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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Solid Plastering

You learn to mix plaster, cement and render and put them onto walls and ceilings so the surface ends up flat, straight and finished the way the client wants it.

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Illustration of a person working as plasterer
How long it takes
3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Plasterer
$95,700 median pay, In demand
Taught by
10 providers
4 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in working with your hands
  • patience to get a smooth, even finish
  • an eye for straight lines and level surfaces
  • willingness to work safely and follow site rules

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

  • Plasterer

    Plasterers line and finish the inside walls and ceilings of a building, giving painters and other trades a smooth surface to work over.

    What else you need

    Trade entry is normally as an apprentice employed in the industry, so you need an employer and a training contract. Completion gives eligibility to apply for a tradesperson certificate or licence with your state regulator, but the award alone does not confer one. Check that the training provider is registered for this qualification. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$95,700

    In demand

  • Solid Plasterer

    Solid plasterers apply and finish render, plaster and cement coatings to walls, ceilings and other building surfaces, giving a structure its weather protection and its final look.

    What else you need

    Trade entry is normally as an apprentice employed in the industry, so you need an employer and a training contract. Completion gives eligibility to apply for a tradesperson certificate or licence with your state regulator, but the award alone does not confer one. Check that the training provider is registered for this qualification. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$75,400 (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.

Where you can study this course

There are 10 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

20 units: 15 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • Reading plans and specifications
  • Working safely on site
  • Preparing surfaces for plastering
  • Rendering straight and curved walls
  • Applying set coats and textures
  • Restoring existing plasterwork
See all 15 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CPCCCM2006…

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 prepares you for a trade in solid plastering, applying plaster, cement and other mixtures to walls for smooth or decorative interior finishes and render to exterior walls. You learn to mix and apply materials, work flat and straight, read plans, measure, set up low scaffolding and work safely on site.

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.

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.