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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Marine Mechanical Technology

Marine mechanical technology is about keeping boats running, from outboard and inboard engines through to the wiring, instruments and controls on board.

Compare 5 providers
Illustration of a person working as marine Mechanic
How long it takes
3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Marine Mechanic
$75,400 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
5 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in boats and how engines work
  • a careful approach to safety around fuel and batteries
  • good hand skills for repair and maintenance work
  • a willingness to learn by doing in a workshop

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

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

  • Marine Mechanic

    Marine mechanics service and repair the engines, drives and electrical systems on boats and other vessels, keeping commercial fleets and recreational owners on the water.

    What else you need

    Normally completed as an apprenticeship, so you need an employer in the marine industry before you enrol. Check that the provider and your training contract are approved in your state. 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$75,400 (estimate)

    In demand

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.

Where you can study this course

There are 5 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

30 units: 11 that everyone takes and 19 you choose.

  • Marine engine installation
  • Marine electrical systems
  • Fault finding and diagnosis
  • Battery and charging repairs
  • Engine science basics
  • Workplace safety and tools
See all 11 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for AURAEA002…

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?

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.