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Certificate II · national qualification

Certificate II in Retail Services

This qualification is the starting point for working on the shop floor, whether that is a supermarket, a department store, a specialty retailer or a quick service restaurant.

Compare 9 providers
How long it takes
4 to 6 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $880
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $4,600
How you can study
Online, on campus or on the job
Taught by
9 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in helping customers face to face
  • good communication skills for working in a team
  • a willingness to learn on the job
  • a careful attitude to safety and security

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.

  • Bakery Assistant

    Bakery assistants prepare, bake and finish bread, cakes and pastries, then keep the shelves stocked and the counter moving.

    Median pay$71,800

  • Betting Clerk

    Betting clerks take and pay out wagers on racing and sport, keeping every transaction accurate under strict gambling rules.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Checkout Operator

    Checkout operators scan and total a customer's purchases and take payment at the till, and they are often the last store employee a shopper deals with before leaving.

    Median pay$56,000

  • Personal Shopper

    Personal shoppers choose clothes, gifts and other goods for clients who would rather pay for the time and judgement than spend a Saturday in fitting rooms.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

  • Product Demonstrator

    Product demonstrators show shoppers how a product works and help them decide whether to buy it.

    Median pay$52,000 (estimate)

  • Rental Sales Agent

    Rental sales agents rent out goods and equipment, matching what a customer needs to the stock available and managing the booking, payment and return.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Service Station Attendant

    Service station attendants serve customers, sell fuel and shop items and keep the forecourt clean and safe.

    Median pay$64,100

  • Shelf Stacker

    Shelf stackers keep the shelves full, unpacking deliveries and restocking products so customers can find what they came in for.

    Median pay$53,100

  • Street Vendor

    Street vendors sell food or goods from a stall, cart or stand in a public place, usually at a market, festival or busy shopping strip.

    Median pay$49,900 (estimate)

  • Ticket Seller

    Box office staff sell seats, passes and bookings for venues, transport and events, taking payment and getting people through the door.

    Median pay$49,400 (estimate)

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 $880

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

Paying the full fee

$4,600

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $880
    Concession
    $160
    Full fee
    $4,600
    How long
    4 to 6 months

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 9 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: 7 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • Serving customers
  • Point-of-sale operations
  • Advising on products
  • Working in a team
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Spotting security risks
See all 7 core units

Core units

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

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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 is for people starting on the shop floor in places like supermarkets, department stores, specialty retailers or quick service restaurants. You learn to serve customers, talk about products and organise your tasks, with largely routine work that is closely supervised at first. It can lead to roles such as frontline team member, customer service assistant and point-of-sale operator.

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.

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.