The 17 Best TAFE Courses to Get a Job & Advance Your Career

The answer is different for everyone. It all depends on what’s important to you and what your goals are. Here are the best TAFE courses for 2023:

If you want to find the best courses to get a job, your best bet is to look at the data.

These are the ten fastest-growing jobs in Australia over the next five years, paired with the TAFE courses to get you the job.

Source: Employment Projections | Labour Market Insights

Only two of the ten fastest-growing occupations require you to undertake higher education:

• Registered nurses — require a Bachelor of Nursing
• Solicitors — require a Bachelor of Law

More than ever, TAFE colleges and training providers offer a range of flexible and online study options. Plus, many of the jobs predicted to grow the most have flexible hours and part-time work options. This could be good news if you have other responsibilities to attend to or you’d like to maintain a side hustle.

Average course length: 3 months – 6 months

Are you excited about helping people from all walks of life, including people with disabilities and older people? 

The aged care and disability sectors are growing rapidly, and the demand for workers in these sectors is climbing with it. The industry also offers excellent employment opportunities for those with a Certificate III qualification.

The Certificate III in Individual Support course is perfect for beginners or those who want to formalise their existing skills. Work placements mean you’ll graduate with proven work experience and the confidence to start in a support role anywhere.

And with many self-paced, online study options, you can achieve this qualification at your own pace and start on a path toward a rewarding work life.

Average course length: 6 months – 1 year

Are you looking to get a foothold in the dynamic IT industry — or upskilling for career progression from a junior role? 

Demand for skilled IT professionals is soaring across all industries, and with high demand come high wages. This course will equip you with the technical skillset you need to launch a lucrative and rewarding career in tech.

Learn the essentials of networking, cyber security, help desk support, programming, databases, and software development. This course is designed for beginners and has no prerequisites so that you can graduate as a job-ready IT professional ahead of the curve.

Average course length: 3 – 6 months

Have you always been interested in the business world? Are you a naturally organised person who’s good at running things behind the scenes?

You can land a satisfying role in business administration and admin support for just a few months of study and easily earn over $60,000.

Perfect for beginners, this nationally recognised short course will prepare you to step into any workplace and make yourself indispensable.

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Management and organisation analysts are sought after in Australia. It takes years of experience and expertise to get into. Still, if you start with a well-structured learning program and expert guidance, you can be an expert faster.

In this course, you’ll learn how to lead communication, create new management strategies, effectively manage people and teams, and improve customer service (to name a few). All these are essential skills in today’s hyper-competitive work environment. 

If you choose an online, self-paced course, you can complete the course on your schedule and get started today.

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Love the idea of improving workplace culture and conditions for people and employers? Becoming a Human Resources Manager is an enjoyable and well-paid way to make your mark.

With a Diploma of Human Resource Management, your HR career is about to take off. Course content will cover everything from the basics of industrial relations and employment relations to advanced areas such as leadership and strategic management.

Or maybe you’re formalising or sharpening your skills to get a promotion. In that case, a Diploma of Human Resource Management will help you stay on top of current trends and give you the tools you need to achieve career growth.

Average course length: 6 months – 1 year

Imagine a career where you help disadvantaged and vulnerable people while enjoying excellent job security and an average salary of $77,000.

As a welfare support worker, you play an essential role in the welfare of a community by helping those struggling with aspects of their lives due to poverty, health conditions or other reasons.

A Certificate IV in Community Services is your stepping stone to following your passion and helping people. This course qualifies you uniquely for practical work in the community services industry.

Compare courses from a range of providers to learn more about course curriculum, payment options and work placements.

Average course length: 1 year

Love working with numbers? Accounting might be the path for you.

Get your Diploma of Accounting and get started on the path to success. This career is respected and well-paid, with an average salary of over $90,000 — a figure that climbs with additional certifications and expertise.

As the minimum, industry-standard, nationally accredited qualification, this course will set you apart from others and give you a head start in the growing field of accounting. And with many providers offering online, self-paced study, you can fit your study around your schedule.

Explore your course options to learn more about the course curriculum, payment options and work placements.

These qualifications lead to the highest-paying jobs in Australia without a degree, according to the NCVER.

Some require that you already have a relevant qualification. Still, others with no prerequisites are suitable for beginners.

So you can gain an in-demand skillset at a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and start earning a good salary in just weeks, not months.

Nicholas Wyman
CEO of Skilling Australia Foundation

Source: NCVER.
Salary figures represent the median salary of those employed in their first full-time job after training.

Have you wondered, “what’s a good qualification to have?” Sometimes, the courses that lead to jobs with the best prospects or the highest salaries aren’t necessarily a good fit for your talents. For you, the best course might be one leads to a career where you can thrive.

Your transferable skills and interests mean you probably fit best into one of the seven job clusters.

Choose the one that sounds most like you to see your best fit courses.

“I want to help people to improve their mental or physical well-being.”

Average course length: 1 year

If you’re passionate about health and fitness, getting qualified in Pilates instruction can be your stepping stone to a vibrant and fulfilling career.

Pilates is a fantastic method to build strength, flexibility and alignment with low chances of injury — and is perfect for rehabilitating from injury or managing ongoing conditions.

And as health and fitness take an increasingly central place in our lives, more and more job opportunities open up. 

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

If you desire to help others improve their lives and mental health, counselling could be perfect for you.

The Diploma is the minimum qualification you need to become a registered counsellor. There are no prerequisites, so you can get started today, and study online on your own schedule. Curious about where a counselling course could take you? Enquire about a course today.

Average course length: 1 year

Are you a pharmacist looking to upskill and advance your career? This course will prepare you to work at a senior level with significant responsibility, like management or working in highly varied or specialised pharmacy contexts.

“I want to work closely with technology to build things and solve problems.”

Average course length: 1 year

Equip yourself with the practical skills you need to work in cyber security — a field experiencing massive growth and demand. Skill shortages mean your qualification will be in high demand, and once you’ve secured a position you can expect rapid promotions.

If you’re a complete beginner, or a working IT professional looking to move into cyber security, this course is perfect for you.

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Ready to jump feet first into a rewarding IT career? This is the stepping stone to get you there. 

This course will transform you into a networking specialist, in demand in businesses of all shapes and sizes. With no prerequisites and flexible online study options, get industry-ready without missing a beat.

Average course length: 1 year

Keen to kick-start your career in IT? Specialising as a networking practitioner opens many doors in this growing industry, and a Certificate IV could be your perfect fast track into an entry-level role. 

Designed for beginners, this course has no prerequisites and plenty of providers offer flexible online study.

“I want to gain expertise in a field so I can provide educational, business or information services.”

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

If you’re ready to take on more WHS responsibility in the workplace, this course will qualify you to step up and lead your colleagues. You’ll be qualified to implement health and safety measures in any organisation, ensuring it’s the healthiest and safest work environment possible.

This course is designed for beginners and has no prerequisites. However, if you already have a qualification, you’ll become a WHS officer in that field after completion.

Average course length: 1 year

If you’re working in the public service and want to move into an investigations-related role, this qualification is the perfect upskilling pathway to get you there.

Though it is a general qualification, you can choose to specialise in regulatory compliance. Learn everything you need to conduct an investigation ethically, thoroughly, and to meet official standards. 

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Are you working in Human Resources but frustrated at your inability to move up? Or perhaps you’re considering a career change into HR but don’t have the proper training?

An excellent fit for working professionals and beginners alike, the diploma will equip you with a broad range of skills to work effectively across a wide range of areas.

“I want to gain expertise in a field so I can provide educational, business or information services.”

Average course length: 1 year

Are you keen to try out a project management role, but are new to the field? If you’re a confident communicator and born organiser who’d love to bring projects from start to finish, project management could be the right fit for you.

The certificate IV is the perfect place to start building your skills, so you can get the basics down fast and start earning on-the-job experience.

Average course length: 1 year

Got your sights set on a project management job? This qualification can fast-track your progress into a dynamic and rewarding career.

Whether you’re interested in working with technology, government, construction or engineering, this broad qualification will prepare you to step in with confidence. Learn to manage your first project smoothly, from beginning to completion.

This course is a step up from the Certificate IV, expanding your capabilities and enabling accelerated career progression.

“I want to use my creative flair to make stuff and solve problems.”

Average course length: 1 year

Do you enjoy coming up with creative ideas and solving problems? Maybe you’d thrive in marketing, a field where art and science meet to promote ideas, change minds, and provide new solutions.

This course could be perfect for you if you’re ready to enter the marketing industry or upgrade your skills to better perform in your current role. While entry-level salaries are not high, there’s plenty of potential for career progression, leading you to six-figure salaries in just a few years.

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Building designers work with architects, and in many ways are similar, but with a narrower focus on the type of buildings — and without the years of demanding study.

This course will prepare you to become a building designer and design small-scale buildings in residential and commercial projects.

Average course length: 1 year – 18 months

Use your artistic gifts in real-world situations, applying your creative flair to solve problems and convey ideas in visual form.

As a graphic designer, you can enjoy the variety and fast pace of agency life, where you have many clients and projects on the go at once. Or you can be the go-to designer in-house at a company, or even start your own business. Whatever you choose, it’s a great launching pad for a creative career.

“I want to work closely with people to drive sales and deliver outstanding service.”

Average course length: 1 year

Always dreamed of starting your own business? With this course, you can put your dreams into practice. Learn to solve problems on your feet, make sound decisions, and build your empire from the ground up.

Average course length: 1 year

Are you great with people? A career in real estate is dynamic, varied and rewarding, and could be a great fit for you. You need at least a Certificate IV in Property Services to enter the industry and start building your base of loyal clients.

Average course length: 1 year

If you love the idea of making dream holidays happen, you could find your calling in travel and tourism.

This broad qualification can open doors into many areas, depending on where your interest lie — from travel agencies to tour operators and tourist attraction, get ready for the world to be your oyster.

“I want to work with my hands, outdoors, or with machinery.”

Average course length: 3-6 months

Specifically designed for apprentices in engineering trades, this qualification is your doorway to a variety of mechanical trade work careers.

Study while you work, becoming skilled in working with machines in the metal, engineering, and manufacturing industries.

Average course length: 1 year

Keen to get into engineering and manufacturing? If you love working with your hands and solving problems, you could find career satisfaction in the diverse engineering industry.

This broad qualification covers a wide range of areas and allows you to specialise in Fabrication, Maintenance and Fluid Power, or Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. It’s suited to both working tradespeople and apprentices, but it’s open to anybody.

If you want guaranteed employment, choosing a growing industry can be the right decision. According to the Australian Jobs Report, almost 2 in 3 of all new jobs will be created in the service industries:

• Health Care and Social Assistance   – including aged and disabled care, dental assisting, community services, and nurses
• Construction – usually entered through apprenticeships and traineeships, this includes many trades jobs.
• Education and Training   – includes teaching at all levels, from Teacher’s Aides to University Lecturers.

In a report released by the Skilling Australia Foundation, researchers found that TAFE graduates in full-time jobs earn an average salary of $2,000 more than university graduates in full-time jobs.

In the report, Wyman found that public perceptions of TAFE don’t line up with the facts. Australians estimated that TAFE graduates would earn less than University graduates, and that they would have lower job prospects.

But the opposite is true.

Either a TAFE or an RTO can deliver a vocational course. TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education. Similarly, VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. The difference is in who’s providing the course — TAFE institutes are government-owned, funded and run, while VET is broader and includes both TAFE courses and courses delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

Vocational education it’s an excellent alternative to a university degree as a path to meet your career goals. Especially if you’re interested in a more practical, hands-on career.

Don’t believe TAFE and VET lead to high paying jobs? Think again. You don’t need a university education to make bank. The numbers may surprise you or make you rethink the career advice you’ve heard before.

TAFE might be a better choice for you if:

• You’ve just finished high school and want to try a new career
• You want to make a career change
• You don’t enjoy the academic side of learning and prefer learning practical skills

Courses range from short Certificate III to Advanced Diploma courses, so you can choose the qualification level you need for the job you want.

TAFE courses with work placement mean a significant component of the course will be completed in the industry, which helps solve the problem of getting a job with no experience.

Not only do TAFE graduates earn more, the average rate of TAFE graduate employment is actually higher by around 9%.

It all shows that vocational education and training is far from being second-best, despite what people tend to think.

Nicholas Wyman
CEO of Skilling Australia Foundation

The most popular TAFE and VET qualifications are:

1. CHC33015 – Certificate III in Individual Support
2. CHC30113 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
3. BSB30115 – Certificate III in Business
4. CHC50113 – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
5. FSK20113 – Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
6. BSB51918 – Diploma of Leadership and Management
7. TAE40116 – Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
8. SIT20316 – Certificate II in Hospitality
9. UEE30811 – Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
10. CPC30211 – Certificate III in Carpentry
11. SIS30315 – Certificate III in Fitness
12. BSB20115 – Certificate II in Business
13. SIT30816 – Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
14. SIT30616 – Certificate III in Hospitality
15. SIR30216 – Certificate III in Retail
16. HLT54115 – Diploma of Nursing
17. SIT40516 – Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
18. FNS40217 – Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
19. BSB50215 – Diploma of Business
20. CHC32015 – Certificate III in Community Services
21. AUR30616 – Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
22. CHC52015 – Diploma of Community Services
23. SIT20416 – Certificate II in Kitchen Operations
24. BSB51415 – Diploma of Project Management
25. CHC30213 – Certificate III in Education Support
26. BSB30415 – Certificate III in Business Administration
27. RII30815 – Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
28. CPC40110 – Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
29. SIS30115 – Certificate III in Sport and Recreation
30. SIS20115 – Certificate II in Sport and Recreation

Source: NCVER 2021, Total VET students and courses 2020: program enrolments – DataBuilder, Total, Program name by Year

The highest TAFE qualification you can obtain is an advanced diploma, which usually takes two years of full-time study. In terms of levels, it sits just below a bachelor degree.