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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Health Administration

This certificate prepares you for the administrative side of a health service, from keeping patient records and managing appointments to leading a small team.

Compare 9 providers
How long it takes
18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,140
Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $8,700
How you can study
Online or on campus
Taught by
9 providers
NSW, VIC, QLD

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate IV in Health Administration asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in the health and wellbeing of others
  • good communication skills
  • an eye for detail with records and appointments
  • a calm manner when people are distressed

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs this course can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Medical Receptionist

    Medical receptionists run the front desk of a medical practice, booking appointments, keeping patient records and handling the calls, forms and payments that sit around each consultation.

    Median pay$63,900

  • Ward Clerk

    Ward clerks keep the administrative side of a hospital ward running, handling admissions, patient records and enquiries so clinical staff can stay with patients.

    Median pay$67,600 (estimate)

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. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $1,140

at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$5,700 to $8,700

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,550
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $8,700
    How long
    18 months

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,834
    Concession
    $767
    Full fee
    $8,201

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $1,140
    Concession
    $150
    Full fee
    $5,700

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 9 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

15 units: 9 that everyone takes and 6 you choose.

  • Medical terminology
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Coordinating patient care
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Communicating with diverse clients
See all 9 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.

  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?

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.