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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Production Horticulture

This qualification is for people working on the ground in commercial horticulture and floriculture, growing fruit, vegetables, nursery stock or cut flowers.

Compare 8 providers
How long it takes
1 to 2 years
typical for this level
What it costs
From $5,441
Subsidised at GOTAFE, full fee up to $11,951
How you can study
On the job
Taught by
8 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in growing plants and crops
  • a willingness to work outdoors in all weather
  • good communication skills for working in a team
  • an eye for detail when checking plants and equipment

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs this course can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Flower Grower

    Flower growers raise cut flowers and ornamental plants, timing each crop so the blooms are ready for the days buyers want them.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

  • Fruit Picker

    Fruit pickers harvest ripe fruit by hand and get it packed and off to markets, supermarkets and processors before it spoils.

    Median pay$49,900 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Nut Grower

    Nut growers manage orchards of almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts, and the crop they harvest goes on to snack packs, baking and export.

    Median pay$72,800 (estimate)

  • Orchardist

    Orchardists grow fruit trees and manage the harvest, from pruning and irrigation through to picking and selling the crop.

    Median pay$72,800 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Vegetable Grower

    Vegetable growers plant, tend and harvest crops such as carrots, lettuce and potatoes, supplying supermarkets, greengrocers and food processors.

    Median pay$72,800 (estimate)

  • Vineyard Worker

    Vineyard workers tend grapevines through the seasons, from winter pruning to the summer and autumn harvest.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Viticulturist

    Viticulturists grow and manage grapevines, making the day-to-day calls on pruning, irrigation, pests and harvest timing that decide how good the fruit is when it reaches the winery.

    Median pay$64,500 (estimate)

    In demand

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. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $5,441

at GOTAFE. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$11,951

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

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $5,441
    Concession
    $1,088
    Full fee
    $11,951

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 8 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: 3 that everyone takes and 12 you choose.

  • Farm biosecurity practices
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Quality assurance standards
  • Environmental compliance on farms
See all 3 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for AHCBIO303…

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 working on the ground in commercial horticulture and floriculture, growing fruit, vegetables, nursery stock or cut flowers. The work involves discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures. It leads to roles such as field worker, seeding operator, irrigation and machinery maintainer, leading hand and orchardist.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

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.