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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Guiding

This qualification trains you to lead tours and look after groups of visitors, either at a single site or across a region.

Compare 6 providers
Illustration of a person working as tour Guide
How long it takes
6 to 12 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,130
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $8,810
Main job
Tour Guide
$74,500 median pay, In demand
Taught by
6 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in the places and stories you will share
  • confidence speaking in front of groups
  • good communication and customer service skills
  • a careful attitude to safety and looking after people

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Certificate III or Certificate IV?

The Certificate IV in Guiding is the higher level. This Certificate III trains you to lead tours and look after groups, either at a single site or across a region, often with a fair bit of independence on the day.

See the course

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

  • Tour Guide

    Tour guides lead visitors through a destination, attraction or heritage site, explaining what they're seeing while keeping the group safe and on schedule.

    What else you need

    Work within the guiding activities and locations covered by the course; check local access and employer requirements.

    Median pay$74,500

    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

$8,810

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,130
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $8,810
    How long
    6 to 12 months

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 6 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

13 units: 9 that everyone takes and 4 you choose.

  • Leading tour groups
  • Writing and presenting tour commentary
  • Local and regional knowledge
  • Customer service
  • First aid
  • Safety and risk management
See all 9 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 prepares you to lead tours and look after groups at a single site or across a region. You learn to research and present commentary, adjust to your group and handle customer service, with first aid and safety throughout.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose before you enrol.

How is it different from Certificate IV in Guiding?

The Certificate IV in Guiding is the higher level. This Certificate III trains you to lead tours and look after groups, either at a single site or across a region, often with a fair bit of independence on the day.

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.