ComplynceChild Care Provider Approval

Child care approval pathways

National Law provider approval and CCS approval are not the same.

Most child care operators need to navigate a state or territory approval and a separate Commonwealth approval. Understanding which authority decides what prevents avoidable application and study errors.

The short answer

National Law approval addresses suitability to operate an education and care service. CCS approval addresses suitability to administer Australian Government child care subsidy payments.

The applications can be started together through the NQA IT System, but each authority makes its own decision. The Australian Government cannot finalise CCS approval until the required National Law or state regulatory approval has been granted.

Side-by-side comparison

Know which approval you are preparing for.

National Law provider approval

01
Decision-maker
Your state or territory regulatory authority
Legal framework
Education and Care Services National Law, National Regulations and the National Quality Framework
What is assessed
Whether the applicant is suitable to operate an education and care service and meet responsibilities for children's safety, health, wellbeing and educational outcomes.
Knowledge assessment
If required, ACECQA currently describes the National Law assessment as approximately 46 multiple-choice questions with up to 75 minutes.
Result
A provider approval under the National Law. A separate service approval is generally required for each service.

Child Care Subsidy approval

02
Decision-maker
Australian Government Department of Education
Legal framework
Family Assistance Law
What is assessed
Whether the legal entity is suitable and eligible to administer Child Care Subsidy for an approved service.
Knowledge assessment
If required, ACECQA currently describes the Family Assistance Law assessment as approximately 25 multiple-choice questions with up to 110 minutes.
Result
Approval to administer CCS. It cannot be granted until the relevant National Law or state regulatory approval is in place.

What Complynce covers

National Law knowledge practice.

The Complynce assessment focuses on provider responsibilities under the National Law, National Regulations and NQF. Each paid practice contains 46 questions with a 75-minute practice window and detailed answer reasoning.

It does not prepare or assess candidates against Family Assistance Law and is not an official regulatory assessment.

Try 10 questions free

Practical sequence

Prepare the two workstreams separately.

  1. 1Confirm the legal entity and the services it intends to operate.
  2. 2Identify persons with management or control under each framework; the definitions can produce different results.
  3. 3Start the National Law and CCS applications through the NQA IT System when ready.
  4. 4Prepare National Law and Family Assistance Law knowledge separately rather than treating them as one syllabus.
  5. 5Respond to each authority and retain its requests, assessment instructions and decision records separately.

Official sources

ACECQA: Opening a new service and knowledge assessmentsAustralian Government: About the CCS approval process

Source information reviewed 31 August 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Are National Law provider approval and CCS approval the same?

No. National Law approval is granted by a state or territory regulatory authority. CCS approval is granted by the Australian Government under Family Assistance Law. They are separate approvals with different legal purposes.

Can both applications be submitted at the same time?

Yes. Official guidance recommends applying for both at the same time to avoid unnecessary delay, but the approvals are assessed and granted separately. CCS approval cannot be finalised until National Law or other required state approval is granted.

Does every applicant complete a knowledge assessment?

Not necessarily. An applicant or person with management or control may be asked to complete a written or oral knowledge assessment as part of the regulator's suitability assessment. The relevant authority provides instructions if an assessment is required.

Which assessment does the Complynce practice product cover?

The current Complynce product practises provider-level knowledge under the National Law, National Regulations and NQF. It is not a Family Assistance Law or CCS assessment product.

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