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How to be an educator?

How to be an early childhood educator, Kindergarten teacher,Preschool teacher, Early childhood educator, Educarer, Childcare

Infant and Early
Years Educator

Infant Educators work with infants aged between 2 months and 18 months old and Early Years Educators work with young children aged between 2 months and 4 years old. They are primarily responsible for creating a safe environment for the young ones to discover their potential. Besides teaching and carrying out play activities with these children, they also manage routine care.

salary rangeIndicative monthly salary range:
Click here to view the indicative monthly salary ranges for early childhood and early intervention roles.

Preschool
Educator

Preschool Educators work with children aged 18 months to 6 years old. They enrich children’s learning by carrying out a curriculum that prioritises aesthetics and creative expression, discovery of the world, language and literacy, motor skills development, numeracy, as well as social and emotional development.

salary rangeIndicative monthly salary range:
Click here to view the indicative monthly salary ranges for early childhood and early intervention roles.

Learning Support
Educator

Learning Support Educators assess, plan, deliver and review learning and in-class support for children aged 6 and below who require low levels of early intervention support. They help them develop academic, behavioural, social, motor and communication skills, and work closely with preschool educators, allied health professionals and families of children, to support the children’s needs.

salary rangeIndicative monthly salary range:
Salary information for Learning Support Educators is not yet available as this role is relatively new.

Early Intervention
Educator

Early Intervention Educators assess, plan, deliver and review interventions for children aged 6 and below who require medium to high levels of early intervention support through an integrated range of developmentally appropriate teaching and learning approaches. They conduct transdisciplinary meetings and partner families, allied health professionals and preschool educators to ensure that children with developmental needs receive appropriate support.

salary rangeIndicative monthly salary range:
Click here to view the indicative monthly salary ranges for early childhood and early intervention roles.

You can work at Childcare Centre or a Kindergarten.

Childcare centre

clock icon Age group of children:
Typically 2 months to 6 years old
clock icon Operating hours:
7am – 7pm, with educators taking shifts
clock icon School term:
Throughout the year with 6 centre closure days in a year
This is a general guide. Timetables differ from centre to centre.
Health check-up and breakfast
clock icon
7 – 9am:
Health checks and breakfast

Ensure all children who enter childcare are healthy, and proceed to feed them breakfast to get them energised for the day.

Outdoor play, Lessons
clock icon
9 – 11.30am:
Outdoor play / Lessons

Bring children outdoors to develop their gross-motor and social skills. Teach the children about numeracy, literacy, and creative expression.

Shower
clock icon
11.30am – 12pm:
Shower

Shower the children and diaper toddlers. Keep an eye out for their health and safety.

Kindergarten

clock icon Age group of children:
Typically 3 to 6 years old
clock icon Operating hours:
8am – 3pm, which includes 2 separate sessions
clock icon School term:
10 weeks per term for 4 terms, with Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec holidays.
This is a general guide. Timetables differ from centre to centre.
Health checks and breakfast
clock icon
8 – 8.30am:
Health checks and breakfast (1st session)

Check that all children who enter are healthy. Nourish them with breakfast to get them energised for the day.

Learning corners
clock icon
8.30 – 9.30am:
Learning corners

Set up learning corners which allows children to select the activities they would like to engage in, observe how they learn and guide them along.

Outdoor play
clock icon
9.30 – 10am:
Outdoor play

Bring children outdoors to develop their gross-motor and social skills. Have fun with the children, but keep an eye out for their safety too.

No matter where your career is, we all have to start somewhere.

As long as you have the right qualifications and demonstrate strong competencies, you will find that there are many options opened to you.

Aside from career progression within a preschool centre (as shown in the chart), you can also expect opportunities outside of this environment.

You could also be a:

  • cluster supervisor

  • quality assurance specialist

  • curriculum specialist at a preschool headquarter

  • lecturer at institutes of higher learning,

  • and many more!

HOW WILL YOU PROGRESS AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR?

Career paths in early childhood
Career paths in early childhood




Courses to build your career in early childhood education

To view early childhood courses that match your qualification, select your highest academic qualification below:

With a non-EC polytechnic diploma or non-EC degree, you can be a Preschool Educator after you complete one of these courses:

Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education - Teaching

Training Institution(s):
​National Institute of Early Childhood Development​*

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (13 months)
Part-time (13 months)
Full-time (9 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.



*This diploma is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (Conversion)

Training Institution(s):
KLC International Institute
Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (12 to 13 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.

Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):
National Institute of Early Childhood Development*
Mode and Duration:
Part-time (9 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.



*This diploma is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

With a non-EC polytechnic diploma or non-EC degree, you can be an Infant and Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 to 14 months)​
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links - SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 to 10 months)​
Full-time (8 to 10 months)
Part-time (14 to 16 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):
​National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​
​
Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With a non-EC polytechnic diploma or non-EC degree, you can be an Early Intervention Educator after you complete the following course:

Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Intervention (Special Needs)

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​

Mode and Duration:
Part-time (15 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With a non-EC polytechnic diploma or non-EC degree, you can be a Learning Support Educator after you complete the following course:

Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Learning Support

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​

Mode and Duration:
Part-time (13 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With a Polytechnic diploma or ‘A’ level qualification, you can be a Preschool Educator after you complete one of these courses:

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with Minor

Training Institution(s):
​Singapore University of Social Sciences​​
Mode and Duration:
Full-time (3 to 4 years)​
Intake:
​1 intake per year
Support available:

​ECDA Training Award (University)​

​

Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​*​

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (18 months)
Part-time (18 months)​
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.



*This diploma is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education - Chinese

Training Institution(s):

​Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (16 to 18 months)
Full-time (18 to 20 months)
Part-time (30 to 33 months)​​
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

With a Polytechnic diploma or ‘A’ level qualification, you can be an Infant and Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 months)​
Part-time (8 to 14 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links - SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:

​Place-and-Train (8 to 10 months)

Full-time (8 to 10 months)

Part-time (14 to 16 months)

Intake:

​Various intakes throughout the year​

Support available:

​Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):
National Institute of Early Childhood Development
Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With at least 5 ‘O’ Level passes, you can be a Preschool Educator after you complete one of these courses:

Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education - Teaching

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​*​​

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (18 months)
Part-time (18 to 30 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.



*This diploma is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​*​

Mode and Duration:
​Full-time (3 years)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic)​



*This diploma is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education

Training Institution(s):

​Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
​​Place-and-Train (16 to 18 months)
Full-time (18 to 20 months)
Part-time (30 to 33 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

With at least 5 ‘O’ Level passes, you can be an Infant and Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 months)​
Part-time (8 to 14 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links - SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 to 10 months)​
Full-time (8 to 10 months)
Part-time (14 to 16 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):

​National Institute of Early Childhood Development

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year​
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With at least 3 ‘O’ Level passes, you can be an Early Years Educator or Assistant Preschool Educator after completing one of these courses:

Higher NITEC in Early Childhood Education

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​*
​​

Mode and Duration:
Full-time (2 years)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
​​ECDA Training Award (ITE​)



*This course is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) at ITE College Central.

Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​

Mode and Duration:
Part-time (13 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education

Training Institution(s):

​KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (13 to 14 months)
Full-time (13 to 14 months)
Part-time (24 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.​

With at least 3 ‘O’ Level passes, you can be an Infant and Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​

Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 months)​
Part-time (8 to 14 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):
Mode and Duration:
Place-and-Train (8 to 10 months)​
Full-time (8 to 10 months)
Part-time (14 to 16 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):

​National Institute of Early Childhood Development

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
1 intake per year​
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With a completed Secondary 4 education, you can be an Infant and Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

​National Institute of Early Childhood Development

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 months)​
Part-time (8 to 14 months)
Intake:
​Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links - SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College​​

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 to 10 months)
Full-time (8 to 10 months)
Part-time (14 to 16 months)
Intake:
​Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):
​National Institute of Early Childhood Development​
Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (8 months)
Part-time (8 months)​
Intake:
1 intake per year​
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

With a completed Secondary 2 education, you can be an Assistant Early Years Educator after completing one of these courses:

Fundamentals Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links – SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
​Full-time (2 to 3 months)
Part-time (4 to 7 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.​

Fundamentals Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):

​Asian International College

KLC International Institute​

Mode and Duration:
​Full-time (2 to 3 months)​
Part-time (4 months)
Intake:
​Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.​

With a completed Secondary 2 education, you can be an Infant Educator after completing one of these courses:

WSQ Higher Certificate in Infant Care

Training Institution(s):

​Advent Links - SAUC Education Centre

Asian International College

KLC International Institute

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (4 to 5 months)​
Full-time (4 to 5 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

WSQ Higher Certificate in Infant Care (Chinese)

Training Institution(s):

​Asian International College

KLC International Institute​

Mode and Duration:
​Place-and-Train (4 to 5 months)​
Full-time (4 to 5 months)
Part-time (8 months)
Intake:
​Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 95% for Singapore Citizens and up to 90% for Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the training institution.



Note: Place-and-Train mode is only available at KLC International Institute.

You can be an Early Intervention Educator after you complete the following course:

Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Intervention (Special Needs)

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​

Mode and Duration:
Part-time (15 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

You can be a Learning Support Educator after you complete the following course:

Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Learning Support

Training Institution(s):

National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​

Mode and Duration:
Part-time (13 months)
Intake:
Various intakes throughout the year
Support available:
Course fee funding is available for up to 90% for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. For more details, please contact the National Institute of Early Childhood Development​​​.

You can also check out upcoming career events or explore job openings to become an early childhood educator.

If you have an overseas early childhood qualification, you may be able to teach in Singapore’s Early Childhood Development Centres if your qualification is sufficiently aligned to the ECDA-approved early childhood programmes. For more information, please click here.

Additional support available

For Singaporeans who are switching to the early childhood sector, you may apply for the Career Conversion Programme

  • Receive industry-recognised training to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills to work as a certified Infant & Early Years Educator, Preschool Educator, or Early Intervention Educator
  • Course fee sponsorship is available as you train to become a qualified educator through the programme
  • Find out more and apply here
  • Alternatively, you may wish to tap on Workforce Singapore's other manpower programmes such as the Mid-Career Pathways Programme