Recognition of an Early Years Qualification

Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, all staff working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a Level 5 major award in early childhood care and education on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification that the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has deemed to be equivalent.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has published a list of qualifications that meet both regulatory and funding requirements for working in early learning and care (ELC) services.

Early Years Recognised Qualifications December 2025

If an individual's qualification does not appear on the list, an individual can apply to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to have it assessed for equivalence.

To be approved to practise in the sector, an individual's studies must be of a standard at least at level 5 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications NFQ (or equivalent) and must include the following content:

• child development for children aged 0-6;
• early childhood education - theory and practice;
• child health and welfare for children aged 0-6;
• evidence that the qualification contains a supervised practicum/practice placement working in an ELC setting.

To apply using our online form use the link below.

• A fully completed application form (below);
• A copy of the award certificate for your qualification;
• Full academic transcripts for your qualification;
• Evidence of supervised practicum as part of your studies with ages of children placement was completed with; and/or
• Evidence of professional practice. This could be a reference from an employer which must be relevant to early years with details of the ages and activities undertaken.

DCDE may ask for further information or documents before making a decision.

Please clearly mark your documents with your name and description of each attachment, for example:

• Application_First Name_ Surname,
• Certificate_First Name_Surname,
• Transcripts/Modules_First Name_Surname,
• References.

We are dealing with a very large volume of applications and this will help with the process.

Application for Current Students

Students can apply to DCDE to be recognised as current students if they meet the following criteria:

• They are studying a course recognised by DCDE;
• They have successfully completed at minimum their first year;
• They are continuing their studies.

The full list of recognised early years qualifications can be found here.

To ensure that there is an appropriate balance between work and study, students are advised to contact their programme coordinator prior to taking up work in the ELC sector.

To apply online for qualification recognition as a current student please click here.

• In order to apply for qualification recognition as a current student, you will need to submit a full application to the Department, including the following documents:
• Transcripts for each completed year of your course (you must have completed a minimum of one year);
• A letter from your college/institution confirming that you are continuing your studies;
• Evidence of work practice/experience in an early learning and care setting with children aged 0 – 6 years. The applicant must have completed a practice placement for the years of study submitted for assessment.

Student Fast Track: Letter of Temporary Permission to Practise

To address current staffing pressures within ELC and school-age childcare (SAC) services, DCDE is, on a temporary basis, implementing a Fast Track qualification recognition (accelerated) process for the assessment of equivalence with the Level 5 minimum qualification requirement.

This Fast Track process applies specifically to students currently enrolled on a recognised Level 6, 7 or 8 early years programme.

Eligibility for the Fast Track Process

The Fast Track process is open to students who:

• Are currently enrolled on a Level 6, 7, or 8 programme listed on the DCDE Early Years Recognised Qualifications list; and
• Have successfully completed their first year of study, including the required professional practice placement.

Outcome of the Fast Track Assessment

Students approved through this Fast Track (accelerated) process will be issued with a Letter of Temporary Permission to Practise by DCDE.

This letter will be valid until 01 September 2026 and is recognised by Tusla as meeting the requirements of Section 9(4) of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016.

Responsibilities of the Registered Provider

Where a student is employed under these temporary arrangements, the Registered Provider remains responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, including:

• Garda vetting;
• Induction training;
• Supervision;
• Ongoing governance and oversight.

Students can access the application form below.

Once completed, the application form should be submitted to EYQualifications@dcde.gov.ie.

Alternatively, students can apply for a letter of qualification recognition through the Current Student Application Process. This Letter of Qualification Recognition will remain valid for the duration of the students’ studies.

• Applications take several weeks to process and are dealt with strictly in order of receipt. DCDE cannot prioritise one application over another.
• Due to GDPR, applications can only be accepted from the person who holds the qualification to be assessed and cannot be accepted from a third party (such as an employer or prospective employer).
• Information about the status of an application cannot be provided to a third party.
• Please sign and date the application form (unsigned forms cannot be accepted).
• Documents must be in English or Irish. Any documents not originally in English or Irish must be accompanied with a certified translation in English or Irish.
• Applications without supporting documentation will not be accepted.
• DCDE cannot access external drives such as Google Drive. Only PDF/JPEG documents can be accepted.
• DCDE will issue a Letter of Qualification Recognition in respect of successful applications.