It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. Infant Care teachers are key members of this ‘village’. They nurture and engage children through play, equipping them with essential skills for bright futures.

The preschool sector is growing. According to a 2023 article on the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s website,  over the last 10 years, the number of educators has doubled from 12,000 to over 24,000¹. 

This article explains the different types of certification needed to work with children aged 2 to 18 months, or 2 to 36 months. It covers the following topics:

Read on and discover what it takes to be an infant care teacher.

Every child deserves a good start in life. Advances in neuroscientific research suggest that little brains are like super sponges, and learning is most effective before age six². In fact, ninety percent of the brain develops in the first three years during a period of heightened plasticity³.

A career in infant care means you get to help children learn how to make friends, be kind, connect with others and explore the world. Become a trusted partner to parents and families in this remarkable journey. 

Children are our future—let’s give them the care and support they deserve.

Infants grow up quickly, and each day brings something new. Being an Infant Care teacher gets you a front-row seat to all the excitement and joy.  Watch them as they take their first wobbly steps or chuckle at their reactions as they learn about the world. 

A day at work might involve:

• Planning fun activities that help infants  learn through play
• Coming up with creative ways to support their  early language, reading and numeracy skills
• Encouraging good behaviour and cooperation through play and sharing
• Creating a safe and nurturing environment where they feel confident to try new things
• Sharing updates with parents as infants grow and develop 

Parents and educators need to work together. They must talk often and openly about everything: how the child acts, what they eat, what they need and how they grow. Infant Care teachers stay sharp by maintaining high standards, learning new things, and embracing innovation. Parents, in turn, contribute by being involved and staying engaged. 

Christine Emperado, an Infant Care teacher  with NTUC First Campus, explains why she loves her job:

“For me, it was the sheer joy of witnessing the wonders of infancy—each giggle, each milestone, igniting a passion to be a part of their growth journey.” ⁴

Fatmahwati Binte Ismail, a colleague of Christine, finds the most rewarding part of her job to be the profound impact she has on shaping young minds and witnessing their growth. She also values the importance that NTUC First Campus places on professional development and educators’ input, which fuels their growth and passion.

Knowing you can make a difference to a child’s future is the best way to spend every day.  

You are the right fit if you are someone who:

• Believes that every child deserves a great start in life 
• Enjoys being part of something bigger 
• Is motivated by purposeful work 
• Seeks to make a difference
• Likes challenge and works well with others
• Enjoys learning new things and is open to change
• Likes to play an active role in and out of the classroom 

Salaries vary depending on experience, qualifications achieved and whether candidates have specialised knowledge and skills. 

Beyond salaries, NTUC First Campus prides itself on nurturing educators.
We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, including curriculum-specific training, mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and scholarship opportunities for further education.

Other benefits include pro-family leave, well-being leave and wellness programmes. NTUC First Campus employees also receive childcare subsidies and comprehensive medical and healthcare benefits. 

To become a certified Early Childhood Educator in Singapore, you must obtain one of the following relevant certifications.

The HCIC course is designed for educators interested in working with infants aged 2 to 18 months. You will learn how to care for them, plan and facilitate activities across different environments, as well as how to keep them safe and healthy. You will also deepen your understanding of child development theories and practices.

Entry requirements are:

• You have completed Secondary 2 education (Singaporean) OR 8 years of formal education (For non-Singaporeans – repeated years of studying at the same level will not be counted towards the number of years of formal education) 
• You have attained an average Statement of Attainment (SOA) of 4 for reading, speaking, listening and writing components 
• For the Chinese programme, you have attained a pass in Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Level 4 for reading, listening and writing components and a pass at the Advanced level for the oral component
• You can sign up for ECDA-accredited certificate programmes offered by Private Training Agencies (PTAs) listed on the ECDA website
• Students can complete the qualification between 4-6 months on a full-time basis or 8-10 months on a part-time basis

The ACEY course is for educators who want to work with infants aged 2 to 36 months. Learners acquire essential practical knowledge and skills to engage with children, plan, and implement programmes and create supportive environments. 

Entry requirements are:

• You have completed Secondary 4 education (Singaporean) or at least 10 years of formal education (non-Singaporean)
• For the English programme, you have attained an average SOA 5 in the WPL Series, including SOA 5 for WPL (Writing)
• For the Chinese programme, you have achieved HSK Level 5 and Advanced Level in HSK Oral Test 
• You can sign up for Certificate-level programmes offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) or PTAs listed on the ECDA website
• Students can complete the qualification between 8-10 months on a full-time basis or 16-18 months on a part-time basis

Preschool teachers who are already certified as Level 1 or Level 2 by ECDA but wish to transition into infant care may apply for the Professional Certificate in Infant Care (PCIC). 

This programme enables you to acquire specialised skills in caring for infants and toddlers aged 2 to 36 months. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for certification as EY2 educators by ECDA, qualifying them to work with young children in this age group.

Find out more on the National Institute of Early Childhood Development website. 

Entry requirements:

To qualify for this, you would need to have successfully completed any of the following ECDA-recognised diploma/certificate:

• Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (DECCE-T) or acceptable equivalent
• Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education (ACECCE) or acceptable equivalent

NTUC First Campus’ Trainee Infant Care Teacher (TICT) programme is a place-and-train initiative designed to immerse aspiring educators in the infant care environment. As a trainee, you will focus on caring for infants aged 2 to 18 months, creating a safe and conducive learning environment. 

Programme Highlights: 

• You will be placed at an NFC preschool and work as Infant Care Assistants part-time, while undergoing classroom training for your professional certification
• You will get full sponsorship of your course fees for your professional certification (HCIC or ACEY) 
• You will earn a competitive salary of $2,000 – $3,200 a month while you are on course
• Mentorship and on-the-job training are provided throughout the programme
• You will have a guaranteed placement at over 180 preschool centres in Singapore
• Available in both English and Chinese language

Upon completion, you will be awarded the WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years (ACEY) or Higher Certificate in Infant Care (HCIC) and begin your journey as a Full-fledged Assistant / Infant Care Teacher (English / Chinese Language) at My First Skool or Little Skool-House.

Since 1977, NTUC First Campus has led the early childhood sector. We believe in nurturing talent just as we nurture children. When you join us, you become part of a close-knit team of educators and professionals united by a shared purpose. Our holistic approach brings together learning support educators, therapists, child-enabling executives, and classroom co-facilitators to meet the diverse needs of children – from those with different learning needs to those from low-income families.

 Here’s what to expect if you join our team:

• Shared Purpose: We are confident in enabling bright futures for all. Our work provides the best possible start for every child. 
• Tailored Growth: With an extensive network of centres, tap into diverse career progression opportunities across our family of brands. We foster a learning culture and offer training, mentorship, scholarships, and overseas learning opportunities, empowering you to build a fulfilling and future-ready career.
• Innovation for Impact: We seek new ideas and challenge ourselves to do better constantly. Our team has access to updated resources and tools, enabling meaningful change in our sector. 

At NTUC First Campus, our teachers are never alone. We are here to guide, support, and grow together. Our commitment to staff well-being and a positive employee experience has been recognised through multiple HR awards, including the Silver Award for Excellence in Employee Experience and Well-being at the Singapore HR Awards 2024. We’re also proud to have been named one of the “Best Companies to Work for in Asia” for six consecutive years and “Most Caring Company” for four years running.

Ready for a career that combines purpose and joy? Explore our current job openings and apply today to enable bright futures for every child and their family.  We are committed to your success. For a rewarding start, check out our trainee programme which allows you to study, work and earn a full-time salary at the same time. 

Infant Care teachers are a vital part of a child’s unique life journey. By creating a nurturing, fun and safe environment, they help infants thrive during their most crucial developmental years. 

Find out more about careers in early childhood education at NTUC First Campus. 

1. Progress of the Early Childhood Sector in the Past Decade. Ministry of Social and Family Development. 28 Oct 2023 ↩︎
2. The importance of emotional competence and self-regulation from birth: a case for the evidence-based emotional cognitive social early learning approach. Housman, D.K. 28 Nov 2017 ↩︎
3. How the Brain Learns Best. Perry, B. (2000) ↩︎
4. Hello! We are Christine and Fatmahwati. ↩︎