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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Information Technology

An entry-level qualification for people starting out in IT, covering the groundwork across several areas rather than a single speciality.

Compare 27 providers
Illustration of a person working as data Centre Technician
How long it takes
4 to 12 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,980
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $13,720
How you can study
Online, on campus or on the job
Main job
Data Centre Technician
$91,000 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
27 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in how computers and software work
  • patience for troubleshooting problems step by step
  • a willingness to keep learning as technology changes
  • good communication skills for working with clients and colleagues

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

Certificate IV or Diploma?

The Diploma in Information Technology is a higher level than this Certificate IV. This qualification prepares you to be job ready and competent in a wide range of ICT roles, applying a broad range of skills in varied work contexts.

See the course

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

  • Data Centre Technician

    Data centre technicians install, monitor and repair the servers, storage and network hardware inside data halls, keeping the systems that banks, hospitals and government services rely on running.

    What else you need

    The systems administration and support stream lists data centre roles. The award alone does not confer vendor certifications that employers may ask for. Check the provider's course details.

    Median pay$91,000 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Web Administrator

    Web administrators keep a site's servers, software and security running so that pages load and customers can reach the business online.

    What else you need

    The web development stream lists web support roles. Employers set their own requirements. Check the provider's course details.

    Median pay$80,600 (estimate)

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 $1,980

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

Paying the full fee

$7,538 to $13,720

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,980
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $10,600
    How long
    4 to 12 months

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $2,288
    Concession
    $458
    Full fee
    $7,538

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,217
    Concession
    $844
    Full fee
    $10,605

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,700
    Concession
    $940
    Full fee
    $13,720

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 27 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

20 units: 7 that everyone takes and 13 you choose.

  • Writing basic code
  • Cyber security risk management
  • Evaluating emerging technology
  • Working in ICT teams
  • Privacy and intellectual property
  • Troubleshooting client IT problems
See all 7 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?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

This qualification is for people starting out in IT who want to be job ready for a range of ICT roles. It covers groundwork across several areas, with a focus on problem solving and communication.

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.

How is it different from the Diploma in Information Technology?

The Diploma in Information Technology is a higher level than this Certificate IV. This qualification prepares you to be job ready and competent in a wide range of ICT roles, applying a broad range of skills in varied work contexts.

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.