Migrate by occupation / Early Childhood (Pre Primary School) Teacher

MLTSSL

Migrate to Australia as an early childhood teacher

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher is on the MLTSSL and in strong, sustained shortage. It is assessed by ACECQA, not AITSL, which trips people up. Regional programs are especially receptive, and the occupation is one of the more achievable professional routes to PR.

The essentials

Occupation
Early Childhood (Pre Primary School) Teacher
ANZSCO code
241111
Occupation list
MLTSSL — Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List
Visas it supports
Subclass 189, 190, 491, 485
Assessed by
ACECQA
Assessment cost
varies - check the authority directly
Assessment time
commonly 2 to 4 months

Which visas actually fit

Subclass 189possibleAchievable for teachers with strong English and experience.
Subclass 190strongTeaching is widely nominated, often with named shortage subjects.
Subclass 491strongRegional schools are chronically short-staffed.
Subclass 482possibleLess common than in health, but used by some school systems.

Check your points and pathways →

Your skills assessment

Before you can apply for any skilled visa as a early childhood teacher, ACECQA must assess your skills. They generally need:

  • A qualification recognised as comparable to the required Australian level.
  • Documented employment in the nominated occupation.
  • Evidence that your duties match the ANZSCO description, not just the job title.
Confirm the assessor before you pay

Some occupations have more than one possible assessing authority depending on your qualifications, and assessors occasionally change. Check the Department of Home Affairs occupation list, which names the correct authority per occupation, before lodging.

Where early childhood teachers are nominated

Nominated broadly, with regional and remote areas the most receptive. Specific subject shortages drive the lists.

Worth knowingThe AITSL English requirement (commonly 8 in speaking and listening) stops more teachers than the points test does.

Compare state nomination programs →

Data sourceOccupation, list membership and assessing authority from LIN 19/051, the compilation in force 28 March 2026, read on 21 July 2026. Occupation lists and assessment requirements change - confirm the current position before you pay any fee.

Registered migration agents

We are building a directory of MARN-registered agents and immigration lawyers. Listings are checked against the public register before they appear.

How the directory works

Placement shown on the early childhood teacher migration page.

General information, not migration advice. myPRJourney summarises publicly available information about Australian visas so you can understand your options. It does not assess your case, and it is not a substitute for advice from a registered migration agent (MARN) or Australian legal practitioner. Migration rules, occupation lists, income thresholds and state nomination criteria change frequently and sometimes without notice. This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.