HomeCoursesEngineeringCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
This is the trade qualification behind a metal fabrication apprenticeship.
- How long it takes
- About 0.5 to 4 years
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $6,283
- Subsidised at Chisholm Institute, full fee up to $22,248
- How you can study
- On campus
- Main job
- Metal Fabricator
- $87,800 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 32 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in working with metal and machinery
- a careful approach to measuring and marking out
- good hand skills and spatial awareness
- a willingness to learn in a workshop alongside study
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
Metal Fabricator
Metal fabricators cut, shape and weld metal stock into finished parts and structures, working from engineering drawings to a set tolerance.
What else you need
Completed as an Australian Apprenticeship under a training contract, so you need an employer. Check the provider offers the welding or sheet metal pathway you want, as programmes differ. 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$87,800
In demand
Sheet Metal Worker
Sheet metal workers cut, shape and join light gauge metal into ducting, cladding and fabricated parts, which keeps buildings ventilated and industrial plant running.
What else you need
Completed as an Australian Apprenticeship under a training contract, so you need an employer. Sheet metal is a specialisation within the fabrication trade, so check the provider offers it. 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$71,800 (estimate)
In demand
Welder
Welders fuse metal parts with heat, electricity or pressure, following drawings to build and repair structures, pipework and machinery.
What else you need
Completed as an Australian Apprenticeship under a training contract, so you need an employer. Check the provider offers the welding or sheet metal pathway you want, as programmes differ. 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$87,800
In demand
Pressure Welder
Pressure welders join and repair the pipework, vessels and boilers built to hold steam, gas or chemicals under pressure, and their welds have to pass testing before the plant can run.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$96,200 (estimate)
In demand
If you study further
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Leads to work as a, median pay $88,400 (estimate).
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
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 $6,283
at Chisholm Institute. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$20,196 to $22,248
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $6,283 | $1,257 | $22,248 |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $20,196 |
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $6,283
- Concession
- $1,257
- Full fee
- $22,248
GOTAFEVIC
- Full fee
- $20,196
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.
- 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
24 campuses, NSW, SA
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- About 0.5 to 4 years
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 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 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
16 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
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
The main topics covered in the Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade.
- Reading technical drawings
- Measuring and marking out
- Using hand and power tools
- Welding and metal fabrication
- Working safely in a workshop
- Planning and organising work
See all 12 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?