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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology

This qualification teaches you to paint and refinish vehicles, from stripping and preparing panels through to the final polish.

Compare 10 providers
Illustration of a person working as vehicle Spray Painter
How long it takes
2.5 to 3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $4,430
Subsidised at The Gordon, full fee up to $21,454
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Vehicle Spray Painter
$97,800 median pay, In demand
Taught by
10 providers
7 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in cars and how they are finished
  • patience for careful preparation and detailed work
  • an eye for colour and matching shades
  • a careful approach to safety and workshop habits

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

Certificate III or other qualifications?

There is no related qualification at another level to compare with.

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

  • Vehicle Spray Painter

    Vehicle spray painters prepare the panels, mix the colour and spray the coats that give a repaired or custom vehicle its finish.

    What else you need

    Employers usually take the person on as an apprentice or trainee, so check the training provider and state apprenticeship rules. In NSW a motor vehicle tradesperson certificate as a vehicle painter is needed for repair work, and other states have their own rules. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$97,800

    In demand

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $4,430

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

Paying the full fee

$19,703 to $21,454

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

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Full fee
    $19,703

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,430
    Concession
    $888
    Full fee
    $21,454

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 10 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

30 units: 18 that everyone takes and 12 you choose.

  • Surface preparation
  • Colour matching and paint codes
  • Spray equipment setup and use
  • Primers and top coats
  • Buffing and polishing
  • Repairing paint faults
See all 18 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for AURAEA002…

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 who want to paint and refinish vehicles, from stripping and preparing panels to the final polish. The training is largely hands-on in a workshop, covering spray and drying equipment, colour matching, and fixing paint faults. It leads to a role as a Vehicle Spray Painter.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

This qualification has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from other qualifications?

There is no related qualification at another level to compare with.

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.