Work health and safety courses
Work health and safety courses range from a certificate that takes under a year to a diploma for people who want to run a safety program. The page shows what each course leads to, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 6 months
- Certificate IV, full time at TAFE NSW
- TAFE cost from
- $1,311
- subsidised Certificate IV, Holmesglen Institute
- What the jobs pay
- $118,800 to $123,900
- median pay across 2 jobs
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
Work as a work health and safety officer
Identify hazards, assess risk and check that a workplace meets its safety duties, alongside consulting the people doing the work.
JobWork Health and Safety Officer
Median pay$118,800
- How long it takes
- 6 to 12 months full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- $1,311 at Holmesglen Institute if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $5,152 full fee
- How you'll study
- Online, on campus or on the job
Diploma of Work Health and Safety
Take charge of a safety program
Lead how a workplace manages risk, run the investigation after a serious incident, and build the systems that keep safety on track.
JobWork Health and Safety Inspector
Median pay$123,900
A step towards this job, not the whole route. What else you need
- How long it takes
- Typically 1 to 2 years
- What it costs
- $2,679 at Holmesglen Institute if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $8,108 full fee
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
You don't have to do it all at once
You can start with the Certificate IV, work in a safety role, then study the diploma while you keep working. Here's how that can look.
- Start with the Certificate IVThe usual entry into safety work, and enough for a first safety role or for safety duties added to a supervisor's job.
- Work in a safety roleBuild experience assessing risk, investigating what went wrong and consulting workers on the changes.
- Study the diplomaMove from supporting a safety program to running one, with responsibility for the systems across a whole organisation.
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 | Diploma | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidised | Full fee | Subsidised | Full fee | ||
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,580 | $7,100 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $5,828 | $8,978 | Not listed | Not listed |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $2,860 | $8,096 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $1,311 | $5,152 | $2,679 | $8,108 |
| The Gordon | VIC | $5,603 | $8,694 | $2,698 | $6,082 |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | Not listed | $2,970 | Not listed | Not listed |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Certificate IV
- $1,580 subsidised
- $7,100 full fee
- Diploma
- Not listed
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Certificate IV
- $5,828 subsidised
- $8,978 full fee
- Diploma
- Not listed
GOTAFEVIC
- Certificate IV
- $2,860 subsidised
- $8,096 full fee
- Diploma
- Not listed
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Certificate IV
- $1,311 subsidised
- $5,152 full fee
- Diploma
- $2,679 subsidised
- $8,108 full fee
The GordonVIC
- Certificate IV
- $5,603 subsidised
- $8,694 full fee
- Diploma
- $2,698 subsidised
- $6,082 full fee
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Certificate IV
- Not listed
- $2,970 full fee
- Diploma
- 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.
Short university courses
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- Work Health and Safety OfficerWhat you needCertificate IVMedian pay$118,800
- Work Health and Safety InspectorWhat you needDiploma, then further trainingMedian pay$123,900
“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. 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.