- How long it takes
- 6 to 12 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,320
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $7,957
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Main job
- Administration Officer
- $58,200 (estimate) median pay
- Taught by
- 61 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Business asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how offices and businesses run
- a willingness to communicate clearly with colleagues and customers
- a careful approach to routine tasks and deadlines
- comfort with using computers for everyday work
Before you start
The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.
Certificate III or Diploma?
The Diploma of Business is the higher level. This Certificate III reflects roles carrying out routine procedural, clerical, administrative or operational tasks using some discretion, judgment and relevant theoretical knowledge.
See the courseWhere 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
Administration Officer
Administration officers keep an office running day to day, handling the correspondence, records and requests that let managers and teams get on with their own work.
What else you need
An ordinary business-administration training route; job-specific systems and employer requirements vary.
Median pay$58,200 (estimate)
If you study further
Diploma of Business
A business degree in human resource management
Leads to work as a, median pay $102,400.
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 $1,320
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$4,840 to $7,957
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,320 | $240 | $7,400 | 6 to 12 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $2,279 | $456 | $6,444 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $3,579 | $716 | $7,957 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $2,621 | $523 | $6,850 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $2,760 | $2,070 | $4,840 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,320
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $7,400
- How long
- 6 to 12 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,279
- Concession
- $456
- Full fee
- $6,444
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $3,579
- Concession
- $716
- Full fee
- $7,957
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,621
- Concession
- $523
- Full fee
- $6,850
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $2,760
- Concession
- $2,070
- Full fee
- $4,840
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 61 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.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
65 campuses, NSW, SA, VIC
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 6 to 12 months
- Fee
- From $1,320 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Stanley College (opens in a new tab)
Stanley College
4 campuses, SA, WA
4.3from 882 Google reviews
What students like
- Finance staff are patient and explain fees clearly
- Student services staff are friendly and helpful
- Trainers explain clearly and give practical examples
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Website for Programmed Skilled Workforce (opens in a new tab)
Programmed Skilled Workforce
35 campuses
3.2from 552 Google reviews
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
What you’ll learn
13 units: 6 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.
- Workplace communication
- Team problem solving
- Workplace health and safety
- Inclusive work practices
- Sustainable work habits
- Personal wellbeing at work
See all 6 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.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- 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 office and administrative work, with routine procedural, clerical, administrative or operational tasks. You may use some discretion, judgment and relevant theoretical knowledge, and provide technical advice and support to a team.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Diploma of Business?
The Diploma of Business is the higher level. This Certificate III reflects roles carrying out routine procedural, clerical, administrative or operational tasks using some discretion, judgment and relevant theoretical knowledge.