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Building and construction courses

You can start on site with a certificate that takes under a year, or train to manage projects with a diploma. Here's what each course leads to, how long it takes and what it costs.

Where do you want to study?

Quickest way to start: 4 months; Certificate III, full time at TAFE NSW
TAFE cost from: $880; subsidised Certificate II, TAFE NSW
What the jobs pay: $61,400 to $195,100; median pay across 24 jobs, some estimated
Demand: 19 of 24 jobs; are on the national shortage list

Which course do you need?

It depends on the job you want.

Certificate III in Scaffolding
Work as a scaffolder
Erect, alter and dismantle scaffolds on residential and commercial sites, and check they are safe to work from.
JobScaffolder
Median pay$91,000 (estimate)
How long it takes
About 4 months full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
$1,690 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $8,410 full fee
How you'll study
On campus
See the Certificate III and where to study it
Certificate II in Construction
Start out as a builder's labourer
Help trades on site, move and prepare materials, and keep the work area clean and safe.
JobBuilder's Labourer
Median pay$65,000 (estimate)
How long it takes
Typically 6 to 12 months
See the Certificate II and where to study it
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Manage building projects from start to finish
Plan and supervise building projects, manage contracts and costs, and keep the work on schedule and up to standard.
JobConstruction Manager
Median pay$195,100
How long it takes
10 to 24 months full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
$12,986 at The Gordon if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $29,562 full fee
How you'll study
Online or on campus
See the Diploma and where to study it
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
Work as a bricklayer
Lay bricks and blocks to line and level, and build the walls, piers and arches of houses and commercial buildings.
JobBricklayer
Median pay$120,500
How long it takes
1 to 4 years full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
$2,990 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $17,370 full fee
How you'll study
On campus
See the Certificate III and where to study it

You don't have to do it all at once

You can start on site as a labourer, learn a trade, then study a diploma to supervise or run the work. Here's how that can look.

Start on site as a labourerThe Certificate II in Construction is the usual entry point, and it includes the general construction induction training you need first.
Learn a tradeStudy a Certificate III in a trade such as bricklaying, usually as an apprentice, and work on real jobs while you train.
Take on more responsibilityWith a trade behind you, move into leading a crew or supervising part of a job.
Move into managing projectsThe Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) prepares you to estimate, plan and supervise building projects.

How much it costs at TAFE

If you're eligible for a government-subsidised place, you pay much less than the full fee, and in some states these courses can be free. Here's what each TAFE lists.

TAFE	State	Certificate II in Civil Construction		Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying		Certificate III in Carpentry		Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations		Certificate III in Concreting		Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing		Certificate III in Glass and Glazing		Certificate III in Joinery		Certificate III in Painting and Decorating		Certificate III in Roof Tiling		Certificate III in Scaffolding		Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling		Certificate IV in Building and Construction		Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
TAFE	State	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee	Subsidised	Full fee
TAFE NSW	NSW	$880	$6,890	$2,990	$17,370	$2,990	$20,080	$2,100	$14,300	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$2,680	$16,910	Not listed	Not listed	$2,990	$19,030	$2,990	$10,410	$1,690	$8,410	Not listed	Not listed	$2,440	$13,180	Not listed	Not listed
Chisholm Institute	VIC	Not listed	Not listed	$3,783	$17,848	$5,728	$22,504	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$6,351	$13,015	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$4,817	$15,075	$14,445	$30,495
GOTAFE	VIC	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$21,775	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$11,858	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$13,912	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$2,300	$12,098	Not listed	Not listed
Holmesglen Institute	VIC	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$8,785	$21,824	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$3,093	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$3,458	$11,165	$4,899	$13,419	$15,510	$33,220
The Gordon	VIC	Not listed	Not listed	$3,668	$19,761	$3,910	$21,726	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$3,496	$19,431	$3,644	$20,422	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$3,148	$11,336	$12,986	$29,562
TAFE Queensland	QLD	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	$8,550	Not listed	$12,150

TAFE NSWNSW
Certificate II in Civil Construction
$880 subsidised
$6,890 full fee
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
$2,990 subsidised
$17,370 full fee
Certificate III in Carpentry
$2,990 subsidised
$20,080 full fee
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
$2,100 subsidised
$14,300 full fee
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
Not listed
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
$2,680 subsidised
$16,910 full fee
Certificate III in Joinery
Not listed
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
$2,990 subsidised
$19,030 full fee
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
$2,990 subsidised
$10,410 full fee
Certificate III in Scaffolding
$1,690 subsidised
$8,410 full fee
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Not listed
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
$2,440 subsidised
$13,180 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Not listed
Chisholm InstituteVIC
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Not listed
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
$3,783 subsidised
$17,848 full fee
Certificate III in Carpentry
$5,728 subsidised
$22,504 full fee
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Not listed
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
$6,351 subsidised
$13,015 full fee
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
Not listed
Certificate III in Joinery
Not listed
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
Not listed
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
Not listed
Certificate III in Scaffolding
Not listed
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Not listed
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
$4,817 subsidised
$15,075 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
$14,445 subsidised
$30,495 full fee
GOTAFEVIC
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Not listed
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
Not listed
Certificate III in Carpentry
Not listed
$21,775 full fee
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Not listed
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
$11,858 full fee
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
Not listed
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
Not listed
$13,912 full fee
Certificate III in Joinery
Not listed
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
Not listed
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
Not listed
Certificate III in Scaffolding
Not listed
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Not listed
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
$2,300 subsidised
$12,098 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Not listed
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Not listed
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
Not listed
Certificate III in Carpentry
$8,785 subsidised
$21,824 full fee
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Not listed
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
$3,093 subsidised
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
Not listed
Certificate III in Joinery
Not listed
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
Not listed
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
Not listed
Certificate III in Scaffolding
Not listed
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
$3,458 subsidised
$11,165 full fee
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
$4,899 subsidised
$13,419 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
$15,510 subsidised
$33,220 full fee
The GordonVIC
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Not listed
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
$3,668 subsidised
$19,761 full fee
Certificate III in Carpentry
$3,910 subsidised
$21,726 full fee
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Not listed
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
Not listed
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
Not listed
Certificate III in Joinery
$3,496 subsidised
$19,431 full fee
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
$3,644 subsidised
$20,422 full fee
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
Not listed
Certificate III in Scaffolding
Not listed
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Not listed
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
$3,148 subsidised
$11,336 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
$12,986 subsidised
$29,562 full fee
TAFE QueenslandQLD
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Not listed
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
Not listed
Certificate III in Carpentry
Not listed
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Not listed
Certificate III in Concreting
Not listed
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
Not listed
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
Not listed
Certificate III in Joinery
Not listed
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
Not listed
Certificate III in Roof Tiling
Not listed
Certificate III in Scaffolding
Not listed
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Not listed
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
Not listed
$8,550 full fee
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Not listed
$12,150 full fee

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, checked 20 September 2026. “Not listed” means the TAFE doesn't show that fee online. Private colleges set their own fees.

Other university courses

Other certificates and diplomas

Jobs you can do with this study

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.

“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.

Still not sure which one fits you?

Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.

Find my course

Which course do you need?

Work as a scaffolder

Start out as a builder's labourer

Manage building projects from start to finish

Work as a bricklayer