QQI Level 6 Advanced Cert in Early Learning and Care (ELC)

QQI Level 6 Childcare Early Learning and Care (ELC) (6M22115)

Course is completed over 9 months. Learners can work at their own pace and can start at any time of year.

childcare minder

Accredited
Qualification on the NFQ (Ireland).

Tutor-supported
eLearning course with Tutor Support.

Flexible
Start any time and work at your own pace.

Learn anywhere
Learn anytime, anywhere.

QQI Level 6 Advanced Cert in Early Learning and Care (ELC)

€1,195 €995

Enrol online now or call us on 01-2865783, for interest-free instalment plan options.

Overview
  • No other accreditation or certification fees to pay.
  • This online Level 6 Childcare course is completed over 9 months. Learners can work at their own pace and can start at any time of year.
  • Blended learning (online with face-to-face elements) course with Tutor Support, accredited by QQI.
  • Applicants will be required to complete 150 hours Professional Practice Placement. A minimum of 50 hours must be completed with children in each of the following age groups: (1) with children aged 0-2 years 8 months, and (2) with children aged 2 years 8 months – 6 years.
  • We cover students work placement insurance at no extra cost.
Level 6 Childcare Course Details

CMIT is offering those interested in pursuing a challenging and rewarding career in early years learning and care an opportunity to complete the brand new QQI Level 6 Childcare Early Learning and Care (ELC) Major Award.

This level 6 online childcare certificate is designed with Early Childhood professionals, and the children they will engage with, in mind. The aim of the programme is to enable learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and competence to work as autonomous practitioners, subject to practice supervision, promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children from 0 to six years, and/or to take responsibility for a room or area in an ELC setting. The QQI Early Learning and Care (ELC) programme comprises of 6 modules. The CMIT eLearning system enables learners to work at their own pace while being fully supported by a qualified Tutor.

View a detailed list of the learning outcomes for this course on our learning outcomes page.

How you will learn

By enrolling on this course, you’ll receive 24/7 access to the eLearning platform for the full duration of your studies. This includes a detailed course manual, engaging videos, interactive quizzes, dedicated one-to-one support from a qualified Early Years tutor and scheduled placement meetings both on-site and online to support you. You’ll also have access to the CMIT Digital Library, providing a wealth of additional resources.

The course materials for this QQI-certified programme are clearly structured and easy to follow. You can conveniently upload your assessments online and receive feedback through the eLearning platform. You will receive personalised feedback from your tutor on each assessment you submit. The CMIT eLearning platform is accessible from any internet-connected computer, giving you the flexibility to study anytime, anywhere.

Who should complete this Early Learning and Care (ELC) course?
  • Aspiring Early Childhood Educators: Suitable for those who have completed ELC Level 5 and wish to further their career in early childhood education.
  • Career Advancers: Ideal for individuals aiming for roles like pre-school leader or room leader in Early Childhood Care and Education settings.
  • Educational Progression Seekers: For those aiming for higher qualifications or continuing education in related degree programs.
  • Prospective Managers and Lead Educators: Targeted towards aspiring Managers or Lead Educators in early learning settings, aligning with regulatory requirements and professional standards.
Entry Requirements / Prerequisites
  • Level 5 Major Award Childcare or equivalent.
  • Learners will be required to complete 150 hours Professional Practice Placement. A minimum of 50 hours must be completed with children in each of the following age groups: (1) with children aged 0-2 years 8 months, and (2) with children aged 2 years 8 months – 6 years.
  • Learners will require Garda Vetting prior to commencing Professional Practice. Contact the college for details.
  • Learners will be required to participate in live online classes/webinars.
  • Learners will be required to participate in placement monitoring visits (on-site and online) during their course.
  • Learners must be a resident of Ireland / based in Ireland and hold a valid PPS Number.
  • Basic working knowledge of computers and access to a computer with internet access and word processing software is required to do the course. View the technical requirements for accessing CMIT eLearning.
  • As this NFQ qualification is delivered through English it is necessary to have sufficient written English skills to complete this course. Those who are not fluent in English will be required to provide evidence of meeting a minimum English language and literacy competency of B2 in writing, reading, listening, and speaking on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).
  • It may be possible to gain exemptions from certain modules of the course. If you hold ECCE components please contact us and we can advise you of possible exemptions.
  • Further details on the proficiencies required to complete awards at Level 6 are explained in the Equipped to Participate Statements.

How CMIT eLearning Works…

Play
Topics covered in this Early Learning and Care (ELC) Childcare course
Component 1: Inclusion, Equality and Diversity
  • Introduction
  • Legislation
  • Best practice approaches
  • Equality proofing
Component 2: Advanced Child Development
  • Key theories
  • Socio-cultural theory
  • Observation studies
  • Reflective practice
Component 3: Effective Leadership
  • Leadership
  • Effective management
  • Developing self and others
  • Reflective practice
Component 4: Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • Approaches to curriculum
  • Teaching methods
  • Integrating play, activities and programmes into curriculum
  • Reflective practice
Component 5: Sociology and Social Policy
  • Introduction
  • Types, and impacts, of discrimination
  • Legislation and regulation
  • Developing a rights-based approach
Component 6: Advanced Professional Practice (Work experience)
  • Work experience
  • Insurance during work placement/work experience is provided by CMIT through our insurance provider.
Assessment
  • This Early Learning and Care (ELC) Level 6 Childcare course is assessed through completion of project work, assignments and personal learner records.
  • A project is a structured task that requires planning, research, and problem-solving to produce a final product or solution. An assignment is a task or set of tasks completed by a learner to demonstrate understanding of specific learning outcomes. A learner record is a self-reflective record  where the learner reports on their learning experiences, activities and progress.
  • Assessments are submitted online via the eLearning site. They are reviewed by the course tutor and feedback is provided to learners within 5 working days. Learners are only permitted to submit one assessment at a time and must receive feedback on one assessment before submitting the next. All work submitted must be the learners own work.
  • As part of our quality assurance, assessment work will be marked by an Internal Assessor, then checked by an Internal Verifier and an independent QQI External Authenticator.
Transfer and Progression to Further Studies
  • Learners who successfully complete this Level 6 Childcare course may wish to progress to higher education courses (e.g., Level 7 or 8 on the National Framework). For more details contact us.
Protection for Enrolled Learners
  • As this course is of 3 months duration or longer, learners who enrol on this course are protected under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.
  • CMIT Learning Ltd has approval to offer students learner protection insurance. Learner Protection insurance is only in place when each student receives their Insurance Policy. Each learner should ensure that they receive a Learner Protection Insurance Policy in their name. Learner Protection insurance is provided by Arachas and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC. Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, trading as Aviva, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The learner protection policy provides for a refund of fees as specified in the 2012 Act. In some circumstances, it may be possible for a learner to transfer to a similar programme in another provider. In such circumstances, the learner may opt to receive the cost of an alternative similar academic programme. Transfer to another programme is always only a second option. The learner protection insurance policy is governed by s. 65(4)(b) of the 2012 Act.
  • More information can be found on our Terms and Conditions page.
Accreditation
  • Following successful completion of all required modules, you will receive a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care (6M22115). This programme is worth 120 credits.
  • This is the most up to date programme on this topic and it has been developed based on learning outcomes which are approved by QQI and is recognised in the industry as a qualification for employment in the area.
  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. CMIT is registered with QQI to offer programmes leading to QQI awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland.
  • More information can be found on the Accreditation Details page.

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Student Reviews of this course

4.9
4.9 out of 5 stars (based on 102 reviews)
Excellent92%
Very good8%
Average0%
Poor0%
Terrible0%

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December 16, 2025

Definitely the best course I have completed! Content was well laid out, easily accessible and easy to follow. Having all the information of all modules accessible was helpful. Webinars were informative and just interactive enough. Tasks were outlined clearly and all had a learning purpose. Very happy I chose CMIT!

Student December 2025

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December 16, 2025

Overall, it was a fantastic course with lots of resources and incredibly supportive tutors.

Student December 2025

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December 16, 2025

I choose to study with CMIT because the course is online and I could study while I worked. I also completed my Level 5 in Childcare with CMIT so I knew about the course work already. The course is easy to follow and the support from the tutors is excellent. I loved the way I could study, attend the webinars and complete the assessments at my own pace.

Student December 2025

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December 16, 2025

My tutor was amazing.

Student November 2025

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December 16, 2025

The theory of my learning was put into practise which was great.That was my goal and to complete course.Thank you.

Student November 2025

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November 11, 2025

So good highly recommend.

Student October 2025

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October 22, 2025

Found this course to be good clear and straightforward

Student October 2025

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October 14, 2025

The tutors are so helpful and kind.

Student October 2025

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October 14, 2025

The course was straightforward, resources were easy to access, webinars were clear, informative and to the point.

Student October 2025

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October 14, 2025

The course is really helpful and so are the tutors

Student October 2025

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October 14, 2025

Overall I find the layout, material and assessments well described and user friendly.

Student October 2025

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October 14, 2025

The course was exciting. I enjoyed doing it a lot.

Student September 2025

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October 14, 2025

From someone who hasn’t done an online course before and I was nervous how id manage, but I have to say the whole lay out was easy to understand and well broke down that I didn’t feel overwhelmed with it.

Student September 2025

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October 14, 2025

My tutor Lindsey Higgins was fantastic.

Student September 2025

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September 22, 2025

I chose to study with CMIT because it offers a flexible, practical course that combines theory with hands-on experience, helping me grow as a confident early years practitioner. Its supportive tutors and professional practice placements made it the ideal choice for my career development. The course has been highly valuable in enhancing my knowledge and skills in early childhood care. It has provided a strong balance of theory and practical experience, allowing me to confidently apply what I have learned in real-life early years settings.

Student September 2025

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September 22, 2025

My tutor Lindsey was very helpful I always found her easy to talk to and very experienced when talking and sharing her experience.

Student September 2025

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September 15, 2025

Very happy with the course

Student September 2025

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September 8, 2025

Very helpful.

Student September 2025

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September 8, 2025

I recommend this course, as well as any other courses that CMIT provides, to all individuals who wish to enhance their job or skills in any of the sectors that CMIT offers to students.

Student September 2025

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September 8, 2025

The course was well-structured and easy to follow, and the tutor support was excellent.

Student September 2025

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August 26, 2025

This was a great course would love if cmit did level 7 and 8 in early years education.

Student August 2025

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August 14, 2025

Lovely college, Very helpful and very understanding.

Student August 2025

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August 11, 2025

Great support from the admin team and tutor (Lindsey Higgins). Most of the information was available in the manuals

Student August 2025

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August 11, 2025

I found my tutor extremely supportive. She was more helpful than I would ever imagine.

Student August 2025

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August 5, 2025

It is a very nice experience with lots of new information and lots of help from the tutors.

Student July 2025

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August 5, 2025

I chose to study with CMIT because the course designed to fit around a busy lifestyle, which was important for me as I wanted to balance study with work and other commitments. I was also impressed by the support offered by tutors and CMIT support teams. I really enjoyed learning with CMIT. Thanks for everything. The Childcare Level 6 course was a great learning experience. It helped me build strong knowledge and skills to support children’s development and wellbeing. I feel more confident and prepared for my future in childcare and I appreciate the guidance and support from tutors throughout the course.

Student July 2025

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August 5, 2025

I think the course is really instructive and well-structured overall. I’ve been able to go at my own pace because to the flexibility of online learning and the clear and simple content. I also value the instructors’ assistance and the prompt assignment response. It’s been a really good educational experience thus far

Student July 2025

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August 5, 2025

It’s been good, I’m learning new skills. I do learn from my tutor’s feedback. Also last student support webinar was very helpful, and I learned new things on how to improve my assessments and my time management, as I’m working full time, and looking after my family.

Student July 2025

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August 5, 2025

I found the course to be well-organised and easy to follow. The support team were responded quickly and were always helpful, which made the experience even better.

Student June 2025

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August 5, 2025

The course was good and easy to follow for me, as I am dyslexic.

Student June 2025

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August 5, 2025

Brilliant.

Student June 2025

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July 23, 2025

The course was well-structured, easy to followed, and provided valuable and practical knowledge. I appreciated the flexibility of online learning, and the support from tutors was responsive and helpful throughout.

Student June 2025

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July 23, 2025

I had great feedback and a helpful tutor.

Student June 2025

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June 18, 2025

I have found the course to be well-structured, informative and practical. Again the online learning flexibility, the valuable feedback, and tutor support was appreciated. The material given for the course was easy to follow which helped me to apply theory to practice in the setting.

Student June 2025

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June 18, 2025

Tutor was amazing! Lindsey’s level of feedback gave me such a drive to continue as I did struggle to keep myself motivated without the separate deadlines

Student June 2025

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June 18, 2025

I enjoyed learning new things about working with children and taking information into my setting and how i work with children m. I gained knowledge in other age groups during my work experience also

Student June 2025

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June 12, 2025

Fantastic Course.

Student June 2025

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June 12, 2025

Very relevant, useful and interesting.

Student June 2025

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June 12, 2025

I was very impressed by this course. i have helped sign 3 people up for this course as i was that impressed.

Student June 2025

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June 12, 2025

I really enjoyed doing this course and found the course manual very user friendly. I found it very interesting and informative and would highly recommend it to others.

Student June 2025

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June 4, 2025

I really enjoyed doing this course

Student May 2025

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June 4, 2025

I found the course very interesting and the information was to the point and easy to read, all relevent to the topic. The online platform was something that I was very unsure I would be able to use but it was very straight forward and easy to navigate. On-line class were very helpful too.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

Very good course to complete. Assessment and course work layout very well online. Feedback and able to talk to one tutor was good.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

CMIT courses allowed me to study at my own pace which was incredibly important for me as I work full time. I was able to access my course materials anytime to get assignments completed. CMIT courses allowed me to fulfil my education goals without compromising my current employment. Will recommend it to anyone who is looking for a job in childcare.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

Very enjoyable, easy to follow, very informative.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

Yes, I’m really enjoying the course. The content is clear, relevant, and very connected to real-life practice in ELC. I also appreciate the flexibility of the platform, which makes it easier to balance study with work and family life.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

I chose to study with CMIT because it provided the best course for me. I work everyday and have a little girl so this online course suited me. I was able to work at my own pace. It was value for money. The course content was very interesting. The support and feedback from the tutors was fantastic. So very helpful and always on the end of the phone or messages when needed. I have learned a huge amount and I’m delighted I did it. Would highly recommend this course. I absolutely loved every minute of doing it and have learned so much from it.

Student May 2025

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May 27, 2025

I completed my Level 5 childcare qualification with CMIT, and my positive experience there motivated me to pursue my Level 6 qualification with the same institution. The tutors and staff at CMIT are incredibly supportive and approachable, always willing to provide assistance and guidance. Their dedication to teaching and their genuine care for each student create a nurturing learning environment. This sense of community and the quality of support offered have made my decision to continue my studies with CMIT an easy one. I am really enjoying the course! There’s so much valuable information being shared, and it’s truly igniting my passion for a future in childcare. Each lesson provides insights into child development and innovative teaching methods that I find both fascinating and inspiring. I’m excited to learn how I can make a positive impact on children’s lives and contribute to their growth and well-being. This journey is motivating me to explore various career paths in childcare and understand the importance of creating a nurturing environment for young learners.

Student May 2025

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April 28, 2025

Excellent and thank you,

Student April 2025

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April 28, 2025

I have recommended to several other people who have since signed up to do the same. I wish you done Level 7 and 8 also.

Student April 2025

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