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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Agriculture

This qualification prepares you for general farm work, whether that is livestock, cropping, or both on a mixed farm.

Compare 23 providers
Illustration of a person working as agricultural Machinery Operator
How long it takes
12 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,190
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $14,210
How you can study
Online, on campus or on the job
Main job
Agricultural Machinery Operator
$75,400 (estimate) median pay
Taught by
23 providers
7 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in working outdoors with animals and crops
  • a careful approach to safety around machinery and chemicals
  • willingness to adapt when plans change during the day
  • good communication skills for working with a team

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Certificate III or Certificate IV?

The Certificate IV in Agriculture is a higher level. The Certificate III prepares you for general farm work with broad supervision, while the Certificate IV is a step up.

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

  • Agricultural Machinery Operator

    Agricultural machinery operators drive and maintain the tractors, harvesters and sprayers that keep sowing, spraying and harvest work on schedule.

    What else you need

    A general agriculture qualification, not machinery-specific. Any high risk work licence is assessed and issued separately; the award alone confers no licence.

    Median pay$75,400 (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 $2,190

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

Paying the full fee

$11,740 to $14,210

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,190
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $11,740
    How long
    12 to 18 months

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,920
    Concession
    $784
    Full fee
    $14,210

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 23 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

16 units: 2 that everyone takes and 14 you choose.

  • Workplace safety procedures
  • Hazard and risk control
  • Sustainable work practices
  • Reducing environmental impact
  • Working under broad supervision
  • Selecting and operating equipment
See all 2 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for AHCWHS302…

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 general farm work, such as livestock, cropping or both on a mixed farm. You learn to work safely around machinery, animals and chemicals, and handle day to day tasks with only broad supervision. Roles can include farm or station hand, farm or station worker, and livestock transport driver.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

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

How is it different from Certificate IV in Agriculture?

The Certificate IV in Agriculture is a higher level. The Certificate III prepares you for general farm work with broad supervision, while the Certificate IV is a step up.

How is it different from Certificate II in Agriculture?

The Certificate III in Agriculture is a higher level than the Certificate II. It prepares you for general farm work with broad supervision, involving discretion and judgement in selecting equipment and coordinating resources.

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.