Certificate III in Horticulture

Grow your green skills with a Certificate III in Horticulture, training in a simulated workplace at our Bairnsdale Trade Centre.
You don't need to be employed in the industry to enjoy this practical course, which will see you exposed to real work environments through a combination of field trips, industry guest speakers and projects thanks to our connections with local businesses and industry organisations such as Landcare.

Pursue a practical career pathway in Gippsland’s thriving horticultural industry.
This qualification provides a general vocational outcome in one of the many streams of horticulture for those aspiring to work in one or more of these areas in the future:
- Arboriculture
- Landscape Services
- Gardening Services
- Turf and Sports Turf Management
- Production Nursery
- Field / Paddock Fruit and Vegetable production
- Controlled Environment crop / nursery production
- Retail Nursery
- Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks
- Parks & Botanical Gardens
- Rural and Residential Land Care and Management.

Hear from Kaylee, one of our Horticulture students

Horticulture teacher Katrina on studying with us

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/whole sale employment. The Horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities

AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

This course involves hands on learning, both outdoor and indoor and enables students to develop and practice skills including machinery operation, plant growth, soils, diseases and pests, chemical use and landscape construction works. This qualification also includes creating and maintaining garden beds, nursery and vegetable growing skills. This is a real 'doing' course and involves fun learning, getting dirty and experiencing all of what is offered in the horticultural industry

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: No

Mandatory entry requirements:

Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.

Recommended entry Requirements:

This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review.
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course.
We recommend that applicants should have completed a Certificate II Horticulture or equivalent qualification or have a minimum of1 year experience working in the horticulture sector. Past experience on a horticultural enterprise or related businesses a would be an advantage but not essential.

Limitations to course Entry:

Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students intending to work within the horticultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true

An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)

Grow your green skills with a Certificate III in Horticulture, training in a simulated workplace at our Morwell campus.
You don't need to be employed in the industry to enjoy this practical course, which will see you exposed to real work environments through a combination of field trips, industry guest speakers and projects thanks to our connections with local businesses and industry organisations such as Landcare.

Pursue a practical career pathway in Gippsland’s thriving horticultural industry.
This qualification provides a general vocational outcome in one of the many streams of horticulture for those aspiring to work in one or more of these areas in the future:
- Arboriculture
- Landscape Services
- Gardening Services
- Turf and Sports Turf Management
- Production Nursery
- Field / Paddock Fruit and Vegetable production
- Controlled Environment crop / nursery production
- Retail Nursery
- Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks
- Parks & Botanical Gardens
- Rural and Residential Land Care and Management.

Hear from Kaylee, one of our Horticulture students

Horticulture teacher Katrina on studying with us

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/whole sale employment. The Horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities

AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

This course involves hands on learning, both outdoor and indoor and enables students to develop and practice skills including machinery operation, plant growth, soils, diseases and pests, chemical use and landscape construction works. This qualification also includes creating and maintaining garden beds, nursery and vegetable growing skills. This is a real 'doing' course and involves fun learning, getting dirty and experiencing all of what is offered in the horticultural industry

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: No

Mandatory entry requirements:

Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.

Recommended entry Requirements:

This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review.
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course.
We recommend that applicants should have completed a Certificate II Horticulture or equivalent qualification or have a minimum of1 year experience working in the horticulture sector. Past experience on a horticultural enterprise or related businesses a would be an advantage but not essential.

Limitations to course Entry:

Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students intending to work within the horticultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true

An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)