Trade Courses in Australia: Certificate III in Painting and Decorating

Want to get paid to paint walls, not just help your mate paint his bedroom? This course might be for you.

Certificate III in Painting and Decorating is one of the popular trade courses in Australia.

Plus, Painting Trades Worker (ANZSCO 332211), which is the job outcome of Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, is listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

If you enjoy transforming dull spaces into something fresh and vibrant, this course could be a great career and PR move.

Want to learn more?

Below, we’ll talk about your study options, job outcomes, and how this course can paint your future in Australia.

Key Facts

• Course Duration: 1 to 2 years full-time

• Delivery Mode: In-person (on-campus with hands-on training and simulated worksites)

• Average Fees: Around AUD 12,000 – $20,000 for international students

Course Overview

In this hands-on course, you’ll learn how to prepare surfaces, mix colours, and apply paint. You’ll also learn how to hang wallpaper (without getting it stuck to your face) and use tools and materials safely on real job sites.

You’ll work on both homes and commercial buildings.  

By the end of the course, you'll know how to protect, decorate, and bring walls to life. And yes, you’ll finally understand the difference between eggshell, satin, and gloss (kudos, if you already do!).

Who is this for?
This course is ideal for you if you:

• Want to work in the building and construction industry

• Enjoy hands-on work and have an eye for detail and design.

Course Outcomes
After completing this course, you’ll receive a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30620). It can lead to jobs like:

• Painting Trades Worker

They prepare surfaces, mix paints, apply coatings, and finish walls, ceilings, or structures. Works on both residential and commercial sites.

• Residential or Commercial Painter

Focuses on painting homes, apartments, offices, and buildings. 

• Industrial Coating Technician

Specialises in applying protective coatings to structures like bridges, factories, or pipelines. Often works with industrial-strength paints to prevent rust, corrosion, or chemical damage.

Several trusted schools in Australia offer Certificate III in Painting and Decorating. These providers are CRICOS-approved, which means international students like you can enrol and meet student visa requirements.

Here are your options per state: 

Cost for International Students

As an international student, you’ll need to pay the full course fees. Here's a rough estimate of what to expect for this qualification:

• Certificate III in Painting and Decorating: Around AUD $12,000 – $16,000

Here are the sample full course fees per institution:

• TAS TAFE- AUD $16,505.00

• Vocational Training Institute - AUD $12,000

• Melbourne College of Business and Technology - AUD 16,500

• Australia Institute of Business and Technology - AUD $14,000

You’ll also need to budget for extra costs, such as:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – e.g., boots, gloves, high-vis clothing

• Painting tools and equipment

• Textbooks and learning material

Studying painting and decorating in Australia doesn’t always mean paying full price.

Depending on your visa, where you live, or even what you’ve already studied, you might be eligible for subsidised fees or reduced costs.

For example, if you’re applying to TAS TAFE and you:

• Hold a Tasmanian-nominated Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa

• Work in Tasmania

You might qualify for a subsidised fee. 

Here are some other situations:

• Are you on a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, like the 491?

• Are you a continuing student who’s already completed a lower-level course that leads into this one?

• Do you have any scholarships (or qualify for one)? 

• Does your chosen school provide payment plans? Where you pay in plans instead of paying the full course fee upfront?

If you said yes to any of the above, you might not need to pay full international fees.

But here’s the tricky part: fee rules change from state to state. 

That’s where IDP can help.

We’ll check your visa, your course history, and even your location, so you know exactly what you're eligible for. We can also help you find and apply for scholarships. 

If there’s a way to save on fees, we’ll help you find it.

I want to find out if I qualify for lower fees

I want to find scholarships

To enrol in a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating in Australia, you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old at the start of the course.

• Education: You should have completed Years 10 to 12, or an equivalent level of schooling in your home country.

• Physical Fitness: Painting and decorating is hands-on work. You’ll need to be okay with standing for long hours, climbing ladders, and using tools like rollers, brushes, and spray guns.

• English Language: Most schools require an IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent). This ensures you can understand instructions, especially when it comes to safety and technical skills.

Book your IELTS with IDP. We help you perform your best on test day with FREE practice tests with answers. If you want personalised guidance, you can even enrol in our IELTS Coaching. 

And whenever you are ready, we will help you book IELTS at the nearest test centre to you.

Entry requirements are specific to institutions. If you want to know the entry requirements in your chosen institution, and according to your personal and educational background, don’t hesitate to ask our education experts.

I want to check my eligibility for this course 

Job Outcomes After Painting and Decorating Training

Once you finish this course, you’ll be ready to join Australia’s booming construction industry. Here are some of the jobs you can apply for:

• Painting Trades Worker

• Residential or Commercial Painter

• Industrial Painter

• Heritage or Decorative Finishes Specialist

What You’ll Study: Sample Core Units

To give you a clear picture of what to expect, we’ve reviewed the core units offered by several top institutions in Australia and created a general list that reflects the most common subjects taught in this course.

Here are the core units you’ll typically study:

• Use painting and decorating tools and equipment

• Handle and store painting materials safely

• Apply paint by brush, roller, and spray

• Prepare both coated and uncoated surfaces for painting

• Match paint colours and apply decorative finishes

• Remove and apply wallpaper

• Apply stains, clear finishes, and protective coatings

• Erect and maintain trestle, plank, and restricted-height scaffolding

• Operate elevated work platforms (up to 11 metres)

• Calculate material and labour costs for jobs

• Read and interpret building plans and drawings

• Carry out measurements and basic construction calculations

• Work safely at heights and on lead-painted or asbestos-affected surfaces

• Follow WHS (Work Health & Safety) practices on-site

• Communicate, plan, and organise tasks effectively in a team environment

Your Road to PR: How Painting and Decorating Can Support Your Migration Plans

Do you want to live in Australia after your studies? While no course can guarantee permanent residency (PR), studying Painting and Decorating can help you move closer to that goal—if you follow the right steps after finishing your course.

Here’s how your pathway to PR can look:

1. Start on a student visa

First, enrol in a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating at a CRICOS-approved school. This course gives you the skills and training needed to work as a painter and decorator in Australia.

2. Apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

After finishing your course, you might be able to apply for the 485 Graduate Work visa. This visa lets you stay in Australia for up to 18 months (sometimes longer) to get local work experience in your trade.

3. Find a job and get experience

Use your 485 visa time wisely. Try to get full-time work as a painter and decorator. This experience is very important—it helps you meet the requirements for skilled migration visas later.

4. Apply for a skills assessment

To apply for skilled visas, you need a positive skills assessment. For painters and decorators, this is usually done through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).

They will check that you have the right skills and enough work experience (usually at least 12 months after graduation).

5. Apply for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa

Once you meet all the requirements (like age, English level, skills assessment, and experience), you can apply for one of these skilled visas:

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – no sponsorship needed

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – needs a state or territory nomination

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – for work in regional areas

Want to plan your PR pathway and know your opportunities after this course?

Ask an IDP visa and migration expert 

Ready to Paint Your Future?

Ready to apply for a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating course?

Or maybe, you’re still thinking things through.

Maybe it’s the course fees or your eligibility for entry requirements. 

Or maybe you’re even wondering if you could get a job in Australia after this course, or how this course could help you gain permanent residency. 

You’re right to worry about all these things.

But instead of overthinking them, why not talk to an expert?

At IDP, we have helped thousands of international students secure their dream courses and PR pathways in Australia. Wherever your worries, goals, and current situation are, we can help figure out the best route for you.

So, stop overthinking, let’s paint your future now.