next step in your teaching career, a Master of Education can get you there. This qualification can lead to leadership positions that oversee greater curriculum and culture changes within education systems across Australia.
You don’t have to be fully qualified for a University degree to start your journey to becoming a teacher. TAFE teaching courses are designed to be diverse and easily accessible. They can lead to education support roles or further study to become a fully qualified teacher.
Jump into a career in education and find your perfect teaching course fit below.
Courses found:
Certificate III in Beauty Services (Geelong Only) SHB30115
Would you like to start a career in beauty therapy? If you like the idea of working with people in a hands-on role, this entry-level course could be your calling. The Certificate III in Beauty Therapy (SHB30115) course can help you gain employment in t...


Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation “Mechanical” (Geelong Only) AUR20716
Are you looking to enter the automotive industry, or get a taste for the mechanical trade before undertaking an apprenticeship? This pre-apprenticeship course is designed to give you broad automotive knowledge as well as specialised skills in motor mec...


Certificate III in Education Support (Perth Only) CHC30213
Are you interested in becoming a teacher’s aide? Work with teachers to create a comfortable and supportive environment for children’s learning. You will make sure lessons run smoothly; with also developing the student’s literacy, numeracy and research...


Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (VIC Only) CHC30113
Change Your Life with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care blended delivery Are you looking for an early childhood course that provides you with the flexibility to study mainly from home whilst still being supported to achieve the pr...


Certificate IV in Hospitality (QLD Only) SIT30616
The Certificate IV in Hospitality produces individuals who can perform the role of skilled operators who use a broad range of hospitality skills combined with sound knowledge of industry operations. They will operate independently or with limited guida...


Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (VIC Only) CHC50121
Become a leader in your field! Do you love working with children? If you’re ready to take the next step in your early childhood education and care career, then the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is just for you! This Nationally...


Certificate III in Community Services (Sunshine Coast Only) CHC32015
Prepare yourself to work in a range of community service areas such as Aged Care, Disability, Youth Work and more. The social and community services sector is predicted to experience strong growth over the next 5 years with an excess of 50,000 job open...


Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security) (Perth Only) ICT50220
Establish yourself in one of the fastest-growing fields in the ICT Sector! Develop the knowledge and skills to establish yourself in the growing industry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with the ICT50220 Diploma of Information Techno...


Certificate IV in Disability (VIC ONLY) CHC43115
The Certificate IV in Disability reflects the role of workers in a range of community settings and clients’ homes, who provide training and support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-relia...


Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety BSB41419
Work Health & Safety Officers are responsible for assisting the safe and compliant operation of an organisation. They implement defined Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) strategies which identify hazards, assess risks to health and safety, and...


Certificate III in Individual Support (WA Only) CHC33015
Are you looking for a career that gives something back to the community? Are you wanting to make a difference to people’s lives? Are you looking for a secure job in one of the fastest growing industries? The Certificate III in Individual Support is the...


Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) (WA Only) CHC52015
RECEIVE UP TO 97% OFF THIS COURSE!* The CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) is designed for people who are passionate about working with individuals and communities as a Case Manager or Caseworker. Working as a Case Manager entails...


Certificate IV in Patisserie (Geelong Only) SIT40713
Do you dream of running your own patisserie kitchen? This course equips you with a pastry chef qualification, along with additional management and leadership skills to operate at a supervisory level....


Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (VIC ONLY) CPC40912
This course covers common skills for the plumbing industry as well as specialist streams relevant to gasfitting, drainage, sewerage, roof drainage and more....


Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021
Dental Assistants are highly sought after and enjoy a great pay rate. This Nationally Recognised qualification provides students with the skills and knowledge required to work as a Dental Assistant in a Dentist’s Practice. The uniqueness of our course...


Certificate IV in Disability (VIC Only) CHC43115
Do you want to learn how to assist others to maintain the quality of their lives? Do you hold a Certificate III qualification, work in an aged care or disability support role and want to have your existing competency recognised, gain formal credentials...


Diploma of Mental Health (VIC Only) CHC53315
Diploma of Mental Health reflects the role of workers who provide services to clients in relation to mental health issues. They can provide counselling, referral, advocacy and education/health promotion services. These workers are required to have high...


Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-vocational) (Geelong Only) 22261VIC
Are you looking to enter the electrical industry, or get a taste for the trade before undertaking an apprenticeship? This pre-apprenticeship course is designed to give you the core skills and knowledge for the industry, and increase your opportunities...


Certificate I in General Education for Adults (Introductory) (Geelong Only) 22235VIC
Are you looking to prepare for further study, improve your employment opportunities and enhance your community participation? Our Certificates in General Education for Adults (CGEA) provide a range of educational opportunities....


Certificate IV in Visual Arts (VIC ONLY) CUA41315
Embrace your creativity and launch your artistic career by learning from current practising artists. You will explore a variety of art mediums and techniques while you learn drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, jewellery making, photo digital ima...

