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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Residential Drafting

This qualification trains you to work as an entry level drafter producing drawings and documentation for residential projects, usually alongside a building designer or architect who supervises your work.

Compare 11 providers
How long it takes
6 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,980
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $12,380
How you can study
Online, on campus or a mix
Taught by
11 providers
7 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in how houses are designed and built
  • an eye for detail and accuracy in drawings
  • comfort working with computer aided drafting software
  • a willingness to follow building rules and codes

Before you start

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

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 $1,980

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

Paying the full fee

$6,350 to $12,380

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,980
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $12,380
    How long
    6 to 18 months

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $3,550
    Concession
    $2,710
    Full fee
    $6,350

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 11 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 Residential Drafting.

  • computer aided drafting
  • reading and producing plans
  • residential construction methods
  • building materials
  • planning and building compliance
  • National Construction Code basics

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 for entry level drafting work in a design office, producing drawings and documentation for residential projects under the supervision of a building designer or architect. You learn to use computer aided drafting software to draw houses and small structures like sheds, carports and decks, and to apply construction methods, materials and the planning and building rules that apply to them.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

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

Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?

Licensing rules for building design differ between states and territories, and licensing requirements apply to building design in some states or territories. Check with your local regulator for further information.

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.