How to Become a Project Administrator: A Rewarding Career For Organised People

Although formal qualifications aren't required to begin work as a project administrator, completing training in project management is a great way to learn the industry and prepare you for your new career. VET courses like a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920) or a Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820) teach fundamental skills needed to start this new role confidently. Completion can enhance your chances of future employment. 

Discover what a job in project administration is like and how you can gain the skills to be a shoo-in for the role.

How to Become a Project Administrator: A Rewarding Career For Organised People

Project administrator job description

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Where we source our data

Let's get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you're making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.

That's why we anonymously surveyed project administrators about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it's really like.

While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can't guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.

A project administrator takes care of the administrative duties for projects and programs, prepares documentation and performs other tasks on an ad-hoc basis to help ensure a project is running smoothly. Project administrators usually work under the supervision of a project manager.

Tasks and responsibilities for a project administrator

Project managers are assigned business administration tasks throughout the day to ensure all of the documentation and processes behind the scenes in a project are in order. 

What does a project administrator do? Project administrator duties can include:

  • Managing and monitoring daily administrative tasks for projects
  • Supporting senior management with various tasks
  • Managing project contracts and making changes
  • Consulting with suppliers, contractors or other professionals
  • Basic bookkeeping tasks
  • Escalating serious issues to senior management
  • Ad-hoc administrative tasks

How to become a project administrator

You generally don't need a formal qualification to get an entry-level job as a project administrator, but having prior training in project admin can prepare you for this career and make you an attractive prospect to employers.
  1. Study

    Completing a VET qualification in project management like a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920) or a Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820) provides you with the knowledge and skills to work within a project team and make you stand out to future employers.

  2. Further study

    After gaining some work experience in the project administration field, you could take further study, like a Graduate Certificate in Project Management, to upskill and develop your career in project management.

Pathway options

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Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.

Starting as a project administrator can offer fantastic learning opportunities and job growth. It can lead to more senior roles in project management.

Possible career paths for a project administrator include:

Junior

Mid

Senior

Explore related qualifications

Undertaking study through an RTO provides you with high-quality and industry recognised skills in many sectors. Courses can be flexible and targeted. Many providers offer accessible delivery methods to make study more achievable. 

Project administrator courses:

Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920)

Study method Online

This accredited qualification is suitable for the role of contracts officer or project administrator in any industry and teaches broad skills in project management. 

 

This course is excellent for members of project teams that have no direct responsibility for overall project outcomes or small business operators.

 

The average duration for this course is one year, and course work is delivered either online or in a face-to-face method.

Compare Providers

1 providers offer this course

The College for Adult Learning

Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820)

Study method Online

This qualification is suitable for those who wish to work in project administration, leadership, and management roles and who may be responsible for achieving project goals and objectives. 

 

They have a sound theoretical knowledge base and use a range of specialised and managerial skills to plan, execute and evaluate their work and the work of others.

 

The average duration for this course is one year, and course work is delivered either online or in a face-to-face method.

Compare Providers

2 providers offer this course

The College for Adult Learning
Foundation Education

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