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Certificate II · national qualification

Certificate II in Aquaculture

This qualification prepares people for entry level work as aquaculture attendants, the staff who look after fish, shellfish and other aquatic stock on farms, in hatcheries and nurseries, at aquarium wholesalers and retailers, and in live holding facilities.

Compare 7 providers
Illustration of a person working as aquaculture Worker
How long it takes
6 to 12 months
typical for this level
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Aquaculture Worker
$65,000 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
7 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate II in Aquaculture asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in looking after fish and shellfish
  • a careful approach to cleaning and checking equipment
  • willingness to follow health, safety and biosecurity rules
  • good communication skills with supervisors and workmates

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Certificate II or Certificate III?

The Certificate III in Aquaculture is a higher level than this Certificate II. This qualification prepares you for entry level work as an aquaculture attendant, doing routine tasks under a supervisor.

See the course

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Aquaculture Worker

    Aquaculture workers breed, feed and harvest fish, shellfish and seaweed on farms in coastal and inland waters.

    What else you need

    Entry-level aquaculture duties under supervision; comply with workplace biosecurity and safety requirements.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

    In demand

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 7 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

12 units: 5 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.

  • Handling and feeding aquatic stock
  • Monitoring water and environmental conditions
  • Cleaning and checking equipment
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Biosecurity and food safety
  • Communicating at work
See all 5 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for SFIAQU202…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you for entry level work as an aquaculture attendant, caring for fish, shellfish and other aquatic stock on farms, in hatcheries and nurseries, at aquarium wholesalers and retailers, and in live holding facilities. You carry out routine tasks under the direction of a supervisor. It leads to a role as an Aquaculture Worker.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from Certificate III in Aquaculture?

The Certificate III in Aquaculture is a higher level than this Certificate II. This qualification prepares you for entry level work as an aquaculture attendant, doing routine tasks under a supervisor.

How is it different from Diploma of Aquaculture?

The Diploma of Aquaculture is a higher level than this Certificate II. This qualification prepares you for entry level work as an aquaculture attendant, doing routine tasks under a supervisor.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.