HomeCoursesTravel and tourism courses
Travel and tourism courses
8 travel and tourism qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 8
on this page
- Providers
- 130
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $69,200–$74,500
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +9%
2 of 2 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The travel and tourism qualifications
8 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate III in Guiding
10 providersThis qualification trains you to lead tours and look after groups of visitors, either at a single site or across a region.
Certificate IIITour GuideView qualification →Certificate III in Tourism
36 providersThis qualification prepares you to work on the front line of tourism, in roles where you look after visitors, answer their questions and help them get what they need from a trip or an attraction.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Travel
23 providersThis qualification prepares you to plan and book travel for customers, either in an office or shopfront, for a corporate travel company or online agency.
Certificate IIITravel AgentView qualification →Certificate IV in Guiding
6 providersA Certificate IV in Guiding prepares you to run tours largely on your own, from half-day city walks to multi-day programs that involve bookings, transport and several sites.
Certificate IVTour GuideView qualification →Certificate IV in Travel and Tourism
16 providersThis qualification is for people who want to coordinate travel and tourism services rather than just deliver them, often with some responsibility for a small team.
Certificate IVView qualification →Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management
35 providersThis diploma is for people who already know their way around travel and tourism and want to move into managing others, or run a small operation of their own.
DiplomaView qualification →
What travel and tourism study leads to
The 2 roles where a travel and tourism qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Tour Guide
Enter through the Certificate III in Guiding or the Certificate IV in Guiding. Work within the guiding activities and locations covered by the course; check local access and employer requirements.
Median salary for the role
$74,500
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Travel Agent
The direct route is the Certificate III in Travel. Complete the qualification and its stated entry and workplace requirements; check employer-specific requirements.
Median salary for the role
$69,200
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.