Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching [DECCE-T (Conversion)]
Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching [DECCE-T (Conversion)]
About Course
Play a part in shaping the lives young children and discover all about the physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth and development of children 18 months to 6 years old through the DECCE-T (Conv) courses.
The course is available in Chinese here.
Learn from Experts
- Learn all you need to know to progress to be an early childhood educator, with guidance from our experienced lecturers.
Acquire Knowledge and Skills
- Acquire knowledge and skills and understand in-depth principles and practices of early childhood education for children aged up to 6 years old.
Put Theory into Practice
- Experience 300 hours of practicums at an ECDA-registered preschool to apply what you have learnt from the course.
Find out more about the modules covered in this course here.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be conferred the DECCE-T (Conversion) by NIEC. Graduates will be eligible for L2 certification* by ECDA. You will be qualified to teach Playgroup, Nursery, K1 and K2 children from 18 months to 6 years old.
*To be granted certification to teach up to Kindergarten levels by ECDA, new teachers must have a minimum B4 grade for English Language (EL1). Applicants who do not possess a B4 or above in GCE O-level EL1 are given 2 years from the point of teacher registration to obtain a minimum band of 6.5 in IELTS (General) or other ELAA.
Enjoy full course fee sponsorship under the Career Conversion Programme (CCP)!
Under Workforce Singapore’s CCP, your employer may sponsor your training at NIEC and provide a monthly salary during your course.
Note: Only the day intakes (13 months) are eligible for sponsorship under CCP.
Here’s how it works:
- Secure sponsorship by an early childhood development centre (ECDC) licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). You may need to fulfil a bond to work with your employer. Visit the ECDA website for job portals and contact the centres directly for CCP opportunities.
- Apply for our courses within 6 months of being hired. Upon successful enrolment, you will start your training at NIEC while working at the ECDC.
- Enjoy full course sponsorship and a monthly work salary, provided by your employer!
The CCP is open to all company-sponsored applicants who:
- Are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 21 years and above;
- Graduated or completed National Service, whichever is later, at least 2 years at the point of application;
- Are newly-hired by participating ECDA-licensed ECDCs;
- Are not in the same job role prior to joining the CCP.
To be eligible, you must be employed as a trainee teacher for no longer than 6 months from the course application date. Other terms and conditions apply. Learn more.
This course is eligible under Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP), click here to find out more.
Other funding support and financial schemes may be available. Find out more here.
Entry Requirements
Local Qualification
- Obtain a Local Polytechnic Diploma/University Degree; AND
- Obtained ONE of the following:
- A Grade C6 in GCE O-level credit in English (EL1); OR
- An English Language Acceptable Alternatives (ELAA)
Foreign Qualification
- Degree (or above) with English as the medium of instruction from a state-recognised university
Note: English Language Acceptable Alternatives (ELAA) is required if MOI is not proven to be in English.
Fees Payable
Download the 2024 course fee table below.
Note: The course fee shown is an estimate only. Course fees payable are subject to revision, funding eligibility and approval. Please contact us for details on course fees.
Registration Fee
$87.20 (inclusive of GST).
Note: The registration fee is non-refundable.
Course Schedule
Please note:
- Course schedule and venue are subject to changes. NIEC reserves the right to reschedule/cancel any programme and amend information without prior notice.
- Classes will only commence if the minimum class size is met. A confirmation email will be sent to you at least 3 weeks before course commencement.
- Priority will be given to applicants enrolling under the Career Conversion Programme.
- Your learning is important to us, and we have designed our lessons to facilitate your optimal learning experience for this course. Our courses are largely conducted online and around 20% of lessons will be conducted face-to-face for effective learning across practice-oriented sessions, such as for child safety, child development and motor skills development. You will be expected to attend the face-to-face lessons physically. A schedule of upcoming modules will be provided to you in advance before course commencement.
- A course orientation will also be conducted face-to-face where you will be provided with important information about the course, NIEC’s academic policies, the support that you can expect to receive as a student and connect with your community of learning. You are required to attend this session and will be notified of the date and venue 2 to 3 weeks prior to the orientation.
Before You Apply
Here is a checklist for you to download to prepare your application.
Have questions? Connect with us!
Mr Titus Siah
siah_zhen_ming@niec.edu.sg
