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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Surface Preparation and Coating Application

This trade-level course trains you to prepare metal surfaces and apply the protective coatings that stop corrosion on ships, bridges, pipelines and industrial plant.

Compare 5 providers
How long it takes
3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
Taught by
5 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Surface Preparation and Coating Application asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in working with metal surfaces and protective coatings
  • a careful attitude to safety in blast yards and confined spaces
  • good measurement and quality checking skills
  • the ability to notice when a coating approach is not working

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

The study that can follow this course.

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.

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.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Certificate III in Surface Preparation and Coating Application.

  • Taking engineering measurements
  • Trade calculations
  • Planning routine and complete tasks
  • Quality systems and checks
  • Working safely on site
  • Environmentally sustainable work practices
See all 11 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for MEM12023A…

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 to work under routine supervision in surface preparation and protective coating application. You will learn to prepare metal surfaces, apply protective coatings, and notice when the specified approach is not working and take action.

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.