INTERNATIONAL

Certificate III in Hairdressing

CRICOS Code: 094561M
National Code: SHB30416

2025 2026

Description

Follow your passion for hair and beauty with the Certificate III in Hairdressing. This nationally recognised course is the essential qualification your need to be a hairdresser anywhere in Australia. Develop all the key skills you need to work in a professional salon including communication skills for consulting with clients and providing the full range of cutting, styling, colouring, perming, and straightening services. Choose from our wide range of electives to tailor your studies to your own interests and career ambitions. This practical, hands-on course is taught by industry professionals who know and love hairdressing. Gain the confidence to show your own creativity and express your artistic qualities in your work. Graduate ready to launch your hairdressing career and create looks that will turn heads.

Duration (incl. holidays)

Semester(s)

Teaching Duration

Example Career Profile

Print Course Page

104 weeks

80 weeks

Hairdresser

International Applications

Campus / Location

Study Mode

Contact Hours

Study Load

Commences

Scheduled

Adelaide City

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

21 hours per week

Full Time

January, July

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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.

Full Time

Full Time classes

Day Classes

Day time classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes

Course Admission Requirements
(for International Applications)

Academic IELTS score of 6.0 Overall with minimum of 5.0 in all bands or equivalent.
Satisfactory completion of Year 10 or overseas equivalent .

Course Notes

International students will gain valuable practical experience working in the TAFE SA on-campus salon with fee paying clients during their studies.

Fees

These course fees are for international students only.

Duration

Tuition Fees

Incidental Fees^*

Semester 1

AUD $6980

AUD $1210^*

Semester 2

AUD $6980

Semester 3

AUD $6980

Semester 4

AUD $6980

Fee Totals

AUD $27920

AUD $1210^*

Total Course Cost

AUD $29130

* International students will need to purchase a hairdressing kit containing essential equipment necessary for learning practical skills (approximate cost $A1210). Details will be provided upon commencement.

Note: TAFE SA course tuition and other fees/costs are subject to regular increases and are reviewed annually. TAFE SA accepts applications for courses commencing beyond the current year, course, tuition and other fees/costs for these years will apply once published. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to alter, amend or delete any fee, course, admission requirement, mode of delivery, duration or other arrangement without prior notice. If the study duration is extended beyond the period of the student’s visa the student will be liable for visa and related costs, eg medical examinations, OSHC and living expenses.

Overseas Students Health Cover

All overseas students are required to have Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC) insurance for the entire duration of the course. The health cover rate will vary depending on the personal circumstances and duration of stay in Australia. Read more about Overseas Students Health Cover.

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

Employment Outcomes

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 Hairdressing (SHB30416)
You will learn how to cut, colour, chemically reform and style your client's hair. You will also learn about client communication and service which includes discussing the needs of your client and styling according to their requirements. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 21 core units and 7 elective units.

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	Subject Code	National Code
Apply safe hygiene, health and work practices	40	BABRN	SHBXWHS001
Colour and lighten hair	65	BABTR	SHBHCLS002
Communicate as part of a salon team	30	BABTD	SHBXIND002
Comply with organisational requirements within a personal services environment	45	BABRM	SHBXIND001
Conduct salon financial transactions	25	BABRK	SHBXCCS001
Create finished hair designs	50	BABWA	SHBHDES003
Create graduated haircut structures	35	BABSN	SHBHCUT003
Create layered haircut structures	35	BABSP	SHBHCUT004
Create one length or solid haircut structures	30	BABSM	SHBHCUT002
Cut hair using over-comb techniques	30	BABSR	SHBHCUT005
Design haircut structures	20	BABSL	SHBHCUT001
Develop and expand a client base	35	BABTB	SHBHIND003
Identify and treat hair and scalp conditions	25	BABTC	SHBHTRI001
Maintain and organise tools, equipment and work areas	20	BABTA	SHBHIND001
Neutralise unwanted colours and tones	55	BABTT	SHBHCLS004
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices	20	FABRL	BSBSUS201
Provide full and partial head highlighting treatments	45	BABTS	SHBHCLS003
Provide on scalp full head and retouch bleach treatments	55	BABTW	SHBHCLS005
Provide salon services to clients	40	BABRL	SHBXCCS002
Provide shampoo and basin services	40	BABSK	SHBHBAS001
Straighten and relax hair with chemical treatments	45	BABWG	SHBHREF002

Elective

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Braid hair	30	BABTN	SHBHDES002
Create classic long hair up-styles	30	BABWB	SHBHDES004
Create combined haircut structures	45	BABTF	SHBHCUT006
Create combined traditional and classic mens haircut structures	45	BABSS	SHBHCUT007
Curl and volumise hair with chemical treatments	65	BABWF	SHBHREF001
Design and maintain beards and moustaches	20	BABSW	SHBHCUT011
Produce visual merchandise displays	35	SAAXH	SIRRMER001
Provide head, neck and shoulder massages for relaxation	20	BABTL	SHBHBAS002
Receive and handle retail stock	35	SAAWD	SIRRINV001
Recommend products and services	20	BABTH	SHBXCCS004
Research and use hairdressing industry information	15	BABTG	SHBHIND002
Shave heads and faces	25	BABSX	SHBHCUT012
Straighten and relax hair with protein treatments	45	BABWH	SHBHREF003

Living in Adelaide

The city created for students

You will never find another city like Adelaide. With welcoming locals, it is the perfect place for you to study, live and enjoy.

A student city

Adelaide is home to over 30,000 international students and has a strong and growing reputation as an education city. In addition to TAFE SA, Adelaide is home to six world-leading universities: The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Carnegie Mellon University, Torrens University Australia and CQ University Australia.

Safe

Adelaide’s crime rates are the lowest in the country and for that reason, Adelaide has previously been named the safest city in Australia.

Beach Culture

Adelaide’s pristine sandy beaches are just a 20 minute tram ride from the city centre. On hot summer days, you can study in the day and take the tram to have dinner at the beach and watch the sunset with friends.

Live centrally

Accommodation is more affordable in Adelaide than in other cities in Australia making it often possible for students to live in the heart of the city or just outside. This means more time is spent studying and less time travelling.

Delicious!

Adelaide is known for its cafe culture, with more cafes and restaurants by population than any other city in Australia. In recent years, Adelaide has also developed a vibrant and varied bar scene. The city is big enough that you will struggle to visit all of the places you would like to drink and eat in during in your first year of study. Our mix of cultures means there’s likely to be a supermarket that sells food from your home country too.

Easy to get around

Adelaide is a flat city so it is ideal for walking or cycling. Its grid layout makes it almost impossible to get lost! There are free trams and buses around the city centre. International students can show their ID to get cheaper tickets.

Festivals

Adelaide is known for its festivals, which are famous around the world. WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival and Cabaret Festival are just some of the international arts and music festivals that keep the city buzzing

Everyone agrees – Adelaide is a great place to live and study

Adelaide is recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. In 2014, Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel book ranked Adelaide in the global top ten. For the last four years Adelaide has been ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Beautiful weather

Adelaide has four distinct seasons, with moderate winters and warm to hot summers. In winter you will need woolly jumpers and jackets and in summer, shorts and t-shirts. The heat in South Australia is dry, rather than humid.