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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Screen and Media

This certificate is for people who want to work in screen and media, covering fields as different as film and television, radio and podcasting, animation and visual effects, sound and lighting, and specialist make-up.

Compare 9 providers
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 $13,330
How you can study
On campus
Taught by
9 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • an interest in screen, media and entertainment
  • a willingness to plan and organise your own work
  • good communication skills for guiding others
  • a practical approach to work health and safety

Before you start

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

Certificate IV or Certificate III?

The Certificate III in Screen and Media is at a lower level. This Certificate IV reflects work where you solve unpredictable problems, analyse and evaluate information, and may provide some leadership and guidance to others, with limited responsibility for their output.

See the course

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.

  • Animator

    Animators create movement on screen, building the characters, effects and sequences used in film, television, games and advertising.

    Median pay$96,200

  • Podcast Producer

    Podcast producers plan, record, edit and publish audio series, turning a raw conversation or script into an episode people want to keep listening to.

    Median pay$65,000 (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 $1,980

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

Paying the full fee

$13,330

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,980
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $13,330
    How long
    4 to 12 months

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

13 units: 4 that everyone takes and 9 you choose.

  • Planning and prioritising your work
  • Working in creative industries
  • Staying well in creative work
  • Work health and safety
See all 4 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 certificate is for people who want to work in screen and media, covering film and television, radio and podcasting, animation, visual effects, sound, lighting and specialist make-up. It builds technical skills for routine and less predictable jobs, plus communication skills to guide others and give technical advice. Roles may include radio/podcast presenter, sound recordist, editor, animator, camera operator and make-up artist.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

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

How is it different from Certificate III in Screen and Media?

The Certificate III in Screen and Media is at a lower level. This Certificate IV reflects work where you solve unpredictable problems, analyse and evaluate information, and may provide some leadership and guidance to others, with limited responsibility for their output.

How is it different from Diploma of Screen and Media?

The Diploma of Screen and Media is at a higher level. This Certificate IV reflects work where you solve unpredictable problems, analyse and evaluate information, and may provide some leadership and guidance to others, with limited responsibility for their output.

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.