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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Joinery

Joinery is the trade behind the timber fittings in a building, and this qualification trains you to make and install them.

Compare 11 providers
Illustration of a person working as joiner
How long it takes
3 to 4 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $3,496
Subsidised at The Gordon, full fee up to $19,431
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Joiner
$72,800 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
11 providers
4 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in working with timber
  • good hand skills and a steady eye for detail
  • a willingness to work safely at heights
  • an interest in reading plans and measuring accurately

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

  • Joiner

    Joiners make and fit the timber pieces a building needs, from doors and windows to staircases, cabinets and shop fronts.

    What else you need

    Trade entry is normally as an apprentice employed in the industry, so you need an employer and a training contract. Joinery is a licensed occupation in some states, and the award alone does not confer a licence. Check that the training provider is registered for this qualification. 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$72,800 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Shopfitter

    Shopfitters build and install the interior fitouts that turn an empty retail or hospitality space into a working shop.

    A step towards this job. What else you need

    Median pay$72,800 (estimate)

    In demand

If you study further

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 $3,496

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

Paying the full fee

$19,431

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

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,496
    Concession
    $699
    Full fee
    $19,431

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 11 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

29 units: 18 that everyone takes and 11 you choose.

  • Reading plans and specifications
  • Using carpentry tools safely
  • Installing windows and doors
  • Building straight flight stairs
  • Making and assembling joinery components
  • Setting up and running CNC machines
See all 18 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CPCCCA2002…

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 for the joinery trade, making and installing timber fittings such as windows, doors and stairs for residential and commercial jobs. You learn in a workshop and on site using hand and power tools and static machines. It suits an apprenticeship pathway, which is how most people enter the trade.

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 before enrolling.

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.