How QCE credits work: the 20-credit pathway to your certificate

QCAA awards the Queensland Certificate of Education. Its rules are in the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook; version 7.0 applies in 2026. Your school's QCE coordinator can check your learning account against them.

The set amount and pattern

You can earn all 20 credits from Core learning, provided at least 12 come from completed Core courses.

Where credits come from

• General and Applied subjects (Core). Each subject has four units. Units 1 and 2 are studied first; Units 3 and 4 are studied as a pair. A full subject is worth up to 4 credits, and the Units 3 and 4 credit depends on achieving the set standard for the pair (a C or better for General subjects).
• VET qualifications. Credit depends on the qualification level, up to 4 credits for a Certificate II and up to 8 for a Certificate III or IV, subject to QCAA's rules for completed qualifications.
• Preparatory learning. Learning below Core level, capped at 4 credits.
• Complementary learning. Enrichment (recognised learning that extends your program) and Advanced learning (such as university subjects completed while at school), together capped at 8 credits.

Credits bank in your QCAA learning account and can be used towards a QCE later if you don't finish in Year 12.

Literacy and numeracy

Separately from the 20 credits, you must meet the literacy and numeracy requirement. The most common way is a C or better in an approved English subject and an approved mathematics subject (Units 1 and 2, or Units 3 and 4). QCAA lists other options, including its Short Courses in Literacy and Numeracy. Check the handbook's table of learning options with your school if you're at risk.

Academic integrity course (new from 2026)

From 2026, Year 12 graduates must also have completed an academic integrity course during senior schooling to be eligible for a QCE. QCAA's online course is in the myQCE Student Portal, and completion is recorded in your learning account; schools can also use QCAA's alternative format or an equivalent course.

QCE vs ATAR

For an ATAR, QTAC needs five General subjects, or four General subjects plus one Applied subject or one completed Certificate III (or higher), and a C or better in an English subject. Year 11 units earn QCE credits but aren't ATAR inputs, because the ATAR uses Units 3 and 4 results and completed VET. See how the QCE ATAR is calculated.