| Qualification: | Certificate |
| Level: | 3 |
| Dates: | 2025 Intake 6: 15 September to 05 December - Applications Close 01 September 2025 2025 Intake 7: 20 October to 09 January - Applications Close 06 October 2025 |
| Duration: | 12 weeks full-time Up to two years part-time Intakes are 12 weeks long |
| Location: | |
| Credits: | 40 |
Develop the skills and knowledge to become a sought after Teacher Aide or Support Worker helping provide additional educational support for learners, teachers, families and whanau in schools, out of school or after school care, early childhood settings, or the disability sector.
Graduates will be able:
This qualification is updating to Version 2 in 2025.
ESC3101: Communicating Effectively in an Education Support and Care Context (10 credits) (25 practicum hours)
Note: 25 of the 120 practicum hours should be completed as part of this paper.
This paper introduces learners to the strategies, approaches, techniques, knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders, including diverse learners. To assist the learner to communicate effectively to promote own active participation, and learner success, inclusion and engagement within an education support and care context.
Overview of assessment in this paper:
ESC3102: Inclusive Practice in an Education Support and Care Context (10 credits) (25 practicum hours)
Note: 25 of the 120 practicum hours should be completed as part of this paper.
This paper introduces learners to the principles and application of inclusive teaching and learning practice to support and engage diverse learners. This paper also incorporates learner-centred teaching and learning strategies, tools and techniques that are applicable in a diverse education support and care context.
Overview of assessment in this paper:
ESC3103: Human and Learning Development in Education Support and Care Contexts (5 credits) (10 practicum hours)
Note: 10 of the 120 practicum hours should be completed as part of this paper.
This paper provides learners with basic skills and knowledge of learning and human development and assists learners to apply these skills and knowledge in their teaching and learning practice in an education support and care context.
Overview of assessment in this paper:
ESC3104: Education Support and Care Practicum (15 credits) (60 practicum hours)
Note: 60 of the 120 practicum hours should be completed as part of this paper.
This practicum paper provides learners with the skills and knowledge to assist in supporting learners with their learning in the education support and care context, inclusive of resource production. The paper also focuses on professional behaviour, inclusive of health and safety practices and behavioural management practices, to uphold and maintain the health, safety, and wellbeing of children.
Overview of assessment in this paper:
Explain learner behavioural management approaches that you have applied during the practicum hours, reflect on their effectiveness, and provide recommendations for improvement.
Transition table
Paper in Version 1 | Credits | Equitable Paper in Version 2 | Credits |
ESC100 (5 cr) and ESC101 (5 cr) | 10 | ESC3101 | 10 |
ESC101 | 5 | No equitable paper | 0 |
ESC102 | 5 | ESC3103 | 5 |
ESC103 | 25 | ESC3104 (15 cr) and ESC3102 (10 cr) | 25 |
If you are an existing student and have any questions about the transition to Version 2, please contact the administrator or the Programme Operations Manager, Melissa James.
SIT Zero Fees Scheme
International Fees
$8335
Unsure which one is for me? Check Fees Eligibility Check my options
Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge for roles such as:
As part of gaining this qualification, students need to complete a minimum of 120 hours of in class teacher aiding practicum. Some of these practicum hours need to be completed in each paper of the programme (see the Course Content for more detail), but the times may be varied to suit the practicum venue and students’ studies.
These hours can be completed with schools (primary or secondary), in early childhood settings, out of school or after school care programmes, or in the disability sector. However, you must be supervised by a suitably qualified person.
All applicants wishing to undertake this programme of study are required to submit a completed Placement & Supervisor Confirmation Form with their application. The form below gives details of the papers and assessments for supervisors to understand what is required of them. Please give your supervisor this information and ask them to complete the Placement & Supervisor Confirmation Form on the last page.
Important: You need to submit this form to SIT admin prior to the start of the intake to confirm you have a placement venue for your practicum hours.
This form includes confirmation of:
School Leavers
Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2.
Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at level 2 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than PASS in each skill
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
Suggested study options
Full-time study
Full time study is completing all 40 credits in one intake. However, due to the intensive workload of the programme when taking the practicum hours into account, we do not recommend that students enrol in full time study. Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.
Part-time study
Part time study is recommended for this qualification as the first three papers allow you to build sufficient knowledge prior to completing the practicum paper in which you need to apply this knowledge in working with and developing learning plans and resources for specific learners.
ɫֱ should complete papers in the order that they are listed. Suggested part-time study pathways are:
However, these study pathways are a guide only; the number of credits selected per intake will depend on work, family, and other commitments.
Additional information
Cross Credits
ɫֱ who have previously completed any of the above units at SIT or another learning institution can apply to have the unit(s) cross credited to their record of learning at SIT. This is done by filling in a cross credit application form and attaching proof of achievement. If you wish to apply for a cross credit, please attach the completed form to your application. Forms can be found at:
Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.
To satisfactorily complete the teacher aiding programme of study leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Education Support and Care (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
Please Note: ɫֱ failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement