New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6)

Applicants must have:

• Completed the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) OR An equivalent overseas qualification as assessed by an international qualifications

All applicants must meet the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 and its subsequent amendments, including:

• Providing verified identification.
• Providing evidence of previous education and work history in the selection process.
• Providing at least two written
• Succeeding in a personal visual interview.
• Meeting the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s criteria for determining good character and fitness to be a teacher.
• Attaining a New Zealand Police vetting report.

  Entry for any applicant with any prior convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Cavalli College.

Cavalli College undertakes a risk assessment in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014 including the above information in order to select the applicants for the programme.

Domestic applicants for whom English is an additional language and te reo Māori is not the first language:

• Evidence of completion of at least three years of secondary education at schools where the learner was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the NZQA Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2025 for a Level 6 programme; or
• Other proof as deemed acceptable by Cavalli College.

• Must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the NZQA Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2025 for a Level 6 programme.

• Credit for prior formal study may be awarded towards this qualification. Recency is at the discretion of Cavalli College.
• Applicants who have gained their qualification outside New Zealand may be required to provide an International Qualifications Assessment.
• For this programme, credit can only be awarded if there is at least an 80% match with learning outcomes and assessments passed. This includes professional experience placements.

Where education meets heart, purpose, and possibility. Cavalli College is a proudly New Zealand-founded tertiary education provider. Our name comes from the Cavalli Islands in Northland, a place that symbolises strength, connection, the discovery of treasures, and renewal. It reflects exactly what we want to offer to our learners.

We deliver NZQA approved programmes in Health and Wellbeing, Peer Support, Mental Health and Addiction, Early Childhood Teaching, and Foundation Skills, all designed to meet the real needs of our learners and the communities they serve.

We're incredibly proud to have been awarded a Category One rating by NZQA, the highest rating a provider can achieve, recognising our quality, outcomes, and learner support. Whether you're returning to study, changing careers or maybe just starting out, we're here to help you. Our team is here to support, to uplift and to celebrate each learner's journey.

What makes Cavalli College different?

It's our heart, our team genuinely cares about our learners, about the difference they want to make, and about the journey it takes to get there. Our programmes are shaped by strong relationships with the health, wellbeing, and education sectors, ensuring that what we teach is relevant, practical, and empowering.

So if you're ready to grow, thrive, and make a real difference, it's Cavalli College. This is where learning meets purpose, and your next step begins!