HomeCoursesAccountingCertificate IV
Certificate IV · national qualification
Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
This qualification prepares you to keep the books for a business, either as an employee in an accounts team or as a contract bookkeeper working for several clients.
- How long it takes
- 6 to 18 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,980
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $9,576
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Main job
- Accounts Officer
- $75,000 median pay
- Taught by
- 33 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in numbers and financial records
- comfort with using computerised accounting systems and spreadsheets
- attention to detail when checking transactions and records
- an honest and careful approach to handling client information
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
Accounts Officer
Accounts officers process the invoices, payments and receipts that keep money moving in and out of an organisation.
What else you need
Accounts clerk and accounts payable roles are common outcomes of this award. Employers set their own requirements and many hire on experience, so check the provider and the job ad.
Median pay$75,000
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers record the day-to-day financial transactions of a business and keep the ledgers behind its accounts accurate and up to date.
What else you need
Bookkeeping is not licensed, but anyone charging a fee to prepare BAS statements must be a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioners Board, which has its own qualification and experience rules. The award alone does not confer registration; check that the provider's programme includes the BAS agent units.
Median pay$72,800
Payroll Officer
Payroll officers run the pay cycle, applying award, tax and superannuation rules so that everyone is paid correctly and on time.
What else you need
Payroll officer is listed among graduate roles for this award. Employers set their own requirements, so check the provider and job ads.
Median pay$83,500
If you study further
Diploma of Accounting
A bachelor degree in accounting
Leads to work as a, median pay $104,200.
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 $1,980
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$6,970 to $9,576
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,980 | $240 | $8,450 | 6 to 18 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $5,166 | $1,034 | $9,576 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $5,103 | $1,021 | $9,513 | |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $3,906 | $782 | $8,827 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $4,896 | $978 | $8,465 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $4,890 | $4,265 | $6,970 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,980
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $8,450
- How long
- 6 to 18 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,166
- Concession
- $1,034
- Full fee
- $9,576
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,103
- Concession
- $1,021
- Full fee
- $9,513
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $3,906
- Concession
- $782
- Full fee
- $8,827
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,896
- Concession
- $978
- Full fee
- $8,465
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $4,890
- Concession
- $4,265
- Full fee
- $6,970
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 33 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.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
15 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 6 to 18 months
- Fee
- From $1,980 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
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable and care about learning
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
6 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $4,890 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
What you’ll learn
13 units: 10 that everyone takes and 3 you choose.
- Computerised accounting systems
- Business activity statements
- Payroll systems
- Ledger and account reconciliations
- Operational budgets
- Financial statements and reports
See all 10 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 to keep the books for a business, either as an employee in an accounts team or as a contract bookkeeper working for several clients. You learn to record transactions, reconcile accounts, run payroll, prepare budgets and financial reports, and handle activity statements. You work autonomously and exercise judgement in routine and non-routine activities.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements, but individual providers can set their own conditions. Check with the provider you choose.
Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?
Yes. Persons providing a BAS service for a fee or other reward must be registered by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). This qualification is currently cited as meeting the TPB education requirements for registration as a BAS agent, and other requirements apply, including a designated period of experience.