HomeCoursesFilm and screen productionCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Screen and Media
This is a starting qualification for people who want to work behind the scenes in screen, media and radio, in roles like editing assistant, camera assistant, podcast producer or assistant sound technician.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 12 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,320
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $8,350
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Taught by
- 16 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Screen and Media asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how screen and media productions come together
- a willingness to work as part of a team under direction
- good communication skills for staying clear with others on set
- a careful attitude to safety around sets, studios and equipment
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
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.
Camera Operator
Camera operators capture the footage that becomes a television program, film, advertisement or online video, working to the direction of a director or cinematographer.
Median pay$95,900
Photography Assistant
Photography assistants support photographers on shoots, preparing cameras, lighting and files so a session runs smoothly and the images come back to brief.
Median pay$52,000 (estimate)
Podcast Producer
Podcast producers plan, record, edit and publish audio series, turning a raw conversation or script into an episode people want to keep listening to.
Median pay$65,000 (estimate)
Production Assistant
Production assistants keep film, television and advertising shoots on schedule by handling the call sheets, paperwork and logistics that let cast and crew get on with filming.
Median pay$62,400 (estimate)
If you study further
Diploma of Screen and Media
Leads to work as a, median pay $102,700.
A bachelor degree in screen production
Leads to work as a, median pay $101,400 (estimate).
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 $1,320
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$5,305 to $8,350
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,320 | $240 | $8,350 | 4 to 12 months |
| The Gordon | VIC | $1,679 | $335 | $5,989 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $3,070 | $2,325 | $5,305 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,320
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $8,350
- How long
- 4 to 12 months
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $1,679
- Concession
- $335
- Full fee
- $5,989
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $3,070
- Concession
- $2,325
- Full fee
- $5,305
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 16 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
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
16 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 4 to 12 months
- Fee
- From $1,320 subsidised
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 Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
4 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $3,070 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 Box Hill Institute (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
4 campuses, VIC
3.0from 372 Google reviews
What students like
- Teachers are friendly and supportive
- Course content is practical and relevant
What to weigh up
- Admin replies can be slow
- Course organisation can be inconsistent
- Course page for The Gordon (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
Geelong City Campus, VIC
4.0from 168 Google reviews
- Fee
- From $1,679 subsidised
What students like
- Teaching staff are supportive and highly professional
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Courses can feel loosely organised
What you’ll learn
11 units: 3 that everyone takes and 8 you choose.
- Working in creative teams
- Problem solving on set
- Work health and safety
- How the screen industry works
See all 3 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?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?