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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment Technology

This qualification trains you to service, diagnose and repair the machines people use to keep gardens, farms and parks in order: mowers, chainsaws, brushcutters, pumps, post borers and cordless power tools.

Compare 7 providers
Illustration of a person working as small Engine Mechanic
How long it takes
3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Small Engine Mechanic
$65,000 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
7 providers
6 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment Technology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how small engines work
  • a willingness to get your hands dirty
  • patience for tracking down a fault
  • care with fuel, sharp edges and exhaust

Before you start

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

Certificate III or a related qualification?

No related qualification at another level is given, so there is nothing to compare. This qualification is at Certificate III level.

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

  • Small Engine Mechanic

    Small engine mechanics diagnose, service and repair the petrol and diesel engines in mowers, chainsaws, generators, pumps and other outdoor power equipment.

    What else you need

    This is normally done as an apprenticeship or traineeship, so you need an employer first. Check the provider and your training contract. 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$65,000 (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 7 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

38 units: 17 that everyone takes and 21 you choose.

  • Small engine diagnosis and repair
  • Engine overhaul and rebuilding
  • Chainsaw and cutting systems
  • Mower and trimmer servicing
  • Pumps and post borers
  • Cordless tool repair
See all 17 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?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you for a broad range of tasks in the outdoor power equipment retail, service and repair industry, working on mowers, chainsaws, brushcutters, pumps and cordless tools. It suits someone who likes pulling things apart to see why they stopped. Roles it leads to include motor mechanic and small engine mechanic.

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 before enrolling.

How is it different from a related qualification?

No related qualification at another level is given, so there is nothing to compare. This qualification is at Certificate III level.

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.