HomeCoursesWork health and safetyCertificate IV
Certificate IV · national qualification
Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
This qualification is for people who carry safety responsibilities at work, whether that is a dedicated work health and safety role or a supervisory job where safety sits alongside other duties.
- How long it takes
- 6 to 12 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,311
- Subsidised at Holmesglen Institute, full fee up to $8,978
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Main job
- Work Health and Safety Officer
- $118,800 median pay
- Taught by
- 42 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in keeping people safe at work
- a careful approach to checking rules and paperwork
- confidence talking with workers about safety concerns
- patience to follow tasks through to the end
Before you start
The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.
Certificate IV or Diploma?
The Diploma of Work Health and Safety is the higher level. This Certificate IV applies to individuals working in a WHS role who provide a broad range of technical knowledge and skills, and have some limited responsibility for the output of others.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Work Health and Safety Officer
Work health and safety officers watch how work is actually carried out, spotting hazards on site and making sure the rules meant to prevent injuries hold up in practice.
What else you need
Suits people already experienced in workplaces; the award confers no licence or registration. Check the provider's course.
Median pay$118,800
If you study further
Diploma of Work Health and Safety
A step towards work as a, median pay $123,900.
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $1,311
at Holmesglen Institute. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$2,970 to $8,978
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,580 | $240 | $7,100 | 6 to 12 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $5,828 | $1,166 | $8,978 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $2,860 | $572 | $8,096 | |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $1,311 | $263 | $5,152 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $5,603 | $1,122 | $8,694 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $2,970 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,580
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $7,100
- How long
- 6 to 12 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,828
- Concession
- $1,166
- Full fee
- $8,978
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $2,860
- Concession
- $572
- Full fee
- $8,096
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $1,311
- Concession
- $263
- Full fee
- $5,152
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,603
- Concession
- $1,122
- Full fee
- $8,694
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Full fee
- $2,970
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 42 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.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
8 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 6 to 12 months
- Fee
- From $1,580 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
30 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
- Website for TAFE SA (opens in a new tab)
TAFE SA
26 campuses, SA
4.4from 1,339 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are nice and helpful
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course information can be unclear
- Course page for The Gordon (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
East Geelong Campus, VIC
4.0from 168 Google reviews
- Fee
- From $5,603 subsidised
What students like
- Teaching staff are supportive and highly professional
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Courses can feel loosely organised
What you’ll learn
10 units: 5 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.
- Work health and safety law
- Risk assessment and control
- Incident response and reporting
- Worker consultation and participation
- WHS management systems
- Workplace compliance checks
See all 5 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.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It is for people with safety responsibilities at work, either in a dedicated WHS role or a supervisory job where safety sits alongside other duties. It suits someone moving into a safety role from a trade or operational background. Roles it leads to include Work Health and Safety Officer, Safety Consultant, and Environment Health Safety Manager.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Diploma of Work Health and Safety?
The Diploma of Work Health and Safety is the higher level. This Certificate IV applies to individuals working in a WHS role who provide a broad range of technical knowledge and skills, and have some limited responsibility for the output of others.