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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology

This qualification prepares you to service and repair heavy commercial vehicles, the trucks, buses and similar machines that earn their keep on the road.

Compare 23 providers
Illustration of a person working as diesel Mechanic
How long it takes
2 to 4 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,410
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $24,098
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Diesel Mechanic
$80,600 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
23 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how heavy vehicles work
  • a patient approach to tracing faults
  • good hand skills and attention to detail
  • a willingness to follow safe work practices

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

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

  • Diesel Mechanic

    Diesel mechanics service and repair the engines and heavy systems in trucks, buses, mining equipment and farm machinery, keeping fleets working.

    What else you need

    Employers usually take the person on as an apprentice or trainee, so check the training provider and state apprenticeship rules. The award alone does not confer a licence, and some states require a motor vehicle tradesperson certificate. 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$80,600 (estimate)

    In demand

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 $2,410

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

Paying the full fee

$22,690 to $24,098

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,410
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $22,690
    How long
    2 to 4 years

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $5,653
    Concession
    $1,131
    Full fee
    $24,098

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Full fee
    $23,303

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,976
    Concession
    $795
    Full fee
    $23,150

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 23 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

36 units: 22 that everyone takes and 14 you choose.

  • Diesel engine repair
  • Air braking systems
  • Steering and suspension
  • Auto electrical fault finding
  • Hydraulics and fuel injection
  • Routine servicing and diagnostics
See all 22 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for AURAEA002…

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 service and repair heavy commercial vehicles like trucks and buses, learning diesel engines, air brakes, steering, suspension and electrical systems. You'll work in a workshop alongside experienced technicians. It suits people who enjoy mechanical problem solving and don't mind getting their hands dirty.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

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.