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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

This qualification trains you to do electrical work in buildings: running wiring, fitting switchgear and appliances, and setting up the circuits that supply lighting and power.

Compare 32 providers
Illustration of a person working as electrician
How long it takes
4 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $3,300
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $25,090
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Electrician
$113,900 median pay, In demand
Taught by
32 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in how electrical systems work
  • a careful attitude to safety and risk
  • good hand skills for wiring and fitting
  • problem solving skills for fault finding

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

  • Electrician

    Electricians install, maintain and repair the wiring, switchboards and equipment that power homes, businesses and worksites.

    What else you need

    Complete the apprenticeship or recognised TRA pathway required by the licensing authority, then obtain the electrical licence or permit. The award alone is not permission to perform regulated electrical work. 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$113,900

    In demand

  • Solar Installer

    Solar installers fit and wire the panels, inverters and batteries that let a home or business generate its own electricity.

    What else you need

    Installing grid-connected solar needs an unrestricted electrical licence and installer accreditation with Solar Accreditation Australia. The certificate is normally done as an apprenticeship and does not itself confer a licence. 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$65,000 (estimate)

    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. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $3,300

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

Paying the full fee

$20,298 to $25,090

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $3,300
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $25,090
    How long
    4 years

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,843
    Concession
    $1,369
    Full fee
    $22,368

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Full fee
    $20,298

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,218
    Concession
    $844
    Full fee
    $21,101

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 32 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

The main topics covered in the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician.

  • Reading electrical drawings and standards
  • Wiring and cable selection
  • Switchboard and circuit protection
  • Testing and fault finding
  • Low voltage lighting and power circuits
  • Work health and safety
See all 27 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.

  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 do electrical work in buildings: running wiring, fitting switchgear and appliances, and setting up circuits for lighting and power. You learn to read drawings, standards and codes, choose cables, then isolate, test and fault find circuits. It leads to roles like electrician, automation technician, cable jointer, solar installer and wind turbine technician.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. 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. The skills and knowledge in this qualification require a licence or permit to practise where work is carried out on electrical installations designed to operate at voltages greater than 50 volt (V) alternating current (a.c.) or 120 V direct current (d.c.). Without a licence or permit, a relevant contract of training through an Australian Apprenticeship may be required.

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.