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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques

You learn to collect and prepare samples in a laboratory, then run the basic tests done on them, using manual, semi automated and fully automated equipment.

Compare 17 providers
How long it takes
6 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $3,280
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $17,105
How you can study
Online, on campus or on the job
Taught by
17 providers
7 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in science and laboratory work
  • careful attention to detail
  • good record keeping skills
  • a willingness to follow set procedures

Before you start

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

Where this course can take you

The study that can follow this course.

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 $3,280

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

Paying the full fee

$13,185 to $17,105

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $3,280
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $16,810
    How long
    6 to 18 months

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,125
    Concession
    $825
    Full fee
    $17,105

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,859
    Concession
    $774
    Full fee
    $16,197

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $8,065
    Concession
    $6,530
    Full fee
    $13,185

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 17 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

The main topics covered in the Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques.

  • Collecting lab samples
  • Preparing samples for testing
  • Running routine laboratory tests
  • Using lab instruments
  • Recording and checking results
  • Following quality procedures

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?

It suits people who want a practical way into laboratory work across a range of industries. You learn to collect and prepare samples and run basic tests using manual, semi automated and fully automated equipment, often under the direction of laboratory or quality managers, with responsibility for your own results. The roles it leads to include Laboratory Technician and School Laboratory Technician.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. However, individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

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.