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Certificate II · national qualification

Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start)

This is an entry level qualification for school leavers and career changers who want to work in the electrical trades, and it covers the safety and basic practical skills you need before starting an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Compare 25 providers
How long it takes
1 year
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,020
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $6,470
How you can study
Online or on campus
Taught by
25 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how electrical things work
  • a careful approach to safety in the workplace
  • good practical skills with tools and equipment
  • an ability to solve simple problems step by step

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs this course can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Electrical Trades Assistant

    Electrical trades assistants help licensed electricians on site, preparing materials, handling tools and keeping the work area safe so installations are finished on time.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

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.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $1,020

at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$5,940 to $6,470

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,020
    Concession
    $160
    Full fee
    $6,470
    How long
    1 year

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $1,240
    Concession
    $720
    Full fee
    $5,940

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 25 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

The main topics covered in the Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start).

  • Site safety and induction
  • Hand and power tools
  • Basic single path circuits
  • Selecting components and materials
  • Reporting on routine problems
  • Energy efficiency in homes
See all 8 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CPCWHS1001…

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?

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.