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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting

This qualification prepares you to run procurement and contracting work in the public sector, from working out what an agency needs to buy through to managing the contract once it is signed.

Compare 6 providers
How long it takes
6 to 24 months
typical for this level
Taught by
6 providers
6 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in how public sector procurement works
  • a careful approach to following processes and rules
  • confidence in making decisions within your authority
  • good communication skills for dealing with suppliers and agencies

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.

  • Contract Administrator

    Contract administrators manage the agreements an organisation signs, keeping track of what each side promised and sorting out problems before they turn into disputes.

    Median pay$110,800

  • Procurement Manager

    Procurement managers buy the goods, materials and services an organisation depends on, negotiating with suppliers on price, quality and delivery so operations are not left waiting on supply.

    Median pay$147,400

  • Procurement Officer

    Procurement officers buy the goods and services an organisation needs, and manage the suppliers and contracts behind those purchases.

    Median pay$80,800

  • Purchasing Officer

    Purchasing officers buy the goods and services an organisation needs, weighing up cost, quality and delivery time.

    Median pay$80,800

  • Tender Writer

    Tender writers turn technical, financial and compliance information into the proposal documents that businesses and agencies submit to win contracts.

    Median pay$66,800 (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.

Where you can study this course

There are 6 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.

  • Public sector values and conduct
  • Identifying and treating risks
  • Working within delegations
  • Government buying processes
  • Planning procurement
  • Selecting providers and managing contracts
See all 9 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for PSPETH002…

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 prepares you to run procurement and contracting work in the public sector, from planning a purchase to managing the contract, while following government processes and exercising delegations. It suits someone already handling purchasing who wants to work without close supervision, or someone moving into a procurement team. Roles it leads to include Procurement Officer, Purchasing Officer, Stock Controller and Warehouse Administrator.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.