Certificate III in Painting and Decorating

Course overview

For painters who know their surface preparation, application and finishes on residential and commercial jobs. The Certificate III in Painting and Decorating recognises the full range of the trade: brush, roller and spray application, texture coats, stains and clear finishes, wallpaper, decorative finishes and protective coatings, plus working safely with lead paint and asbestos.

Licensing. In Queensland, this qualification is the technical qualification commonly used towards a QBCC painting and decorating licence. It includes CPCCSP3003, which is required for the unrestricted QBCC painting and decorating 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 painter and decorator (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 29 units of competency: 26 core units and 3 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).