HomeCoursesHorticultureCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Floristry
This qualification teaches you to design and build the arrangements a florist sells, from hand tied bunches and wired pieces to designs worked into a base such as foam or a container.
- How long it takes
- 6 to 18 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $2,130
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $16,641
- How you can study
- On campus
- Main job
- Florist
- $49,300 (estimate) median pay
- Taught by
- 9 providers
- 6 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Floristry asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in flowers and plants
- a creative eye for colour and shape
- good hand skills for arranging and wiring
- customer service skills for taking briefs and selling
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
Florist
Florists prepare and arrange fresh flowers and foliage into bouquets, vase arrangements and displays for everyday sales, weddings, funerals and gifts.
What else you need
Complete the qualification and its stated entry and workplace requirements; check employer-specific requirements.
Median pay$49,300 (estimate)
If you study further
Diploma of Arboriculture
Leads to work as an, median pay $72,800 (estimate).
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 $2,130
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$9,265 to $16,641
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 | $10,870 | 6 to 18 months |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $5,720 | $1,144 | $15,624 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $2,914 | $583 | $16,641 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $4,225 | $2,545 | $9,265 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,130
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $10,870
- How long
- 6 to 18 months
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,720
- Concession
- $1,144
- Full fee
- $15,624
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,914
- Concession
- $583
- Full fee
- $16,641
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $4,225
- Concession
- $2,545
- Full fee
- $9,265
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 9 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
11 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 6 to 18 months
- 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
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
South Bank, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- Fee
- From $4,225 subsidised
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
- Website for Box Hill Institute (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
4 campuses, VIC
3.0from 372 Google reviews
What students like
- Teachers are friendly and supportive
- Course content is practical and relevant
What to weigh up
- Admin replies can be slow
- Course organisation can be inconsistent
- Course page for The Gordon (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
Geelong City Campus, VIC
4.0from 168 Google reviews
- Fee
- From $2,914 subsidised
What students like
- Teaching staff are supportive and highly professional
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Courses can feel loosely organised
- Course page for Holmesglen Institute (opens in a new tab)
Holmesglen Institute
Glen Waverley, VIC
3.6from 650 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- Fee
- From $5,720 subsidised
What students like
- Staff are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Placement information can be unclear
- Some teachers are less engaged
- Website for Canberra Institute of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Canberra Institute of Technology
6 campuses, ACT
4.4from 291 Google reviews
What students like
- Service is warm, attentive and professional
What you’ll learn
21 units: 16 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.
- Hand tied bouquets
- Wired and foam arrangements
- Flower and plant identification
- Conditioning and storing stock
- Reading a design brief
- Quoting and selling
See all 16 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
Loading the details for CUVACD201A…
Loading the details for CUVACD201A…
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?
This qualification is for people starting out in floristry, whether in a retail shop, studio or online business. It prepares you to design, build and sell arrangements, working with some independence and under limited supervision. It leads to work as a florist.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. However, individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.