Vocational education qualifications

Vocational education and training (VET) institutions specialise in providing students with hands-on experience and real-world skills. Courses are taught within an array of industries, including: administration, retail, tourism and hospitality, construction, utilities, community services and health, transport, mining, manufacturing, and technology.

VET qualifications are outcome-based and focus on the occupational skills and competencies gained. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognises prior learning or current competence in the industry. This makes credit transfer easier and offers students flexible learning pathways. Qualifications range across four levels of certificates (Certificate I, II, III and IV), as well as Diploma courses and Advanced Diploma courses.

Your VET course will broaden your skills in a specialised area that teaches you the practical experience you'll need for the workplace. It will train you to design, plan, and execute the practical and technical aspects of your field in an industry context.

Listed below are the qualifications and possible career outcomes of Australian VET courses:

Certificate I

Duration - 4 to 6 months
Career outcome - Competent operator
Certificate II

Duration - About 1 year
Career outcome - Advanced operator
Certificate III

Duration - About 1 year
Career outcome - Qualified tradesperson or technician
Certificate IV

Duration - 12 to 18 months
Career outcome - Supervisor
Diploma

Duration - 18 to 24 months
Career outcome - Para-professional
Advanced Diploma

Duration - 24 to 36 months
Career outcome - Junior manager