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HomeCoursesHorticultureCertificate III in Horticulture

Certificate III in Horticulture

This qualification trains you to care for gardens, parks, turf and planted landscapes as a paid horticulturist, working under broad supervision but trusted to make your own calls on the job.

Illustration of a person working as horticulturist
  • Duration: 6 months to 2 years
  • Study mode: Online, on campus and workplace based
  • Course code: AHC30722

Where you can study this course

Where
Study mode

  • Melbourne Polytechnic

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    Campuses
    13 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.

  • TAFE NSW

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    Campuses
    13 campuses
    Duration
    6 months to 2 years
    Study mode
    Varies by campus
    Full fee
    $14,030
    Eligible students: subsidised from $2,190, concession $240

    What students say

    Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.

  • Charles Darwin University

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    Campuses
    12 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students often praise the facilities and campus, while some value student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on trainers and teaching, with communication also a concern.

  • TAFE Gippsland

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    Campuses
    11 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • TAFE Queensland

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    Campuses
    6 campuses
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $7,705
    Eligible students: subsidised from $3,230, concession $2,670

    What students say

    Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.

  • TAFE SA

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    26 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.

  • Alffie

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    2 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Some students found the course content frustrating and the trainers and teaching lacking, and a number questioned the cost and value, while many value the student support, though opinions on the content are mixed.

  • Box Hill Institute

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    4 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students speak highly of the trainers and teaching, with the campus and facilities also well regarded. Many found student support frustrating, along with organisation and communication.

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

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Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

  • Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:

  • an interest in plants and how they grow
  • a willingness to work outdoors in all weather
  • good hand skills for pruning and machinery
  • a careful approach to safety and chemicals

What will you learn?

You learn to identify and select plants, prepare and apply chemicals for weeds, pests and diseases, run pressurised irrigation systems, improve soil for garden beds and turf, and use machinery and equipment safely. Specialist amenity pruning is part of the core, so you finish able to shape trees and shrubs to a professional standard. It suits people starting out in amenity horticulture rather than those chasing a trade outcome, since it is not a substitute for a horticulture trade qualification.

  • Identifying and selecting plants
  • Safe chemical handling and storage
  • Spraying weeds, pests and diseases
  • Running irrigation systems
  • Soil improvement for gardens and turf
  • Specialist pruning of trees and shrubs

Units of competency (11 core, 6 elective)

The qualification is made up of 17 units. Everyone completes the 11 core units below, and the remaining 6 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Career pathways

Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.

Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).