Horticulture courses
Horticulture covers several different jobs, so the course you pick depends on the work you want. Start with a certificate in floristry or general horticulture, or train further with a diploma in arboriculture or sports turf management.
- Quickest way to start
- 6 months
- Certificate III, full time at TAFE NSW
- TAFE cost from
- $1,120
- subsidised Certificate II, TAFE NSW
- What the jobs pay
- $49,300 to $85,800
- median pay across 9 jobs, some estimated
- Demand
- 4 of 9 jobs
- are on the national shortage list
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
Certificate III in Floristry
Work as a florist
Design and build the arrangements a shop or studio sells, from hand tied bunches to wedding and event work.
JobFlorist
Median pay$49,300 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- 6 to 18 months full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- $2,130 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $10,870 full fee
- How you'll study
- On campus
Certificate III in Horticulture
Care for gardens, parks and turf
Look after planted landscapes: choose and care for plants, run irrigation, treat weeds and pests, and prune to a professional standard.
Median pay$68,600 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- 6 to 24 months full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- $2,190 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $14,030 full fee
- How you'll study
- Online, on campus or on the job
Diploma of Arboriculture
Move into tree assessment and reporting
Inspect trees for defects and disease, judge the risk they pose and write the reports councils, developers and insurers rely on.
JobArborist
Median pay$72,800 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- Typically 1 to 2 years
Diploma of Sports Turf Management
Run a sports ground or golf course
Plan and manage playing surfaces, set budgets and staff rosters, and answer for how the ground holds up under heavy use.
Median pay$85,800 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- Typically 1 to 2 years
- What it costs
- $7,320 at Holmesglen Institute if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $17,385 full fee
- How you'll study
- On campus
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 Horticulture | Certificate III in Arboriculture | Certificate III in Floristry | Certificate III in Horticulture | Certificate III in Irrigation Technology | Certificate III in Production Horticulture | Certificate III in Sports Turf Management | Diploma of Sports Turf Management | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $1,120 | $6,860 | $2,190 | $24,000 | $2,130 | $10,870 | $2,190 | $14,030 | $2,190 | $17,390 | Not listed | Not listed | $2,190 | $15,850 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $9,837 | $17,899 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| GOTAFE | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $5,751 | $13,814 | Not listed | Not listed | $5,441 | $11,951 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $2,684 | $6,817 | Not listed | Not listed | $5,720 | $15,624 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $5,538 | $8,165 | $7,320 | $17,385 |
| The Gordon | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $2,914 | $16,641 | $9,331 | $10,470 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $6,603 | $28,907 | Not listed | Not listed |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $4,225 | $9,265 | $3,230 | $7,705 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- $1,120 subsidised
- $6,860 full fee
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- $2,190 subsidised
- $24,000 full fee
- Certificate III in Floristry
- $2,130 subsidised
- $10,870 full fee
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- $2,190 subsidised
- $14,030 full fee
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- $2,190 subsidised
- $17,390 full fee
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- $2,190 subsidised
- $15,850 full fee
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Floristry
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- $9,837 subsidised
- $17,899 full fee
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
GOTAFEVIC
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Floristry
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- $5,751 subsidised
- $13,814 full fee
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- $5,441 subsidised
- $11,951 full fee
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- $2,684 subsidised
- $6,817 full fee
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Floristry
- $5,720 subsidised
- $15,624 full fee
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- $5,538 subsidised
- $8,165 full fee
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- $7,320 subsidised
- $17,385 full fee
The GordonVIC
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Floristry
- $2,914 subsidised
- $16,641 full fee
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- $9,331 subsidised
- $10,470 full fee
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- $6,603 subsidised
- $28,907 full fee
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Arboriculture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Floristry
- $4,225 subsidised
- $9,265 full fee
- Certificate III in Horticulture
- $3,230 subsidised
- $7,705 full fee
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- Not listed
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
- Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- Not listed
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 certificates and diplomas
- Certificate II in Horticulture6 to 12 months. For people with no background in horticulture, including school students, who want a first foothold and the routine skills of the work.
- Certificate III in Arboriculture2 years. The trade qualification for practical tree work, from pruning and felling to working safely at height.
- Certificate III in Irrigation Technology2 years. For people who like practical outdoor work and want to install, monitor and track down faults in irrigation systems.
- Certificate III in Production Horticulture1 to 2 years. For people working on the ground in commercial growing, such as fruit, vegetables, nursery stock or cut flowers.
Can help with: flower grower, fruit picker, nut grower
- Certificate III in Sports Turf Management2.5 to 3 years. The trade qualification for preparing and maintaining playing surfaces at grounds, courses and ovals.
- Diploma of Horticulture Management2 years. For people who know the practical side of the work and want to manage a team, a site or a horticulture business.
Can help with: gardener
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- ArboristWhat you needCertificate III or diplomaMedian pay$72,800 (estimate)In demand
- FloristWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$49,300 (estimate)
- HorticulturistWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$68,600 (estimate)In demand
Nursery HandWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$57,200 (estimate)
NurserypersonWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$59,800 (estimate)
Irrigation TechnicianWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$75,400 (estimate)In demand
GreenkeeperWhat you needCertificate IIIMedian pay$76,300
Turf GrowerMedian pay$67,600 (estimate)- Sports Turf ManagerWhat you needDiplomaMedian pay$85,800 (estimate)In demand
“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.