Afghan Early Childhood Teachers Moving to Australia: 2026 Pathway

ACECQA — the current assessing authority, since December 2024

Since 7 December 2024, ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority) conducts the migration skills assessment for Early Childhood Teacher, having taken over entirely from AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership), which continues to assess Primary and Secondary teachers but no longer this occupation. AITSL assessments issued before that date remain valid until their stated expiry. If you've researched this pathway before mid-2024, guidance naming AITSL for this specific occupation is now out of date.

The requirement is a four-year initial teacher education qualification at Bachelor level (or equivalent) with a genuine specialisation or major in early childhood — specific curriculum content and supervised teaching practice in early childhood settings, not simply a general education degree that included one or two relevant units.

What ACECQA actually reviews

ACECQA reviews your full academic transcript, subject content and supervised practice hours directly — a degree titled generically as 'Education' without documented early-childhood specialisation is more likely to trigger a request for additional coursework or practicum before a positive outcome issues.

Gather your complete academic transcript, subject syllabi and practicum records as early as possible, since these are the documents ACECQA reviews in detail.

State teacher registration — the second, separate gate

ACECQA's assessment supports your visa application; separately, you need registration with the teacher regulatory authority in whichever state you'll work in — the Victorian Institute of Teaching, the NSW Education Standards Authority, the Queensland College of Teachers, or the equivalent elsewhere — before you can be employed in a role covered by that requirement.

Most states accept your ACECQA outcome as supporting evidence, alongside their own additional steps, which typically include a state-specific criminal history check and a Working with Children Check.

English requirements

Early childhood teaching carries one of the higher English bars in Australian skilled migration, since state teacher registration bodies typically require Proficient-level English (broadly IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, or the recognised equivalent on another accepted test) rather than the general Competent English threshold that applies to many other skilled occupations. Afghanistan is not on any relevant passport-based English exemption list, so an approved test is required.

Plan English preparation as its own distinct milestone with real lead time.

Which visa can an Afghan early childhood teacher use?

Early Childhood Teacher, ANZSCO 241111, sits on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), opening the points-tested Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas. It's also on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), giving access to the Skills in Demand visa (482) Core Skills stream and the Employer Nomination Scheme (186) Direct Entry stream where an Australian employer is willing to sponsor you.

Documents — the honest picture for Afghan applicants

Where a required academic document genuinely cannot be obtained, Home Affairs' general published policy — which applies to any applicant, not specifically Afghan cases — is that you provide a written explanation of why, along with whatever alternative supporting evidence is available, assessed case by case. Your Tazkira is the standard starting point for identity evidence.

Any police clearance certificate needed for the visa itself, separate from the ACECQA assessment, is worth raising early with the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra, which separately processes certain requests for Afghan nationals living in Australia.

What to do first

Request your complete academic transcript, subject-level syllabus content and supervised practicum records from your qualifying institution before doing anything else — these are what actually determine whether ACECQA recognises your qualification as early-childhood-specific. In parallel, book a diagnostic English test to see how far you are from the required band scores.

Where a case involves circumstances beyond a standard skilled application, a MARA-registered migration agent is the right person to advise on the full range of options available. Migratio matches you with one free.

Who assesses early childhood teachers from Afghanistan for Australian migration?

ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority) — it took over the migration skills assessment for this occupation from AITSL on 7 December 2024. AITSL still assesses Primary and Secondary teachers, but not early childhood.

Is a general education degree enough for ACECQA?

Only if it includes a genuine, documented early-childhood specialisation and supervised practice in early childhood settings. A general teaching degree without that specific content may need additional coursework before ACECQA issues a positive assessment.

Does ACECQA's assessment let me work as a teacher straight away?

No. ACECQA's outcome supports your visa application; you also need registration with the teacher regulatory authority in the state you'll work in, plus a Working with Children Check.

What happens if I can't obtain a required academic document?

Home Affairs' general published policy — applying to any applicant, not only Afghan cases — is that where a document genuinely can't be obtained, you provide a written explanation plus whatever alternative evidence is available, assessed case by case.

What English level do I need?

Early childhood teaching typically requires Proficient-level English (broadly IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, or the equivalent on another accepted test) for state teacher registration.

Which visas can an Afghan early childhood teacher use?

The occupation sits on both the MLTSSL and CSOL, opening the points-tested 189, 190 and 491 visas plus the employer-sponsored 482 and 186.