Early childhood education/social pedagogy as a career

Since an early childhood education institution is the first educational institution in a child’s life, the ECEC teacher plays an important role. ECEC teachers may work with children from 0 to 6 years in different facilities or group forms. They also have the option to gain the additional qualification of after-school care teacher during their training, enabling them to look after children aged between six and 16 in an after-school club.

Qualified ECEC teachers are in great demand and employment opportunities are very good in all federal states.

In addition to ECEC teachers, there are also assistants. As teaching assistants have educational knowledge, they help ECEC teachers to prepare educational work.

Study on educational and career paths

A study commissioned by the ministry uses quantitative and qualitative data to provide information on the education and career paths of graduates of five-year courses at Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education (BAfEP) and post-secondary VET colleges (Kollegs), general conditions in this field of work and nationwide staffing needs in the early childhood education sector until 2030. The study also contains specific recommendations for action.

Study: Education and career paths of graduates of training institutes and post-secondary VET colleges for early childhood education (ÖIBF) (in German only)

The social pedagogy profession is also of great importance in our society. Social pedagogues work, for example, in shared-living communities, where they look after school children, teenagers and (young) adults, in social facilities for people with disabilities and in extracurricular youth work.

Qualified social pedagogues are in great demand. Here too, employment opportunities are very good in all federal states.

Training opportunities at Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education/for Social Pedagogy

Five-year training programme and VET courses

The training programmes for ECEC teachers and social pedagogues can be obtained at the Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education (Bildungsanstalten für Elementarpädagogik, BAfEP) and Training Institutes for Social Pedagogy (Bildungsanstalten für Sozialpädagogik, BASOP). These school types belong to the colleges for higher vocational education (berufsbildende höhere Schulen, BHS) and, like all other BHS, conclude with a matriculation and diploma examination. Both five-year colleges for higher vocational education also lead to university-entrance qualifications.

The programmes can also be completed as post-secondary VET courses and then conclude with a diploma examination. Access requirement is either a matriculation exam, a general higher education entrance exam or a limited higher education entrance exam. VET courses take two years or five to six semesters while working.

Further training opportunities at the Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education

Since the 2019/2020 school year, there has been a three-year College for Teaching Assistant Careers. Following this three-year college, it is possible to attend an add-on course and thus obtain a qualification as an ECEC teacher after a further three years. The add-on course is completed with a matriculation and diploma examination, which is equivalent to a matriculation and diploma examination at the five-year college. These add-on courses can also be run as programmes for those in employment, with the duration of the courses being extended if necessary.

Graduates of a Training Institute for Social Pedagogy (BASOP; five-year course or post-secondary VET college) who wish to enter the field of ECEC can take a two-semester ECEC course for BASOP graduates at a Training Institute for Early Childhood Education (BAfEP). This possibility of lateral entry builds specifically on the competences already acquired in the field of social pedagogy. BASOP graduates thus extend their qualification in the field of social pedagogy (including the qualification in after-school care) to include ECEC. This course can also be run as a part-time programme for those in employment, with its duration being extended to three or four semesters.

General information on the training programmes

A positive aptitude test is a prerequisite for attending the training programmes.

The application and enrolment takes place directly at the school location of a BAfEP or BASOP. Further information can be found on the school websites, e.g. on the open days.

The school locations and their websites can be accessed via the following links: List of all Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education (klassejob.at) (in German only) and School Guide (schule.at).

Training Institutes for Early Childhood Education
Training Institutes for Social Pedagogy
Three-year Colleges for Teaching Assistant Careers

Training opportunities at universities of teacher education

University course "Elementary Education"

Since the 2021/22 academic year, the university course "Elementary Education" has been available at the universities of teacher education, which serves as a lateral entry opportunity for graduates with relevant degrees.

Admission requires a completed training programme in general pedagogical professional fields (§ 52f para. 2 HG 2005).
The target group is teachers who have completed a Bachelor's degree in primary education or special education as well as persons who have completed a Bachelor's degree in educational science or pedagogy (180 ECTS).
Students must have at least language skills at reference level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the Recommendation N^o R (98) 6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning modern languages (CEFR) (§ 52 Para. 2 Z 3 HG 2005).
Completion of a self-evaluation tool is an admission requirement.

The university course is divided into 12 modules including a theory- and practice-oriented portfolio and comprises 60 ECTS.

The planned duration of the university course is 2 semesters, with a maximum duration of 6 semesters (planned study time plus 4 semesters).

Graduates obtain a qualification as a group leader in ECEC as well as a comprehensive qualification in accordance with the course for the qualification for early language support (Art. 11 Para. 1 Z 3 of the agreement pursuant to Art. 15a B-VG on early childhood education for the 2022/23 to 2026/27 kindergarten years).

The university course "Elementary Education" is offered at the following universities of teacher education: List of all universities of teacher education providing the university course "Elementary Education" (klassejob.at) (in German only)

University course "Lateral Entry in Elementary Education"

Since the 2023/24 academic year, a new university course "Lateral Entry in Elementary Education" has been available at the universities of teacher education, which serves as a lateral entry opportunity for graduates with non-relevant degrees (180 ECTS).

Admission requires a completed degree programme of at least 180 ECTS at a recognised post-secondary educational institution (§ 52f para. 3e HG 2005).
Students must have at least language skills at reference level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the Recommendation N^o R (98) 6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning modern languages (CEFR) (§ 52 Para. 2 Z 3 HG 2005).
Completion of a self-evaluation tool is an admission requirement.

The university course is divided into 22 modules including a theory- and practice-oriented portfolio and comprises 120 ECTS.

The planned duration of the university course is 4 semesters, with a maximum duration of 8 semesters (planned study time plus 4 semesters). However, the university course can also be run in part-time form, extending the duration of the programme.

Graduates obtain a qualification as a group leader in ECEC as well as a comprehensive qualification in accordance with the course for the qualification for early language support (Art. 11 Para. 1 Z 3 of the agreement pursuant to Art. 15a B-VG on early childhood education for the 2022/23 to 2026/27 kindergarten years).

The university course "Lateral Entry in Elementary Education" is offered at the following universities of teacher education: List of all universities of teacher education providing the university course "Lateral Entry in Elementary Education" (klassejob.at) (in German only)

University course "Inclusive Elementary Education"

Since the 2022/23 academic year, the university course "Inclusive Elementary Education" has been available at the universities of teacher education, which builds on relevant training as an ECEC teacher and offers a professional, scientific and practice-oriented qualification as an "Inclusive ECEC teacher".

Admission requires a completed training programme in the relevant professional field (§ 52f para. 2 HG 2005).
The target group is persons who have completed a training programme as an ECEC teacher.
Students must have at least language skills at reference level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the Recommendation N^o R (98) 6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning modern languages (CEFR) (§ 52 Para. 2 Z 3 HG 2005).

The university course is divided into 20 modules, with 5 modules to be completed in each semester. It comprises 90 ECTS.

The planned duration of the university course is 4 semesters, with a maximum duration of 8 semesters (planned study time plus 4 semesters).

Graduates obtain a qualification as an inclusive ECEC teacher.

The university course "Inclusive Elementary Education" is offered at the following universities of teacher education: List of all universities of teacher education providing the university course "Inclusive Elementary Education" (klassejob.at) (in German only)

Training opportunities at universities

Universitätslehrgang "Elementar+/Early childhood education and care+ (ECEC+)"

Since the academic year 2023/24, the university course "Elementar+. Early childhood education and care+" has been available nationwide at the University of Graz, which serves as a lateral entry opportunity for people with an interest in ECEC as well as people who already work with children in ECEC settings but do not yet have comprehensive training.

Students who do not have a HE entrance qualification can only attend the courses in the first three semesters. The general university entrance qualification is a prerequisite for participation in the other courses. This can be completed during the first three semesters.
The target group is people who have reached the age of 20 at the start of the qualification and have access to ECEC practice.
Students must have at least language skills at reference level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in accordance with the Recommendation N^o R (98) 6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning modern languages (CEFR) (§ 52 Para. 2 Z 3 HG 2005).
Admission requires successful completion of the selection procedure in oral or written form.

The university course is divided into 6 modules and comprises 120 ECTS.

The planned duration of the university course is 6 semesters, with a maximum duration of 8 semesters (planned study time plus 2 semesters).

Further information can be found at: Elementar+ - UNI for LIFE - Further education in Graz

Master's programme in Elementary Education

The University of Graz offers a Master's degree programme in Elementary Education, which serves as a lateral entry option for groups of people with relevant qualifications.

Admission to the Master's degree programme requires the completion of a relevant degree programme of at least 180 ECTS at a recognised post-secondary educational institution.
As a prerequisite for admission to the degree programme, proof must be provided of the German language skills required to successfully complete the degree programme.

The university course is divided into 6 modules and comprises 120 ECTS.

The planned duration of the university course is 4 semesters.

Further information can be found at: Elementary Education – University of Graz (uni-graz.at)

Employment requirements

The profession of ECEC teachers is a regulated profession. This means that certain training is required in order to work in this profession. This includes:

training at a BAfEP (5-year training programme, VET course, add-on course, course for BASOP graduates),
successful completion of the university course "Elementary Education" (60 ECTS)
successful completion of the university course "Lateral Entry in Elementary Education" (120 ECTS)
Successful completion of the university course "Elementar+" (120 ECTS)
Successful completion of the Master's degree programme in Elementary Education (120 ECTS)

Only those who have successfully completed one of these training programmes are permitted to work as a group-leading ECEC teacher. The basic law on recruitment requirements for ECEC teachers applies to the whole of Austria. Each federal province also lays down further specific provisions on the general conditions of employment in state laws. These include, for example, regulations on opening hours or the number of children per group.

The basic law on recruitment requirements (in German only).