HomeCoursesHospitalityCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Hospitality
A certificate at this level prepares you to work on the floor of a restaurant, hotel, club or café with enough judgement to sort out most problems yourself and know when to check with a supervisor.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 6 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,450
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $8,180
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Taught by
- 39 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Hospitality asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in looking after customers
- a calm approach to sorting out problems
- good communication skills
- a willingness to keep the workplace safe and clean
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Certificate III or Certificate IV?
Certificate IV in Hospitality is a higher level than this Certificate III. This level prepares you to work on the floor of a restaurant, hotel, club or café with enough judgement to sort out most problems yourself and know when to check with a supervisor.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.
Jobs this course can help with
None of these jobs needs a set qualification.
Bar Useful
Bar usefuls keep a bar stocked, cleaned and supplied so bartenders can stay on the service side of the counter.
Median pay$49,900 (estimate)
Barista
Baristas make the espresso and milk drinks a cafe sells, working the machine and serving customers from the same counter.
Median pay$78,000
Bartender
Bartenders make and serve drinks behind the bar in pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels, keeping orders moving through the busiest part of a shift.
Median pay$78,000
Hotel Receptionist
Hotel receptionists look after guests from the moment they arrive, handling check-ins, bookings and whatever comes up during a stay.
Median pay$57,200 (estimate)
Waiter
Waiters take orders, carry food and drinks to tables and settle the bill, and they are the person a diner deals with most during a meal.
Median pay$70,000
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 $1,450
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$4,770 to $8,180
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,450 | $240 | $8,180 | 4 to 6 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $4,416 | $884 | $5,704 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $4,833 | |||
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $4,787 | $958 | $7,052 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $2,980 | $594 | $5,693 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $1,800 | $1,425 | $4,770 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,450
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $8,180
- How long
- 4 to 6 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,416
- Concession
- $884
- Full fee
- $5,704
GOTAFEVIC
- Full fee
- $4,833
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,787
- Concession
- $958
- Full fee
- $7,052
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,980
- Concession
- $594
- Full fee
- $5,693
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $1,800
- Concession
- $1,425
- Full fee
- $4,770
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 39 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
9 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 4 to 6 months
- Fee
- From $1,450 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 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 Stanley College (opens in a new tab)
Stanley College
4 campuses, SA, WA
4.3from 882 Google reviews
What students like
- Finance staff are patient and explain fees clearly
- Student services staff are friendly and helpful
- Trainers explain clearly and give practical examples
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- 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
13 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $1,800 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
What you’ll learn
15 units: 6 that everyone takes and 9 you choose.
- Customer service and complaints
- Safe and hygienic work
- Hospitality industry knowledge
- Working with cultural differences
- Coaching new staff
- Teamwork on the floor
See all 6 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 prepares you to work on the floor of a restaurant, hotel, club or café, serving customers and handling most problems yourself. You'll work with some independence and under supervision.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements, but individual providers can set their own conditions. Check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Certificate IV in Hospitality?
Certificate IV in Hospitality is a higher level than this Certificate III. This level prepares you to work on the floor of a restaurant, hotel, club or café with enough judgement to sort out most problems yourself and know when to check with a supervisor.
How is it different from Certificate II in Hospitality?
Certificate II in Hospitality is a lower level than this Certificate III. This level prepares you to work on the floor of a restaurant, hotel, club or café with enough judgement to sort out most problems yourself and know when to check with a supervisor.