Certificate III in Carpentry

Course overview

Been framing, fitting off, building stairs and pitching roofs for years without the paperwork? The Certificate III in Carpentry recognises the residential carpentry work you already do: setting out, floors, wall and ceiling frames, roofs and eaves, windows and doors, external stairs, cladding, linings and mouldings.

Licensing. In Queensland, this qualification is the technical qualification commonly used towards a QBCC trade contractor licence for carpentry. The electives also support the QBCC sheds, carports and garages licence. QBCC decides who gets a licence and also assesses other requirements, such as experience, managerial and financial requirements. Check the current requirements for your licence class with QBCC at qbcc.qld.gov.au.

Who it suits and entry requirements

This qualification is delivered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with gap training, for experienced workers who already do this work. To be accepted you need:

• to be 18 years or over;
• to be currently working in the occupation in Queensland, as an employee or contractor;
• at least three years' full-time experience as a carpenter (four years preferred);
• access to a suitable workplace where the work is done and where assessment can take place;
• language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills suited to the qualification. We check these in a short, free assessment before enrolment and arrange support if you need it.

Everyone starts with a free pre-enrolment review. If it shows you would need training in more than six units, RPL isn't the right fit and we'll tell you honestly and point you to another provider.

We welcome applications from everyone, and we particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability to apply. Tell us at your pre-enrolment review if you need any support or adjustments, and we will work with you to put them in place.

How RPL works

1. Free pre-enrolment review. A conversation about your work, your referees, your workplace and the outcome you're after, plus a check of your entry requirements.
2. Evidence and competency conversation. You gather evidence of your work (dated photos and videos, job records, references, licences, your resume) and talk it through with your assessor.
3. Practical observation. Your assessor watches you do real work at your own workplace.
4. Outcome. Your assessor decides unit by unit. Anything not yet shown becomes your gap training, delivered one-to-one at your workplace or by live video, then assessed.

Units you already hold from another provider are recognised through credit transfer. An RPL outcome always depends on your evidence.

Course structure

To achieve this qualification you need 34 units of competency: 27 core units and 7 electives. Please review the units below to make sure they match the work you do.

Delivery and duration

• Where: Queensland only, at your own workplace, with some conversations and training by live video. There are no classes to attend. Practical observation is always in person at your workplace.
• How long: about four weeks if you need RPL only, or about eight weeks in total if you need gap training. Your actual timing is set in your training plan.
• Fees: set out in our Schedule of Fees and Charges, which you receive before you enrol. Your pre-enrolment review is free.

For more about support, fees, refunds, complaints and appeals, read our Student Handbook (PDF).