HomeCoursesLaboratory scienceCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Laboratory Skills
This is the entry-level qualification for laboratory work, and it suits school leavers and career changers because there are no entry requirements.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 18 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,275
- Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $10,150
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Main job
- Laboratory Technician
- $93,300 median pay
- Taught by
- 17 providers
- 6 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in science and how things are tested
- a careful and methodical approach to tasks
- good attention to detail with numbers and records
- a willingness to follow set procedures closely
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Where this course can take you
The study that can follow this course.
Jobs you can do with it
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory technicians prepare and test biological, chemical or environmental samples, then record the results that scientists, clinicians and regulators rely on.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$93,300
If you study further
Diploma of Laboratory Technology
Leads to work as a, median pay $75,400 (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 $1,275
at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$5,750 to $10,150
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,680 | $240 | $10,150 | 4 to 18 months |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $1,275 | $715 | $5,750 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,680
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $10,150
- How long
- 4 to 18 months
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $1,275
- Concession
- $715
- Full fee
- $5,750
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 17 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
5 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 4 to 18 months
- Fee
- From $2,680 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 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
2 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $1,275 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 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
- Website for The Gordon (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
5 campuses, VIC
4.0from 168 Google reviews
What students like
- Teaching staff are supportive and highly professional
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Courses can feel loosely organised
- Website for Holmesglen Institute (opens in a new tab)
Holmesglen Institute
14 campuses, SA, VIC
3.6from 650 Google reviews
What students like
- Staff are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Placement information can be unclear
- Some teachers are less engaged
What you’ll learn
13 units: 1 that everyone takes and 12 you choose.
- Following lab procedures and standards
- Preparing and testing samples
- Operating lab equipment and instruments
- Recording data and spotting trends
- Solving routine lab problems
- Workplace communication
See all 1 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
Loading the details for BSBCMM211…
Loading the details for BSBCMM211…
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?