HomeCoursesManufacturing and process operationsCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Signs and Graphics
You learn to make signs from the first design on screen through to the finished sign on a shopfront or building.
- How long it takes
- 2 to 3 years
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $2,990
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $13,190
- How you can study
- On campus
- Main job
- Sign Writer
- $68,600 (estimate) median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 5 providers
- 5 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Signs and Graphics asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in design and visual communication
- an eye for colour and detail
- comfort working with tools and materials
- a careful approach to safety on site
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
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
Sign Installer
Sign installers mount and secure signs on buildings, shopfronts and vehicles, working at height so each sign ends up level, safe and readable from the street.
What else you need
Completed as an apprenticeship, so you must be employed first. It covers sign erection along with sign making and writing. Check the provider and your employer's training arrangements.
Median pay$66,600 (estimate)
Sign Writer
Sign writers design, make and install the signs that identify a business, from vinyl lettering on a shopfront to hand-painted work on a vehicle.
What else you need
This is a trade apprenticeship, so you need an employer and training contract. Check the provider delivers the current qualification.
Median pay$68,600 (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.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $2,990
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$13,190
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,990 | $240 | $13,190 | 2 to 3 years |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,990
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $13,190
- How long
- 2 to 3 years
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 5 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.
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
4 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 2 to 3 years
- Fee
- From $2,990 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 Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
South Bank, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
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
- Course page for North Metropolitan TAFE (opens in a new tab)
North Metropolitan TAFE
Midland, WA
4.1from 903 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are helpful and knowledgeable
- Courses provide strong practical skills
What you’ll learn
16 units: 7 that everyone takes and 9 you choose.
- Designing signs for production
- Cutting and fitting vinyl signs
- Colour management for print
- Printing digital signs
- LED and illuminated signs
- Fabricating signs and site safety
See all 7 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?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It is for people who want to work as sign manufacturers, designing and producing signs and graphics for a range of purposes. You learn traditional and contemporary techniques, including digital printing, vinyl signs, colour management, fabrication and LED installation. The role is sign writer.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.