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Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Upholstery
This is the trade certificate for people who upholster furniture, from stripping a chair back to its frame to fitting the finished cover.
- How long it takes
- 3 years
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $2,172
- Subsidised at Holmesglen Institute, full fee up to $19,796
- How you can study
- On campus or on the job
- Main job
- Upholsterer
- $79,400 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 4 providers
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Upholstery asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in working with furniture and fabrics
- patience for careful measuring, cutting and fitting
- good hand skills and an eye for detail
- a willingness to work safely and as part of a team
Before you start
The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.
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
Upholsterer
Upholsterers build and repair the padded, covered surfaces of furniture and vehicle interiors, from sofa frames to car seats.
What else you need
This is the trade qualification for upholsterers and is usually done as an apprenticeship, which requires an employer and a training contract. Non-apprenticeship delivery may exist, so check with the provider. 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$79,400
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $2,172
at Holmesglen Institute. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$15,340 to $19,796
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,680 | $240 | $15,340 | 3 years |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $2,172 | $435 | $19,796 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $2,680
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $15,340
- How long
- 3 years
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,172
- Concession
- $435
- Full fee
- $19,796
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 4 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
2 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 3 years
- Fee
- From $2,680 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
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
Acacia Ridge, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
- Course page for Holmesglen Institute (opens in a new tab)
Holmesglen Institute
Chadstone, VIC
3.6from 650 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus or on the job
- Fee
- From $2,172 subsidised
What students like
- Staff are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Placement information can be unclear
- Some teachers are less engaged
- Course page for North Metropolitan TAFE (opens in a new tab)
North Metropolitan TAFE
Balga, WA
4.1from 903 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are helpful and knowledgeable
- Courses provide strong practical skills
What you’ll learn
25 units: 12 that everyone takes and 13 you choose.
- Measuring and cutting fabric
- Sewing upholstery covers
- Fitting fabric and leather
- Dismantling and reassembling furniture
- Estimating and costing jobs
- Using upholstery tools
See all 12 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 prepares you for trade work in upholstery, including stripping furniture to the frame, cutting and sewing fabric and leather, fitting covers, and rebuilding springs, padding and frames. The role involves discretion, judgement and problem solving, with responsibility for your own outputs and possibly limited responsibility for others. It leads to work as an upholsterer.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements, but individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.