Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
Certificate III · 2–3 years
Coded CPC30620 (previously CPC30611), the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating is the standard Australian trade qualification for painters. It covers surface preparation, application techniques, decorative finishes and the use of contemporary paint systems on residential and commercial sites.
What’s covered
- Surface preparation, sanding, priming, and patching
- Application of interior and exterior paint systems
- Decorative finishes: texture, special-effects, and wallpaper
- Estimating, quoting, and project management basics
- Workplace health and safety, including hazardous materials handling
Apprenticeship and visa pathway
Like other CPC30-series qualifications, painting and decorating is traditionally an apprenticeship. International delivery is structured to combine workshop training with industry placement. Painting occupations periodically appear on regional skilled-migration lists.
Career outcomes
Qualified painters and decorators work across new residential builds, renovation projects, and commercial fit-outs, with plenty of graduates eventually moving into running their own small painting business once they’ve built up a client base and reputation. The trade also has a decorative specialisation side (feature finishes, wallpaper, heritage restoration work) that some painters develop further as a point of difference once they’re established. Because painting occupations only appear on certain regional skilled-migration lists rather than the national list consistently, students who are specifically targeting migration should check current regional occupation lists carefully before assuming this trade qualifies, rather than treating it the same as trades like electrical or plumbing that appear more reliably.
How to choose a provider
Given this is a hands-on trade, look at the scale and realism of each provider’s workshop facilities and how industry placement is arranged. TAFE NSW places students on-site with real projects around Sydney, giving direct exposure to live jobs, while Holmesglen runs structured workshop-based training in Melbourne with its own placement arrangements. Since the visa and migration angle for this trade is more regionally specific than for some others, it’s worth discussing your particular migration goals with each provider’s international student office before enrolling, so you understand how the qualification fits your plans. As always, confirm current fees directly with the provider rather than relying on figures published elsewhere.
Entry requirements
- Year 10 or equivalent
- IELTS 5.5 (or institute equivalent)
- Reasonable physical fitness and tolerance for working at heights