HomeCoursesPathology and laboratory medicineCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
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.
- How long it takes
- 1 to 2 years
- typical for this level
- What it costs
- From $1,415
- Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $5,460
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Includes a work placement
- Main job
- Pathology Collector
- $80,000 median pay
- Taught by
- 15 providers
- 5 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Pathology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
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
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
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
Pathology Collector
Pathology collectors take blood and other samples from patients so laboratories can run the tests that diagnose and monitor illness.
What else you need
Select the Pathology Collection specialisation and complete its required workplace hours; the generic award also covers pathology assistance.
Median pay$80,000
If you study further
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $1,415
at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$5,460
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $1,415 | $560 | $5,460 |
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $1,415
- Concession
- $560
- Full fee
- $5,460
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 15 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
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 Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
5 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $1,415 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 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
- Website for EQUALS International (opens in a new tab)
EQUALS International
EQUALS, SA
4.2from 317 Google reviews
What students like
- Trainers are supportive and explain things clearly
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Placements are arranged on time
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
What you’ll learn
14 units: 8 that everyone takes and 6 you choose.
- Medical terminology
- Infection prevention and control
- Collecting and labelling specimens
- Preparing and dispatching samples
- First aid
- Communicating with patients
See all 8 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.
- 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?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
This qualification prepares you for work as a pathology collector or assistant, receiving, collecting and dispatching specimens and performing routine pathology procedures. You take responsibility for your own work under general supervision. It can lead to roles such as anaesthetic technician, cardiac technician, operating theatre technician, pathology collector or pharmacy technician.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.