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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Sport Coaching

This qualification is for people who want to coach a sport up to an intermediate level, usually at a community club or sporting organisation, either as a paid coach or a volunteer.

Compare 7 providers
Illustration of a person working as sports Coach
How long it takes
1 year
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,450
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $6,330
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Sports Coach
$75,000 median pay, In demand
Taught by
7 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in helping people learn and enjoy sport
  • patience and clear communication skills
  • a focus on keeping participants safe
  • a willingness to keep improving your coaching

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

  • Basketball Coach

    Basketball coaches plan and lead training sessions and games, helping players build skills, fitness and teamwork.

    What else you need

    This qualifies you to coach for a sporting organisation up to intermediate level. Some sports also require coaching accreditation from their governing body, and Basketball Victoria requires coach education for coaches in its leagues. Some employers require a Working with Children Check or National Police Check.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Cricket Coach

    Cricket coaches build the batting, bowling and fielding skills of players, from junior pathway squads through to senior representative sides.

    What else you need

    This qualifies you to coach for a sporting organisation up to intermediate level. Some sports also require coaching accreditation from their governing body, and Cricket Australia coaching courses require a valid Working with Children Check. Some employers also require a National Police Check.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

  • Sports Coach

    Sports coaches plan and run the training that helps athletes and teams improve, then make the tactical calls that put that training to use on competition day.

    What else you need

    This award prepares you to coach at an intermediate level in community sport. Many clubs and sporting bodies also ask for their own coach accreditation, a first aid certificate and a working with children check. Check that your provider delivers SIS30521.

    Median pay$75,000

    In demand

  • Tennis Coach

    Tennis coaches teach players how to hit, move and compete, and most of the work happens on court, one lesson at a time.

    What else you need

    This qualifies you to coach up to intermediate level. Some sports also require coaching accreditation from their governing body, and some employers require a Working with Children Check or National Police Check.

    Median pay$52,000 (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 $1,450

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

Paying the full fee

$6,330

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,450
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $6,330
    How long
    1 year

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 7 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

10 units: 6 that everyone takes and 4 you choose.

  • Coaching a specific sport
  • Planning training sessions
  • Meeting participant needs
  • First aid and injury response
  • Health and safety at training
  • Improving your coaching practice
See all 6 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for BSBOPS403…

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?

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.