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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services

This certificate is the usual way into backstage and technical work in live entertainment, the crews who set up staging, run lighting and sound, build sets and keep a show moving on the night.

Compare 4 providers
Illustration of a person working as audiovisual Technician
How long it takes
1 to 2 years
typical for this level
What it costs
From $7,260
Full fee at TAFE Queensland
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Audiovisual Technician
$75,400 (estimate) median pay
Taught by
4 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in live entertainment and what happens backstage
  • a willingness to pitch in as part of a crew
  • practical hands on skills with tools and equipment
  • good communication and a calm head under pressure

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Certificate III or Diploma?

The Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services is the higher level. This Certificate III is the usual way into backstage and technical work, building hands-on skills in areas such as audio, lighting, staging or scenic construction.

See the course

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

  • Audiovisual Technician

    Audiovisual technicians set up, operate and maintain the sound, video, lighting and projection equipment that keeps live events, broadcasts and meetings running.

    What else you need

    This is an entry-level live production qualification covering audio, lighting and vision systems. Check that the specific provider's course covers the audiovisual skills employers ask for.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

  • Lighting Technician

    Lighting technicians rig, focus and operate the lighting that shapes a stage, a set or a live event.

    What else you need

    Choose a provider stream that covers lighting. Electrical work on venue installations may need a separate licence that this award does not confer.

    Median pay$70,200 (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

Paying the full fee

$7,260

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

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Full fee
    $7,260

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 4 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

15 units: 4 that everyone takes and 11 you choose.

  • Organising your own work
  • Working in creative industries
  • Planning an arts career
  • Collaborative production projects
See all 4 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.

  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 is for people starting out in backstage and technical work in live entertainment, such as staging, lighting, sound, sets and show operations. You work with discretion and judgment within known routines, taking responsibility for your own outputs.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from the Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services?

The Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services is the higher level. This Certificate III is the usual way into backstage and technical work, building hands-on skills in areas such as audio, lighting, staging or scenic construction.

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.