Tafe Qualifications | Choosing A Tafe Course | Youth Central

TAFE and training courses can give you worthwhile skills for just about every industry. Training gives you pathways to further training and better careers. Some TAFE institutes also offer higher education (university-equivalent) qualifications.

TAFE qualifications – the basics

TAFE courses offer a range of qualifications, from Certificate I up to Graduate Diplomas. Generally speaking, the higher a TAFE qualification, the longer it takes to complete.

  • Certificate II and III courses can usually be finished in less than six months.
  • Diploma courses can take up to three years to complete.

Here's a rough breakdown of TAFE and training qualifications:

  • Certificate I courses teach basic skills that can be used in simple jobs.
  • Certificate II courses train participants for entry-level positions or apprenticeships.
  • Certificate III courses help you to develop skills, knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
  • Certificate IV courses train you for supervisory and management positions.
  • Diploma courses teach skills in professional, technical or creative fields.
  • Advanced Diploma courses teach high-level skills in technical, professional and creative fields.
  • Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma courses are equivalent to a university degree with Honours.

For more detailed information about TAFE qualifications, check out the Australian Qualifications Framework website.

Choosing a TAFE or training course

The best way to make a decision about what kind of TAFE or training course to do is to work backwards: 

  1. Think about what kind of job you might like in the future.
  2. Find out what skills or qualifications you’ll need.

You can start your research with these pages on Youth Central:

To find a subject or course that you can study at TAFE in Victoria, use the Course Search tools on the Victorian Skills Gateway to find courses by:

  • course name
  • area of interest
  • institution.

For more advice about choosing courses, visit:

How to apply for a TAFE or training course

Applications for most courses can be made directly to either:

  • the institution or training provider
  • the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

To find out how to apply for a specific course, you'll need to do some research on each provider you're interested in. You can find information by either: 

  • visiting their website
  • contacting them directly.

Use the course search tools on the Victorian Skills Gateway to find contact details and web addresses for TAFE and training providers. 

For more information about applying for courses, check out our Applying for courses section.

Get help paying for your TAFE or training course

The Victorian Government can subsidise training can help make TAFE and training more accessible to people who either:

  • don't already have a post-school qualification (for example, if they have only completed school to year 10, 11 or 12)
  • want a higher level qualification than they already have.

It provides subsidised training for all eligible Victorians, which can mean things like:

  • cheaper fees
  • guaranteed places in courses.

To see if you're eligible: 

Find out more about TAFE and training

If you have any other questions about TAFE and training in Victoria, you can