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Certificate IV · national qualification
Certificate IV in Guiding
A Certificate IV in Guiding prepares you to run tours largely on your own, from half-day city walks to multi-day programs that involve bookings, transport and several sites.
- How long it takes
- 6 to 24 months
- typical for this level
- Main job
- Tour Guide
- $74,500 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 4 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate IV in Guiding asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in sharing stories about places and people
- confidence speaking in front of groups
- the ability to stay calm when plans change
- good organisational skills for managing tour logistics
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Certificate IV or Certificate III?
The Certificate IV in Guiding is the higher level. It involves using a broad range of specialist guiding skills with substantial subject knowledge, operating independently or with limited guidance and using discretion to solve non-routine problems.
See the courseWhere 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
Tour Guide
Tour guides lead visitors through a destination, attraction or heritage site, explaining what they're seeing while keeping the group safe and on schedule.
What else you need
This includes specialist guiding and tour logistics; meet the course and location-specific requirements.
Median pay$74,500
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 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.
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 Holmesglen Institute (opens in a new tab)
Holmesglen Institute
14 campuses, SA, VIC
3.6from 650 Google reviews
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
- Website for Chisholm Institute (opens in a new tab)
Chisholm Institute
7 campuses, VIC
3.6from 676 Google reviews
- Website for Cairns College of English & Business (opens in a new tab)
Cairns College of English & Business
What you’ll learn
17 units: 11 that everyone takes and 6 you choose.
- Leading tour groups
- Preparing tour commentary
- Tour logistics and coordination
- First aid and safety
- Hazard and risk assessment
- Customer service and conflict handling
See all 11 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 run tours largely on your own, from half-day city walks to multi-day programs, and to operate independently or with limited guidance. It suits people already working in tourism who want larger tours and newcomers seeking a credential.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Each provider can set its own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Certificate III in Guiding?
The Certificate IV in Guiding is the higher level. It involves using a broad range of specialist guiding skills with substantial subject knowledge, operating independently or with limited guidance and using discretion to solve non-routine problems.