CHC40225 - Certificate IV in School Based Education Support

Version Effective: 1st of August, 2026
Course Details

Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of an education support worker who assists teachers and support student learning in a range of classroom settings in primary or secondary schools, as defined by State/Territory legislation. Work requires the use of discretion and judgement within the boundaries of established policies and procedures and complete general administrative as well as operational tasks to support students. To achieve this qualification, students must have completed a total of at least 100 hours of work in a classroom environment catering to primary or secondary school students, within at least one school in Australia.  The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

To help us understand how best to support you, you’ll need to complete the bksb (Basic Key Skills Builder) online literacy, numeracy and digital literacy assessments to progress your application. Alternatively, completion of an equal or higher level course may exempt you from this testing.

During your study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.

Students are required to complete Vocational Placement throughout the duration of the qualification. Students are required to complete at least 100 hours in a classroom environment within primary or secondary schools.

Students are required to successfully obtain a Working with Children Check relevant to their state/territory in Australia.

Access to a computer, internet, and intermediate computer skills. 24-hour CQUniversity computer labs are available on selected campuses.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within a school environment, with a mandatory work placement of 100 hours at either primary or secondary schools. Within this time allocation, students can demonstrate the required vocational placement tasks and skills for other units as required for the qualification. The total number of 100 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirements of workplace hours within this qualification. Students completing Vocational Placement must complete a minimum of 100 hours of placement throughout the duration of the course. Each Cluster will require vocational placement and demonstration of the practical component in a classroom environment. 

As part of the assessment conditions, a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor is required to observe students completing designated tasks while on placement. This ensures that competency is demonstrated in a real-world setting and aligns with training package requirements.
Students located in the following areas may be eligible for in-person observations conducted by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor:

  • Rockhampton and surrounding areas
  • Gladstone
  • Mackay
  • Emerald

Students who are not located in the approved in-person observation areas must arrange for virtual observations with their Trainer and Assessor. These will be conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams using a school device (e.g., a tablet or laptop provided by the school). The observer will watch live, replicating the process of an in-person observation.
To meet these requirements, students must complete their placement at a school that permits virtual assessment, including the use of video conferencing and devices for live observation by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor.

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $5,763.00 (2027)
Subsidised Full Fee $2,890.00 (2027)
Subsidised Concession Fee $2,023.00 (2027)
Fee for service per unit $339.00 (2027)
Subsidised full fee per unit $170.00 (2027)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $255.00 (2027)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire
Study Area
  • Education and Humanities
Skill Area
  • Education Support
AQF Level Level 4: Certificate IV

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Upon successful completion of the CHC40225 Certificate IV in School-Based Education Support, graduates may pursue employment as an Education Support Worker and Teacher Aide. In these roles, individuals assist teachers in supporting the diverse learning needs of students within a primary or secondary school classroom setting.

Students can further develop their education support skills through a range of CQUniversity higher education pathways.

Course Structures
COURSE STRUCTURE
ONLINE

This course is available to study full-time over a period of 40-weeks or part-time over a period 70-weeks. As this course is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

Students studying full-time should plan to dedicate approximately 21 hours per week to their coursework. Full-time students should enrol into two clusters at a time in the same study period. Part-time students should expect to allocate around 12 hours per week. Part-time students should enrol into one cluster at a time.

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within a school environment, with a mandatory work placement of at least 100 hours at either primary or secondary schools. The total number of 100 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement of workplace hours within this qualification.

Individual units throughout the duration of this course require the demonstration of practical tasks, subsequently students may be required to complete 210 hours of vocational placement throughout the course duration. This is inclusive of the 100 hours required for unit CHCEDS047.

Students are to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher upon admittance.

Cluster 8 consists of HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting, and you will need to attend a CQU campus at either Gladstone, Mackay or Rockhampton to complete the practical requirements for this unit. Or complete the unit HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and submit a completed certificate to receive a credit for this unit.

  • Online
  • Domestic

All clusters must be completed in the order outlined above. 

  • PART TIME STUDENTS – Enrol into one full cluster at a time.
  • FULL TIME STUDENTS – Enrol into two full clusters at a time in the same study period.
    • Partial cluster enrolment is only possible if credit has been applied for the other unit/s in the cluster. 

It is strongly recommended that students refrain from pre-enrolling into subsequent clusters.  Once you have successfully completed your current cluster and the Competency Achieved (CA) grade is displayed against the unit/s in the Study section of your MyCQU Student Portal, you will then be able to enrol into the subsequent cluster for the next available intake. 

Key dates such as the last day to enrol and withdraw can be found in the Academic Calendar.  It is important you are aware of these dates. 

Course Assessment Information

Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
Third Party Verification
Project
RPL
Other
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?

Domestic 2026 Availabilities

Online
Online
October: Full Time/Part Time
More Details