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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining

This is the trade qualification behind the people who line the inside of buildings: fixing plasterboard to walls and ceilings, then taping, filling and sanding the joints so the surface is ready to paint.

Compare 16 providers
Illustration of a person working as plasterer
How long it takes
3 to 4 years
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Plasterer
$95,700 median pay, In demand
Taught by
16 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in building and construction work
  • good hand skills and a steady hand
  • an eye for straight lines and neat finishes
  • a willingness to work on site with a team

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. Completing the qualification lets you apply for licensing where your state requires it, but the award alone does not confer a licence. 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

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 16 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

29 units: 22 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.

  • Reading plans and setting out
  • Measuring and calculating materials
  • Fixing plasterboard to walls
  • Fixing ceiling sheets and cornices
  • Taping, filling and sanding joints
  • Working safely at heights
See all 22 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CPCCCA3014…

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 wall and ceiling lining, fixing plasterboard to walls and ceilings and finishing joints so surfaces are ready to paint. You work in residential and commercial construction, and may train through an apprenticeship.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. 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.