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Hospitality courses

There's no single qualification you need to get into hospitality. A short certificate can get you a first job in a café, bar or hotel, and a Certificate IV is for moving into supervision. Here's what each course covers and who it suits.

Quickest way to start
2 months
Certificate II, full time at TAFE NSW
TAFE cost from
$880
subsidised Certificate II, TAFE NSW
What the jobs pay
$49,900 to $95,000
median pay across 9 jobs, some estimated

Which course do you need?

None of these jobs needs a set qualification, but these courses teach what employers look for.

  • Illustration of a person working as a bartender

    A certificate in hospitality

    Build skills for hospitality work

    Mix and serve drinks behind the bar, take orders, and keep the bar stocked and clean through a busy service.

    A job it helps withBartender

    Median pay$78,000

    Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.

    How long it takes
    2 to 24 months full time
    What it costs
    $880 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $3,560 full fee
    How you'll study
    Online, on campus or on the job
    Compare the certificates

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 NSWNSW

    Certificate II
    $880 subsidised
    $3,560 full fee
    Certificate III
    $1,450 subsidised
    $8,180 full fee

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Certificate II
    Not listed
    Certificate III
    $4,416 subsidised
    $5,704 full fee

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Certificate II
    Not listed
    Certificate III
    Not listed
    $4,833 full fee

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Certificate II
    Not listed
    Certificate III
    $4,787 subsidised
    $7,052 full fee

  • The GordonVIC

    Certificate II
    Not listed
    Certificate III
    $2,980 subsidised
    $5,693 full fee

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Certificate II
    $1,720 subsidised
    $3,950 full fee
    Certificate III
    $1,800 subsidised
    $4,770 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.

The hospitality certificates compared

These certificates cover the same industry at three different levels, from a first job on the floor to supervising a team. The main difference is how much responsibility you'll be ready to take on. Most can be studied online at one or more providers.

Jobs this study can help with

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

Related study

Qualifications from training.gov.au, the national VET register, and Course Seeker, run by the Tertiary Admissions Centres and the Australian Government Department of Education. TAFE fees, lengths and study modes from each TAFE's own course pages. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia, except pay marked as an estimate. Providers are never ordered by who pays.