Surveying and planning courses
You can start with a certificate in surveying in under a year, or train as a building surveyor or certifier with an advanced diploma. Here's what each course leads to, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 4 months
- Certificate IV, full time at TAFE NSW
- TAFE cost from
- $1,980
- subsidised Certificate IV, TAFE NSW
- What the jobs pay
- $87,400 to $118,600
- median pay across 2 jobs, some estimated
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services
Start out as a surveying assistant
Work in a survey team on site and in the office, collecting measurements and turning them into maps and plans.
Median pay$87,400 (estimate)
A step towards this job, not the whole route. What else you need
- How long it takes
- 4 to 12 months full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- $1,980 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $13,180 full fee
- How you'll study
- On campus or on the job
Diploma of Surveying
Work as a surveying technician
Measure land, boundaries and building sites, set out positions on the ground, and turn the readings into plans and maps.
Median pay$87,400 (estimate)
- How long it takes
- About 1 year full time at TAFE NSW
- How you'll study
- On campus
Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
Work as a building surveyor or certifier
Check plans and inspect buildings on site to confirm they meet the National Construction Code.
Median pay$118,600
- How long it takes
- Typically 18 to 24 months
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 IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidised | Full fee | ||
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,980 | $13,180 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Certificate IV
- $1,980 subsidised
- $13,180 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
- Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning3 to 4 years. For people heading into planning roles in councils, government or consulting, covering land use, housing and planning law.
- Bachelor of Surveying (Honours)4 years. Covers spatial data collection, positioning technology and the analysis of what is gathered, using drones, laser scanners and satellite tools.
- Bachelor of Urban Planning4 years. Another path into planning work, with studio projects and an industry placement, leading towards councils, government and consulting.
Other certificates and diplomas
- Certificate II in Surveying and Spatial Information Services6 to 12 months. A starting point for people with no surveying experience, and a way to build study skills before further training.
- Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services1 to 2 years. Prepares you to assist a survey team with fieldwork, drafting and map production, and suits a traineeship.
Can help with: survey assistant
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- Building InspectorWhat you needAdvanced DiplomaMedian pay$118,600
- Surveying TechnicianWhat you needCertificate IV or diplomaMedian pay$87,400 (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.