CPC30620 · Nationally Recognised Training

Certificate III in Painting and Decorating

Train for a real trade outcome across residential and commercial construction. Blended delivery with hands-on workshop sessions in fully equipped facilities at Parramatta, taught by trainers who have worked the tools.

Duration
104 weeks
Delivery
Blended · 20 hrs/week
Units
29 (26 core + 3 elective)
Total course cost
AU$45,000

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Course snapshot

Everything in one view

Course code
CPC30620
CRICOS course code
118437B
CRICOS provider
04146E
RTO number
41244
Duration
104 weeks
Training split
83 training + 21 holiday
Weekly study
15 hrs on campus / 5 hrs online
Total course cost
AU$45,000
Start here

Which one describes you?

Entry requirements, timelines and paperwork differ depending on where you are applying from. Pick the closest match and we will send you the right information.

Applying from overseas

You will need a Confirmation of Enrolment before you can apply for a student visa. We walk you through the sequence.

Already on a student visa

Transferring providers or moving into a trade qualification. Release and transfer rules apply, so talk to us first.

Education agent

Placing students in trade qualifications. Request the agent pack with fees, intakes and commission terms.

Course fees and costs

What this course costs

We publish the full fee up front rather than asking you to call and find out. Approved course credit may reduce both your fees and your course duration.

Tuition fee
AU$40,000
Non-tuition fee
AU$5,000
Estimated total course cost
AU $45,000

Fees are for the full 104-week qualification. Approved course credit or recognition of prior learning may reduce both the fee and the duration. You will receive written notice of any change, and a new CoE if credit is approved after your original CoE has been issued.

What your fees cover

Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

On successful completion you will have the practical skills and knowledge to work competently in the painting and decorating industry.

01 / SAFETY

Work safely on site

Apply safe work practices and WHS requirements, including working at heights, restricted-height scaffolding, lead-painted surfaces and non-friable asbestos.

02 / PREP

Prepare surfaces

Clean, sand, patch and prime both previously coated and uncoated surfaces to the standard every good finish coat depends on.

03 / TOOLS

Select and use equipment

Choose the right tools, equipment and materials for each task, and maintain them to industry requirements.

04 / FINISH

Apply professional finishes

Apply paint and decorative finishes to a professional standard by brush, roller and spray across residential and commercial projects.

05 / PLANS

Read plans and specs

Read and interpret work instructions, plans and specifications, and carry out measurements and cost calculations for construction work.

06 / SITE

Work with a crew

Work effectively in a team or independently, and communicate clearly with supervisors, team members and clients.

Hands on from week one

You learn the trade by doing the trade

Theory has its place, but a finish coat is judged on the wall, not on paper. Practical sessions run in purpose-built workshops that simulate real residential and commercial job sites, using the same tools, coatings and safety systems you will meet on site.

Trade student sanding and filling a plasterboard wall in preparation for painting
Painting and decorating student in respirator and coveralls using an airless spray gun in a spray booth
Course structure

29 units of competency

To achieve this qualification you must demonstrate competency in 26 core units and 3 elective units. Electives are selected as three from the listed electives, or two from the listed electives plus one from any endorsed Training Package or accredited course that supports a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome at this AQF level.

Prerequisites: an asterisk (*) against a unit code indicates a prerequisite requirement. Prerequisite units must be assessed before assessment of any unit marked with an asterisk. All prerequisite requirements are packaged within the qualification.

CODETITLE
CORE UNITS
⁠CPCCOM1012Work effectively and sustainably in the construction industry
CPCCOM1013Plan and organise work
CPCCOM1014Conduct workplace communication
CPCCCM3005Calculate costs of construction work
CPCCWHS2001Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry
CPCCOM1015Carry out measurements and calculations
CPCCOM2001*Read and interpret plans and specifications
CPCCCM2012*Work safely at heights
CPCCCM2008*Erect and dismantle restricted height scaffolding
CPCCCM3001Operate elevated work platforms up to 11 metres
CPCCPB3026*Erect and maintain trestle and plank systems
CPCCPD2011*Handle and store painting and decorating materials
CPCCPD2012*Use painting and decorating tools and equipment
CPCCPD2013*Remove and replace doors and door and window components
CPCCPD3021*Prepare existing coated surface for painting
CPCCPD3022*Apply paint by brush and roller
CPCCPD3023*Apply texture coat paint finishes by brush, roller and spray
CPCCPD3024*Apply paint by spray
CPCCPD3025*Match specific paint colours
CPCCPD3026*Apply stains and clear timber finishes
CPCCPD3027*Remove and apply wallpaper
CPCCPD3028*Apply decorative paint finishes
CPCCPD3030*Apply protective paint coating systems
CPCCPD3031*Work safely with lead-painted surfaces in the painting industry
CPCCPD3035*Prepare uncoated surfaces for painting
CPCCPD3036*Work safely to encapsulate non-friable asbestos in the painting industry
Elective
BSBESB301Investigate business opportunities
BSBESB303Organise finances for new business venture
CPCCPD3029*Remove graffiti and apply anti-graffiti coatings

Two of the three electives cover business skills, useful if you intend to work towards running your own painting operation.

Training, resources and delivery

Where and how you will train

Pacific College Sydney provides industry-relevant training and modern facilities so students develop practical skills that match current workplace expectations.

Modern Pacific College Sydney classroom at the Parramatta campus with desks, display screen and floor-to-ceiling windows

Level 4, 79 George Street, Parramatta

Classes and practical workshop sessions run at our Parramatta campus in the heart of Sydney’s second CBD, a short walk from Parramatta station and the light rail.

Resources and study materials

Delivery mode

Student support

Entry requirements

What you need to enrol

Applicants also complete a pre-enrolment review so we can identify any additional support you may need to finish the course successfully.

Not sure you meet these?

Most applicants who think they fall short actually have a pathway: through the LLN test, an EAP course, the White Card course, or prior study in Australia. Send us your details and we will tell you exactly where you stand and what is missing.

Career outcomes

Where this qualification takes you

CPC30620 is the standard trade qualification for painting and decorating in Australia. Graduates work across residential, commercial and maintenance settings, or build towards running their own operation.

Painter and Decorator

Residential and commercial projects: decorative finishes, wallpapering and protective coating systems.

Maintenance Painter

Ongoing painting and surface maintenance for property portfolios, facilities, strata and government contracts.

Construction Painter

New-build and fit-out work on construction sites, working to plans, specifications and site safety systems.

Renovation and Repainting Specialist

Preparing and recoating existing surfaces on renovation work, including lead-safe and heritage-sensitive jobs.

Apprentice Painter and Decorator

Supports entry into apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements with employers in the construction sector.

Self-employed Painter and Decorator

With relevant experience and licensing. The two business electives support quoting, costing and organising finances.

Graduates also find employment with building companies, maintenance firms and painting contractors. The qualification is a pathway to Certificate IV level study in painting, decorating or building, and towards supervisory roles.

Licensing and registration requirements for painting and decorating work differ between states and territories. Check with the relevant regulatory authority in the state where you intend to work.

Assessment

How you will be assessed

Assessments are based on real workplace situations that meet industry standards, carried out in a simulated work environment to assess hands-on competency, collaboration and time management.

Methods include project work, presentations, reports, portfolios, case studies and short-answer questions. Assessment tasks:

Materials provided

Clear instructions, templates and resources for each task, an assessment plan for tracking due dates, and a cover sheet for each submission. Supporting documents, policies and procedures for simulated workplace tasks are set out in the student and assessor guides.

Re-assessment and appeals

Students who do not meet competency requirements have the opportunity to be reassessed, with the process and criteria provided in advance. If you believe an assessment was not conducted fairly, the college has a formal appeals process aligned with regulatory standards.

Course credit and RPL

You can apply for course credit using past skills and experience, through credit transfer or recognition of prior learning. For international students, approved credit may reduce both your fees and your course duration, with written notice of the outcome and a new CoE if approved after your original CoE was issued.

Read the International Student Handbook →

Award issued: students who successfully complete this nationally recognised training are awarded the CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating. Students who complete some but not all units receive a Statement of Attainment for the units achieved.

Students

What students say

Painting and decorating student holding a brush in front of a freshly painted feature wall
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Sayeed Parvez
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Daljeet Singh
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Excellence service with great sager paudel sir
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Fong Kwok
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The process

Four steps to your first class

01

Enquire

Send your details. An admissions adviser confirms your eligibility, the fee that applies to you, and the next intake date.

02

Assess

Provide your Year 12 evidence, English results and White Card. If you do not meet the English requirement, complete the LLN test.

03

Offer

Receive a written offer with the full fee schedule. Accept, pay the deposit, and your CoE is issued for your visa application.

04

Enrol

Complete enrolment, attend orientation at Parramatta, and start on your intake date.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does CPC30620 cost at Pacific College Sydney?

The tuition fee is AU$40,000 and non-tuition fees are AU$5,000, giving an estimated total course cost of AU$45,000 for the full 104-week qualification. Approved course credit or recognition of prior learning may reduce both the fee and the duration.

How long is the course?

104 weeks in total: 83 weeks of training and assessment plus 21 weeks of holiday. Study is 20 hours per week, made up of 15 hours face-to-face on campus and 5 hours online.

Where is the course delivered?

At Level 4, 79 George Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, Sydney. Practical workshop sessions and face-to-face classes are held on campus, with the online component completed remotely.

Do I need painting experience to enrol?

No prior painting or construction experience is required. The qualification starts from handling materials and using tools, and builds through surface preparation, application and finishing. If you do have relevant experience, you may be able to apply for course credit.

Do I need a White Card before I start?

Yes. To enter this qualification you must hold either CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry, or a current White Card. If you do not hold one yet, speak to admissions and we will point you to an approved provider.

What English level do I need?

Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or one of the accepted alternatives:

  • Upper-Intermediate level English
  • Successful completion of an EAP course from an approved ELICOS or ESL centre
  • Evidence of completing a VET course at Certificate IV or above in Australia

Applicants who do not meet these will need to complete an LLN test before enrolment.

How many units do I have to complete?

29 units: 26 core and 3 elective. Electives are chosen as three from the listed electives, or two from the listed electives plus one from any endorsed Training Package or accredited course that supports a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome at this AQF level.

Can I get credit for skills or study I already have?

Yes. You can apply for course credit through credit transfer or recognition of prior learning. Applications are assessed fairly and, for international students, approved credit may reduce your fees and course duration. You will receive written notice of the outcome, and a new CoE showing the updated duration if credit is approved after your original CoE was issued. Full details are in the International Student Handbook.

What happens if I am assessed as not yet competent?

You have the opportunity to be reassessed. The re-assessment process and criteria are provided in advance. If you believe an assessment was not conducted fairly, there is a formal appeals process that operates in line with regulatory standards.

What qualification do I receive?

Students who successfully complete the training are awarded the CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, a nationally recognised qualification. If you complete some but not all units, you receive a Statement of Attainment for the units achieved.

What jobs can I do after this course?

Graduates work as painters and decorators on residential and commercial projects, maintenance painters, construction painters, renovation and repainting specialists, apprentice painters, or as self-employed painters and decorators with the relevant experience and licensing. Many are employed by building companies, maintenance firms or painting contractors. Licensing requirements differ between states and territories.

Ready to start your trade?

Send us your details and we will confirm your eligibility, the fee that applies to you, and the next available intake at Parramatta.

Intakes run through the year · enquire for current dates

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Enquiry Now
Check My Eligibility

Where are you applying from?

This determines your paperwork and how quickly you can start.

What's your English level?

Entry requires Academic IELTS 6.0, or one of several accepted alternatives.

Where should we send your result?

You will get your eligibility summary, the full fee breakdown and the next intake dates.

An admissions adviser may contact you to confirm your eligibility.