Certificate 3 Guarantee

What is the Certificate 3 Guarantee?

Part of the Queensland Government's Great Skills, Real Opportunities action plan, the guarantee gives working-age Queenslanders access to their first certificate III qualification through a subsidy that reduces the cost of the course. This subsidy gives working-age Queenslanders who don't hold a formal qualification a chance to develop their skills and improve their employment prospects.

A certificate III is the first level of post-school qualification shown to have a significant impact on a person's employment and earnings. It is also the level of qualification usually required to get a job in the emerging industries of aged care, child care, hospitality and small business.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to access the Certificate 3 Guarantee, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with an eligible visa subclass
• be 15 years old or over
• live in Queensland and have left school*
• not already have, or be enrolled in a certificate III level or higher qualification, not including qualifications completed at secondary school and foundations skills training.
• Some courses may require the student to be an existing worker in the related industry.

*Some Start TAFE Now students will be able to access training through the Queensland Government’s VET in Schools.

For more information about eligibility, check the Certificate 3 Guarantee Student Fact Sheet or contact 13 27 86.

Government Concession Eligibility

To be eligible for a Queensland Government concession fee, you must be eligible to access Certificate 3 Guarantee, as well as meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• have, or be listed on an Australian Government Low Income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
• hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
• if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• if you have a disability.

How can the Certificate 3 Guarantee help?

The Certificate 3 Guarantee subsidises course costs for certificate III courses and supporting programs. Subsidy amounts depend upon the chosen course and other factors including possession of a health care or pensioner concession card.

To help students who may need to develop skills before undertaking a certificate III course, the Certificate 3 Guarantee also covers study in language, literacy and numeracy programs as well as lower certificate qualifications that lead to a certificate III.

Students who hold a healthcare or pension concession card or identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander will receive a higher subsidy.