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Singapore does not have one licence for education. The rule depends on what you teach and to whom. A private school running diplomas, degrees, full-time certificates or preparatory courses must register under the Private Education Act. A preschool or childcare centre needs an ECDA licence. Checked .
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide, not a regulator or a school adviser. Some regulator pages blocked our automated reader, so parts of this page are marked as needing confirmation. Providers may pay us for requests from our forms.
Which kind of education business are you opening?
| Business | Who regulates it | What we could confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Private school with diplomas, degrees, full-time certificates or preparatory courses | The skills agency, site swda.gov.sg | Must register under the Private Education Act |
| Preschool, childcare or infant care centre | ECDA | Licence under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, applicant must be ACRA registered |
| Government or MOE kindergarten | MOE | Run by MOE, not a private route |
| Short classes and enrichment | Not confirmed on the pages read | Ask the agency before you launch |
We could read the regulator's student advice pages only in part. The registration fee and the application form are not given on the pages we could read, so this page quotes none.
What does registration under the Private Education Act mean?
The regulator describes a two-tier system. The first tier is the Enhanced Registration Framework, a set of minimum standards a school must meet before it may operate. It covers:
- Corporate governance and administration.
- Student fee protection.
- Disclosure of key information so students can compare schools.
- An Academic Board and an Examinations Board.
- Minimum qualifications and experience for teachers.
The second tier is EduTrust, a voluntary quality certification. The regulator says registration is not an endorsement of the school's quality. Treat registration as the entry ticket, and EduTrust as a later choice.
What does a preschool need?
ECDA licenses every early childhood development centre, meaning a centre that cares for or teaches children under 7. The applicant must be an ACRA-registered company or business. ECDA publishes a guide and application form for setting up a centre. Read it before you rent premises, because premises rules shape the licence. We could not open that guide, so the licence fee, validity and processing time are left out. Ask ECDA.
How do you set up the company first?
Every route above needs a legal entity.
- Reserve a name on Bizfile (S$15).
- Register the company (S$300). That makes S$315 in ACRA fees.
- Appoint at least one locally resident director and a company secretary.
- Give the company a Singapore registered address.
See company registration, private limited company and registered address. A foreign founder registers through a corporate service provider. See register a company as a foreigner.
What about teachers and staff?
Teachers who are not citizens or PRs need a valid pass. Pass rules depend on the role and pay. Read Employment Pass. Teaching staff and admin on payroll bring employer CPF duties, covered on CPF for employers. This guide does not quote teacher pay, because it has no verified source.
Which costs does this guide leave out?
No fee, deposit or insurance amount is quoted for registration or ECDA licensing, because the pages we could read give none. Rent, fit-out, curriculum, course approval and marketing are yours to price. Advertising by private schools is regulated under the Private Education Act, and the regulator publishes advertising guidelines, so read them before you print a brochure.
Which SSIC code fits?
Choose the code on Bizfile when you register. The pages read for this guide do not name an education code, so we list none. Read SSIC code for how to search and how to change it within 14 days.
What should you check before you sign a lease?
- Whether your course type needs registration at all.
- Whether the premises can be used for teaching or childcare. Ask the regulator.
- Whether the landlord accepts the company as tenant.
- Whether you can fund fee protection and the other governance duties from day one.
Where does a provider help?
A provider can register the company, give it an address and open the bank file. Registration with the skills regulator or ECDA, the curriculum and the premises remain with you. Send the quote form and we pass your request to suitable providers.
Sources
- SkillsFuture and workforce agency, guide for choosing a private education institution: https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/skills-career-resources/private-education-resources/guide-for-choosing-a-pei (registration rule; read through search summary, confirm on the page)
- ECDA, early childhood development centre licence: https://licensing.gobusiness.gov.sg/licence-directory/ecda/early-childhood-development-centre-licence (licensing basis; confirm fees on the page)
- MOE, private education: https://www.moe.gov.sg/private-education/register-school (registration overview; confirm on the page)
- ACRA, registering a company: https://www.acra.gov.sg (name and registration fees)
