HomeCoursesBuilding and constructionCertificate IV in Building and Construction
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
This qualification prepares people to work as builders, site supervisors and site managers on houses, small residential projects and lower-risk commercial buildings.
- Duration: 1 year to 2 years
- Study mode: Online and on campus
- Course code: CPC40120
Where you can study this course
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Melbourne Polytechnic
- Campuses
- 13 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.
- Campuses
- 7 campuses
- Duration
- 1 year to 2 years
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $13,180
- Eligible students: subsidised from $2,440, concession $240
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
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Charles Darwin University
- Campuses
- 12 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students often praise the facilities and campus, while some value student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on trainers and teaching, with communication also a concern.
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Swinburne University of Technology
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
- Campuses
- 11 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
- Campuses
- 30 campuses
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- Online with on campus practical training (eagle farm)
- Full fee
- $8,550
What students say
Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.
- Campuses
- 26 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
- Campuses
- 4 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students speak highly of the trainers and teaching, with the campus and facilities also well regarded. Many found student support frustrating, along with organisation and communication.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
- General construction induction training is required before you work on site. Licensing for builders and supervisors varies by state and territory.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- an interest in how buildings go together
- good communication skills for working with crews
- care with safety on a building site
- an interest in plans, codes and contracts
What will you learn?
You study the rules that shape a build, including building codes and standards, structural principles, work health and safety, contracts and legal requirements, then apply them by planning jobs, reading plans, setting out the site and supervising the crew. It suits someone already working in construction who wants to move into supervising or running their own building business. General construction induction training is needed before you work on site, and licensing for builders and supervisors varies by state and territory.
- Reading and interpreting plans
- Applying building codes and standards
- Structural principles for buildings
- Work health and safety on site
- Contracts and legal requirements
- Planning and supervising site work
Units of competency (11 core, 8 elective)
The qualification is made up of 19 units. Everyone completes the 11 core units below, and the remaining 8 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Where this fits
Certificate IV in Building and Construction in building and construction: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
Before
No earlier step listed.
You are looking at
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
After
DiplomaDiploma of Building and Construction (Building)Move up from supervising single jobs to running building projects end to end: estimating, contracts, choosing contractors and managing commercial Type B and Type C work.DiplomaDiploma of Building DesignIf design interests you more than site supervision, this takes your drafting into producing drawings, specifications and documentation, managing that work yourself.Other routes at the same level
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).