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  3. Primary Industries & Science
  4. Certificate III in Agriculture
QUALIFICATION

Certificate III in Agriculture


 National Code: AHC30122
 TAFE SA Code: TP01434


2025 start

Description

Turn your love for the land into your new career with this nationally accredited qualification. Gain the essential skills you need to work as a station or farm hand. Learn all about the latest practices in the agricultural industry including livestock breeding, animal health and nutrition, establishing pastures, and crop harvesting. You’ll also develop practical skills in operating and maintaining machinery and building stock fences. Choose from our wide range of electives to tailor your studies to suit you. Establish your career as a farm foreman, cropping overseer, or machinery operator on the land. Be yourself with TAFE SA.

Award Course Apprenticeships & Traineeships
Duration
Example Career Profile
Print Course Page
24 months 

Part Time

Senior Farmhand
Senior Farmhand
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Locations & Applications

Campus / Location
Code
Study Mode
Study Load
Scheduled
Barossa Valley

644005

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Mount Gambier

655343

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Port Lincoln

624314

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now

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On campus/location

On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.
Online

Online

Online – learn at your own pace, in your own space. Lecturer support will be provided via email and interaction with fellow students may be available via forums and chat groups. Online courses require access to a computer with an internet connection.
Blended

Blended

Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.
Workplace

Workplace

Workplace – if you are currently employed in the industry but do not have a formal qualification TAFE SA can recognise the skills you already have. The duration of the course will be determined by your individual study plan.
Full Time

Full Time

Full Time classes
Part Time

Part Time

Part Time classes
Day Classes

Day Classes

Day time classes
Evening Classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes
International

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

  • No course admission requirements
If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Please Read Before Applying

Industry Conditions and Skills
Some units require the ability to handle stock, cropping, and fencing which means you will need to have access to a farm to practice or complete all the requirements.

Additional Uniforms, Equipment and Costs
You will need to purchase and wear your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety boots and appropriate workwear (eg sun protection (hat), long pants, long sleeve shirt) (approx.
$100

  • $200) Incidental items
    • $45.00 for other personal protective equipment (eg gloves, safety glasses and spray suit)

    • Fees

    Average cost per semester
    Total Fees for the 24 month course
    Subsidised
    $1,366
    $5,462
    Concession
    $934
    $3,737
    You may be eligible for government subsidised training.
    Subsidised Training Eligibility
    Subsidised training may require applicants to complete a Core Skills Profile Assessment (CSPA).
    What is the CSPA?

    This course is part of the Fee Free TAFE initiative. Fee Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill. The eligibility check below is an indication only and does not confirm your eligibility status. Eligibility verification will take place before the enrolment process and may include participation in a Language, Literacy and Numeracy pre-assessment. The number of Fee Free TAFE places that are funded is limited by the terms of the skills agreement signed by the Australian and South Australian Governments. Should all available Fee Free TAFE places be taken, subsequent applicants will be offered a subsidised place.

    Fee Free Training Eligibility
    Full Fee
    $2,056
    $8,222

    • Help with Fees

      Upfront Payment

      Each semester, fees can be paid online with VISA or Mastercard or at an Australia Post outlet.

      Read More

      Payment Plan

      If you have difficulty paying your fees upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.

      Read More

    • Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

      Employment Outcomes

      Possible job titles relevant to this qualification include Farm or Station Hand, Farm or Station Worker.

      Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

      Qualifications & Skills Covered

      Certificate III in Agriculture (AHC30122)
      Learn vital skills for a sustainable industry from livestock breeding, health and transportation, to establishing pastures and crop harvesting. Become a qualified operator of machinery such as tractors, skid-steers and front-end loaders and learn best practice for building stock fences and more. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 2 core units and 14 elective units.

      Note: Students who successfully complete only one or more units of competency but not the full qualification are eligible to receive a Statement of Attainment.

      90%*
      of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.
      87%*
      of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.



      * 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

    • Course Units

      Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

      Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

      Core

      Name Nominal Hours
      Apply environmentally sustainable work practices 60
      Contribute to work health and safety processes 50

      Elective

      Name Nominal Hours
      Administer medication to livestock 80
      Apply biosecurity measures 100
      Artificially inseminate livestock 80
      Assist with artificial insemination procedures 20
      Care for and train working dogs 25
      Care for health and welfare of livestock 40
      Comply with industry animal welfare requirements 40
      Conduct Front End Loader Operations 60
      Conduct telescopic materials handler operations 80
      Control plant pests, diseases and disorders 80
      Control weeds 70
      Coordinate artificial insemination and fertility management of livestock 90
      Establish agricultural crops 60
      Establish pastures and crops for livestock production 80
      Establish pastures and crops for livestock production 80
      Euthanase livestock 40
      Identify and draft livestock 40
      Implement animal health control programs 50
      Implement feeding plans for livestock 140
      Keep production records for a primary production business 60
      Maintain agricultural crops 40
      Maintain Livestock Water Supplies 30
      Maintain pastures and crops for livestock production 60
      Milk livestock 30
      Operate and maintain chainsaws 40
      Operate machinery and equipment 40
      Operate pressurised irrigation systems 50
      Operate quad bikes 60
      Operate side by side utility vehicles 50
      Operate Tractors 40
      Plan and construct an electric fence 60
      Plan and construct conventional fencing 60
      Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases 70
      Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation 4
      Provide feed for livestock 30
      Provide First Aid 18
      Transport and store chemicals 50
      Undertake agricultural crop harvesting activities 80
      Undertake operational maintenance of machinery 30
      Work effectively in industry 30

    Further Information

    Brochure

    Course guide

    Brochure

    Pre-enrolment Brochure

    Contact us

    Course enquiries and more information

    Certificate III in Agriculture
    TP01434
    ︿
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