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Agriculture courses
18 agriculture qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 18
on this page
- Providers
- 218
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $62,400–$64,500
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +5%
1 of 2 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The agriculture qualifications
18 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate II in Agriculture
59 providersThis is a starting point for anyone who wants to work on a farm or station without previous experience, and there are no entry requirements.
Certificate IIView qualification →Certificate III in Agriculture
68 providersThis qualification prepares you for general farm work, whether that is livestock, cropping, or both on a mixed farm.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Beekeeping
5 providersThis qualification trains you to keep honey bees and run hives as a business or a pollination service.
Certificate IIIBeekeeperView qualification →Certificate III in Pork Production
6 providersThis qualification prepares you to work on a piggery, handling the daily care of pigs from feeding and moving them to spotting health problems early.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Poultry Production
2 providersThis qualification prepares you for the skilled end of a commercial poultry operation, whether that is a farm, a breeding facility, a hatchery or an egg grading floor.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest Management
3 providersThis qualification trains people to control weeds, pests and vertebrate animals such as rabbits, foxes and feral pigs on farms, conservation reserves and horticultural land.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Shearing
4 providersThis is the qualification that takes a shearer from novice standard to professional pace, the level where a working day means at least 120 adult merino sheep or 140 adult crossbred sheep.
Certificate IIIShearerView qualification →Certificate III in Wine Industry Operations
6 providersThis qualification prepares you for hands-on work across the wine industry, from the cellar and bottling line to the laboratory and the cellar door.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Wool Clip Preparation
3 providersThis qualification trains you to class a wool clip from the shearing board through to the pressed bale, judging fleece wool on its characteristics and separating skirtings and oddments.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate IV in Agribusiness
2 providersThis qualification suits people who handle the business side of a farm or growing operation, rather than only the hands-on work.
Certificate IVView qualification →Certificate IV in Agriculture
23 providersThis certificate suits people already working in agriculture who want to step into a supervisory role, such as a farm supervisor or team leader.
Certificate IVView qualification →Diploma of Agriculture
15 providersThis diploma suits people who already have hands-on agriculture experience and want to move into a management role, running a livestock or cropping operation, a production unit or a property, or working as an adviser to growers.
DiplomaView qualification →
Degrees
Bachelor of Agriculture
6 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Agribusiness
5 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Agricultural Science
5 providersBachelor degree3 to 4 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness)
2 providersBachelor degree2 to 3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology
2 providersBachelor degree4 yearsView qualification →
What agriculture study leads to
The 2 roles where a agriculture qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Beekeeper
The direct route is the Certificate III in Beekeeping. Meet applicable beehive ownership, biosecurity and transport rules alongside the course requirements.
Median salary for the role
$62,400
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Indicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data, Estimate.
Shearer
The direct route is the Certificate III in Shearing. Complete the qualification and its stated entry and workplace requirements; check employer-specific requirements. Entry requirements: Prior to commencing this qualification, individuals must have the skills and knowledge to: • catch and shear sheep to novice level • work independently and within a team in wool harvesting • make judgements on the selection of equipment, techniques and contingency measures relating to safe work practices and animal welfare principles • apply and communicate solutions to predictable situations in an animal care workplace. These skills and knowledge may have been acquired through completion of a Certificate II in Shearing or through industry shearing experience.
Median salary for the role
$64,500
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Indicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data, Estimate.