HomeCoursesSurveying and planningCertificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services
Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services
A Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services prepares you for entry-level technician work in a surveying or spatial information team, assisting qualified staff rather than running jobs on your own.
- Duration: 4 months to 1 year
- Study mode: On campus and workplace based
- Course code: CPP41721
Where you can study this course
- Campuses
- 2 campuses
- Duration
- 4 months to 1 year
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $13,180
- Eligible students: subsidised from $1,980, concession $240
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
RMIT University
- Campuses
- 15 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students often find organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some praise the facilities and campus and student support.
- Campuses
- 26 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
North Metropolitan TAFE
- Campuses
- East Perth
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- On campus
- Full fee
- Not stated by provider
What students say
Opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, with some students finding the organisation and admin frustrating and a number unhappy with the course content.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
South Regional TAFE
- Campuses
- Bunbury
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- Not stated by provider
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE International Western Australia
- Campuses
- TAFE International Western Australia
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Many students value the student support they receive, though a number found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on communication.
- Campuses
- Scientific Research Development Institute of Technology Australia
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
- No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication. Cadastral surveying must be carried out under a registered surveyor, and each state and territory sets its own requirements, so check with the relevant authority if that is the direction you want to take.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- an interest in maps and location data
- comfort with numbers and calculations
- good computer skills
- careful attention to detail
What will you learn?
You learn the calculations behind survey measurements, how to collect position data in the field using global navigation satellite systems, and how to use spatial software to store, check and present that data. Graduates work across town planning, civil construction, mining, engineering, agriculture and defence, and the qualification suits an Australian traineeship. Cadastral surveying must be carried out under a registered surveyor, and each state and territory sets its own requirements, so check with the relevant authority if that is the direction you want to take.
- Survey calculations
- Collecting spatial data
- Using GNSS in the field
- Operating spatial software
- Mapping and data management
Units of competency (3 core, 12 elective)
The qualification is made up of 15 units. Everyone completes the 3 core units below, and the remaining 12 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Where this fits
Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services in surveying and planning: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
Before
Certificate IIICertificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information ServicesStep back to surveying assistant work: this Certificate III covers setting up equipment, basic data collection and drafting, plus construction site safety, without the spatial software of the Certificate IV.Certificate IICertificate II in Surveying and Spatial Information ServicesIf you have no experience yet, this Certificate II teaches safe site work, simple data gathering and basic maps, and most people then continue into a Certificate III.You are looking at
Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services
After
DiplomaDiploma of SurveyingGo further into precision measurement and setting out, running GNSS equipment and total stations and turning large survey measurements into maps and plans.Advanced DiplomaAdvanced Diploma of Building SurveyingMove into building surveying instead: assess designs against the National Construction Code, inspect buildings up to three storeys and process building and planning applications.Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).