Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
This is the trade qualification for cooks, and it covers the range of skills a commercial kitchen expects you to have.
- How long it takes
- 0 months to 2 years
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $2,130
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $20,784
- How you can study
- On campus or on the job
- Main job
- Cook
- $74,500 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 37 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in cooking and how food is prepared
- a willingness to follow hygiene and safety procedures
- good communication skills for working in a team
- an eye for detail when preparing and presenting dishes
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
Cook
Cooks turn raw ingredients into the dishes a kitchen sends out, working to recipes, food safety rules and the pace of service.
What else you need
Complete the qualification and its stated entry and workplace requirements; check employer-specific requirements.
Median pay$74,500
In demand
Chef
Chefs plan the menu, cost each dish and run the kitchen service that turns ingredients into the food a restaurant, hotel or catering business serves.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$74,000
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 $2,130
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$16,060 to $20,784
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,130 | $240 | $16,060 | 0 months to 2 years |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $4,728 | $946 | $18,575 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $5,073 | $1,015 | $20,784 | |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $5,905 | $672 | $16,069 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $17,925 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,130
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $16,060
- How long
- 0 months to 2 years
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,728
- Concession
- $946
- Full fee
- $18,575
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,073
- Concession
- $1,015
- Full fee
- $20,784
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,905
- Concession
- $672
- Full fee
- $16,069
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Full fee
- $17,925
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 37 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
53 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 0 months to 2 years
- Fee
- From $2,130 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 TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
15 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
- Website for TAFE SA (opens in a new tab)
TAFE SA
26 campuses, SA
4.4from 1,339 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are nice and helpful
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course information can be unclear
What you’ll learn
25 units: 20 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.
- Food safety and hygiene
- Knife and equipment skills
- Stocks, sauces and soups
- Cooking meat, poultry and seafood
- Breads, pastries and desserts
- Recipe planning and costing
See all 20 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 work as a cook in restaurants, hotels, clubs, pubs, cafes and coffee shops. You use discretion and judgement, working with some independence and under limited supervision. Roles it leads to include catering manager, chef, cook, fast food cook, kitchen hand and sous chef.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Providers can set their own conditions, so check with the one you choose.