HomeCoursesHorticultureCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Horticulture
This qualification trains you to care for gardens, parks, turf and planted landscapes as a paid horticulturist, working under broad supervision but trusted to make your own calls on the job.
- How long it takes
- 6 to 24 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $2,190
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $17,899
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Main job
- Horticulturist
- $68,600 (estimate) median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 30 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Horticulture asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in plants and how they grow
- a willingness to work outdoors in all weather
- good hand skills for pruning and machinery
- a careful approach to safety and chemicals
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Certificate III or Certificate II?
The Certificate III in Horticulture is the higher level. It involves performing tasks under broad supervision with discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work.
See the courseWhere 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
Horticulturist
Horticulturists apply plant science to growing crops, nursery stock and garden plants, and to working out what has gone wrong when they don't thrive.
What else you need
This is one recognised entry point, and many employers also value further study or experience. The award alone does not confer any licence, such as a chemical user licence. Check the provider's course details.
Median pay$68,600 (estimate)
In demand
Nursery Hand
Nursery hands raise and care for plants in nurseries, growing the stock that garden centres, landscapers and revegetation projects buy.
What else you need
Employers may hire nursery hands without a qualification, so this is one route among several. Check the provider's course details.
Median pay$57,200 (estimate)
Nurseryperson
A nurseryperson propagates and grows the plants that garden centres, landscapers and home gardeners go on to sell and plant.
What else you need
This certificate is one recognised route into nursery work, and many employers also value experience. Check the provider's course details. 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$59,800 (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 $2,190
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$7,705 to $17,899
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,190 | $240 | $14,030 | 6 to 24 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $9,837 | $1,968 | $17,899 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $5,751 | $1,150 | $13,814 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $9,331 | $1,870 | $10,470 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $3,230 | $2,670 | $7,705 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,190
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $14,030
- How long
- 6 to 24 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $9,837
- Concession
- $1,968
- Full fee
- $17,899
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,751
- Concession
- $1,150
- Full fee
- $13,814
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $9,331
- Concession
- $1,870
- Full fee
- $10,470
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $3,230
- Concession
- $2,670
- Full fee
- $7,705
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 30 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
13 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 6 to 24 months
- Fee
- From $2,190 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
- 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 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
6 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- Fee
- From $3,230 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 Alffie (opens in a new tab)
Alffie
2 campuses, VIC
2.7from 84 Google reviews
What to weigh up
- Staff can be slow to reply
- Course materials can contain errors
- 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
What you’ll learn
17 units: 11 that everyone takes and 6 you choose.
- Identifying and selecting plants
- Safe chemical handling and storage
- Spraying weeds, pests and diseases
- Running irrigation systems
- Soil improvement for gardens and turf
- Specialist pruning of trees and shrubs
See all 11 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?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It suits people starting out in amenity horticulture. You will care for gardens, parks, turf and planted landscapes as a paid horticulturist, working under broad supervision but trusted to make your own calls.
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.
How is it different from Certificate II in Horticulture?
The Certificate III in Horticulture is the higher level. It involves performing tasks under broad supervision with discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work.