HomeCoursesPathology and laboratory medicineCertificate III in Pathology
Certificate III in Pathology
Pathology assistants and collectors sit behind almost every diagnosis, taking blood and other samples from patients and getting them to the lab in a state that still gives a reliable result.
- Study mode: Online and on campus
- Course code: HLT37525
Where you can study this course
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
- Campuses
- 13 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.
- Campuses
- 40 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
- Campuses
- 5 campuses
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- On campus with some online
- Full fee
- $5,460
- Eligible students: subsidised from $1,415, concession $560
What students say
Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.
- Campuses
- 26 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.
- Campuses
- 5 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students rate the trainers and teaching highly, along with the student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on student support and course content.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Holmesglen Institute
- Campuses
- 14 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students have mixed views on the trainers and teaching, and many also mention problems with communication and with organisation and admin.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
EQUALS International
- Campuses
- EQUALS
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Most students rate the trainers and teaching highly, and many value the student support, though some found the organisation and admin frustrating. A number of students also had mixed experiences with student support.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check the ones you are considering.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- a calm manner with people who are nervous
- an interest in how the body and tests work
- careful attention to detail when labelling samples
- good communication skills with patients and staff
What will you learn?
This qualification teaches the practical side of that work: how to greet and reassure someone who is nervous about a needle, collect and label specimens correctly, and prepare and dispatch them without breaking the chain that keeps results trustworthy. You also cover infection control, first aid, medical terminology and the safety rules that apply in a health setting. A supervised work placement is part of the course, so you handle real samples and deal with real patients before you finish.
- Medical terminology
- Infection prevention and control
- Collecting and labelling specimens
- Preparing and dispatching samples
- First aid
- Communicating with patients
Units of competency (8 core, 6 elective)
The qualification is made up of 14 units. Everyone completes the 8 core units below, and the remaining 6 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Pathology Collector
Pathology Collector
Pathology collectors collect blood and other samples from patients so laboratories can run the tests doctors rely on for diagnosis.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,539
- Full-time share
- 43%
- Employment size
- 12,000 workers
- Average age
- 44 years
- Average full-time hours
- 42 hours
- Gender share
- 90% female
- Future growth
- +17.4%
- Job market
- Not in shortage
Select the Pathology Collection specialisation and complete its required workplace hours; the generic award also covers pathology assistance.
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).