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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Carpentry

This is the trade qualification you work through as an apprentice carpenter, covering both residential and commercial building sites.

Compare 41 providers
Illustration of a person working as carpenter
How long it takes
3 to 4 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,990
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $22,504
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Carpenter
$91,500 median pay, In demand
Taught by
41 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in building and construction work
  • a careful approach to safety on site
  • good hand skills and spatial awareness
  • an ability to work well in a team

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

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

  • Carpenter

    Carpenters build the frame that holds a building up, then fit the doors, floors, stairs and other timberwork inside it.

    What else you need

    Complete the trade training and required apprenticeship/workplace arrangements, construction induction, and applicable state or territory licensing requirements. 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$91,500

    In demand

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.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $2,990

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

Paying the full fee

$20,080 to $22,504

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,990
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $20,080
    How long
    3 to 4 years

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $5,728
    Concession
    $1,146
    Full fee
    $22,504

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Full fee
    $21,775

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $8,785
    Concession
    $1,757
    Full fee
    $21,824

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,910
    Concession
    $782
    Full fee
    $21,726

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 41 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

34 units: 27 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.

  • Reading building plans
  • Setting out a site
  • Building wall and roof frames
  • Installing windows and doors
  • Formwork and concreting
  • Working safely at heights
See all 27 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CPCCCA2002…

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 working as apprentice carpenters on residential and commercial building sites. You learn to read plans, set out a site, build frames, roofs and eaves, then finish with windows, doors, cladding and lining. The roles it leads to include Carpenter (Commercial, Formwork or Residential), Builders Labourer, Joiner and Shed Builder.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

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

Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?

Yes. You need general construction induction training before starting on site, and achieving CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry meets that requirement. Licensing requirements for working as a carpenter differ between states and territories, so consult the relevant state and territory regulatory authority to confirm them.

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.