Laboratory science courses
Entry-level laboratory work starts with a certificate, and the diploma takes you into more complex testing. Here's what each course leads to, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 4 months
- Certificate III, full time at TAFE NSW
- TAFE cost from
- $1,275
- subsidised Certificate III, TAFE Queensland
- What the jobs pay
- $75,400 to $93,300
- median pay across 2 jobs, some estimated
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
Certificate III in Laboratory Skills
Start out in a laboratory
Prepare and test samples using set procedures, run equipment and record results accurately under supervision.
Median pay$93,300
A step towards this job, not the whole route. What else you need
- How long it takes
- 4 to 18 months full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- $1,275 at TAFE Queensland if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $5,750 full fee
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
Diploma of Laboratory Technology
Take on more complex laboratory work
Set up specialised instruments, run tests where the sample or the settings are unusual, and troubleshoot when a result looks wrong.
Median pay$75,400 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- 6 to 12 months full time at TAFE NSW
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
You don't have to do it all at once
You can start with the certificate, work as a laboratory technician, then build towards more advanced testing.
- Get your Certificate IIIIt has no entry requirements, so it suits school leavers and career changers.
- Work as a laboratory technicianYou build the careful, precise habits that laboratory work depends on.
- Study towards the diplomaIt covers specialised instruments and troubleshooting. Entry usually assumes a Certificate IV or laboratory experience.
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 III | Certificate IV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidised | Full fee | Subsidised | Full fee | ||
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $2,680 | $10,150 | $3,280 | $16,810 |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | $4,125 | $17,105 |
| The Gordon | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | $3,859 | $16,197 |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $1,275 | $5,750 | $8,065 | $13,185 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Certificate III
- $2,680 subsidised
- $10,150 full fee
- Certificate IV
- $3,280 subsidised
- $16,810 full fee
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Certificate III
- Not listed
- Certificate IV
- $4,125 subsidised
- $17,105 full fee
The GordonVIC
- Certificate III
- Not listed
- Certificate IV
- $3,859 subsidised
- $16,197 full fee
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Certificate III
- $1,275 subsidised
- $5,750 full fee
- Certificate IV
- $8,065 subsidised
- $13,185 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 certificates and diplomas
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- Laboratory TechnicianWhat you needCertificate III or diplomaMedian pay$93,300
- Calibration TechnicianWhat you needDiplomaMedian pay$75,400 (estimate)
“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.