Study Carpentry Course

International students can’t do a carpentry apprenticeship in Australia. Instead, they can study a 24-month vocational course to become a qualified carpenter. Click here to read more about apprenticeships and vocational courses for international students.

If you complete this questionnaire we’ll be able to send you some detailed information on the course and explain what documents you’ll need for enrolment.

It can take between 12-24 months to become a qualified carpenter in Australia.

As per Job Outlook, a qualified carpenter earns $1,358 a week, on average.

The cost of studying carpentry can vary depending on the institute and range from $9,000 – $15,000 per year.

Employment for carpenters has risen moderately in the past five years and is expected to rise slightly in the long-term. Carpenters have a high proportion of full-time jobs (93.2 %). Carpentry is also on Australia’s Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List (MLTSSL).

Carpentry work is physical in nature and like most trades it can be physically demanding.

To work as a carpenter in Australia you’ll need the following essentials:

• Tax File Number or Australian Business Number – Both of these are required for tax purposes. A TFN is needed if you’re employed by an organisation or company. An ABN is needed if you’ll be self-employed.
• Personal Safety Equipment – Steel cap boots, high visibility workwear, safety glasses, ear protection, hard hat, gloves
• Tools – Drills, hand & power saws, basic hand tools, finishing & nailing guns
• Construction Industry White Card – This is required to enter any building site and shows that understand the basics of health and safety in the construction industry
• Insurance – Depending on how you’re employed you may need public liability insurance
• Carpentry Qualification – You must have successfully completed a minimum of Certificate III in Carpentry to be a qualified carpenter

A carpenter might do any of the following in a normal day:

• Reading and interpreting blueprints, drawings and sketches
• Building foundations, installing floor beams, laying sub-flooring and installing walls and roofing systems
• Fitting and installing trim, doors, stairs, moulding and hardware
• Preparing cost estimates for clients
• Measuring, cutting and joining materials made of wood or wood substitutes
• Repairing and renovating wooden structures

The two are very similar, but there is a difference between the two. Carpenters are generally responsible for building the structure of a building, whilst a joiner would be responsible for much of the interior and finishing work.

If you’d like to continue your studies after the Certificate III in Carpentry you can study a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). This qualification can be helpful if you’re looking to continue your career as a project supervisor, building manager, estimator or foreperson.

To be a qualified carpenter in Australia you need to successfully complete the Certificate III in Carpentry.

The requirements for a builder’s license vary from state to state in Australia. Generally, the academic requirements for a builder’s license are to have successfully completed a Certificate IV or Diploma of Building & Construction.

International students can study carpentry in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Perth.

These qualifications are part of the Australian Qualification Framework. Most countries specifically European or North American countries accept qualifications issued by Australia. So yes, generally speaking, the qualifications will be accepted and allow you to work in your home country. Please note, we would always you check specifically with your home country.