Publish on November 18, 2025

VET Courses Australia

Zig Van Der Sluys

VET is a great option for further education, as it provides nationally recognised, industry-developed training. This Complete Guide to VET can help students looking to enter the workforce for the first time, or those who are looking to upskill or change careers completely.

What does VET stand for?

VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. In Australia, VET training is based on nationally endorsed competency standards, which define the essential knowledge and skills required for workplace roles.

What is VET?

Vocational Training is an education system that focuses on preparing students for the workforce. VET achieves this through equipping students with the practical skills and knowledge that are essential to entering the workforce for the first time, changing careers, upgrading skills or moving into further education.

VET works with the government, TAFE and RTOs (Registered Training Organisations) to help build students’ professional toolkit and competencies to advance their career. VET offers more cost-effective and time-efficient routes for students so that they can enter the workforce without the lengthy, costly processes that many other forms of education, like university, are infamous for.

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Learning support and foundation skills

Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system is designed to ensure all students gain the support and foundation skills needed to succeed in the workforce. Delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and dual-sector universities, VET courses focus on practical, accredited training aligned with industry needs.

Core foundation skills for the workplace

VET qualifications—from Certificate II through to graduate diploma—integrate essential foundation skills such as:

• Literacy and numeracy
• Workplace communication
• Problem-solving and teamwork

These competencies are critical in industries like community services, cyber security, information technology, and construction. Many courses are developed with industry consultation to ensure graduates are job-ready.

Student support and training access

VET providers offer comprehensive support to ensure student success across all stages of their learning journey.

Support services available

Students can access:

• Career advice and mentoring
• Job placement assistance
• Tailored support for students with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Subsidised training for eligible learners

These services remove barriers to entry and help students progress with confidence.

Access to Nationally Recognised Training

Government bodies such as the Department of Training and Workforce Development (WA) support the VET sector nationally. Students can use the national training register to search for:

• Accredited courses
• Qualification levels
• Training providers
• Available training packages

Pathways to employment and further study

Practical training options

Apprenticeships and traineeships offer a powerful pathway for those looking to earn while they learn. These structured programs combine nationally recognised training with paid, on-the-job experience in a real workplace.

Available in industries such as construction, aged care, hospitality, and business services, these pathways provide hands-on skill development under the supervision of experienced professionals. They are ideal for students who prefer practical, workplace-integrated learning over traditional classroom formats and lead to strong employment outcomes

Transition to higher education

For students pursuing further academic or professional development, many VET qualifications—particularly at the Diploma, Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Diploma level—can provide credit towards university degrees. This creates a seamless transition into higher education, often reducing the time and cost required to complete a bachelor program.

These credit transfer arrangements are especially common in fields like nursing, community services, business, and healthcare management. For many learners, the VET sector offers a low-barrier entry into tertiary education, with the flexibility to progress step-by-step as career goals evolve.

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What are VET Fee Help and VET student loans?

VET FEE-HELP was the Government loan scheme that supported eligible students in paying their education fees for VET courses that are a diploma-level qualification or higher. This loan scheme is now known as VET Student Loans. VET Student Loan courses are only accessible to students who have chosen to study with approved providers that offer this scheme. To find out if your provider offers VET Student Loans, submit an enquiry on a course you are interested in studying, and you will be put in touch with the provider to provide you with this information.

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List of VET courses

Certificate I, II, III and IV

These courses are designed to provide training and knowledge around a specific industry area, such as automotive, community services, or digital media. The degree of training ranges from entry-level knowledge at a Certificate II, to more advanced skills and even supervisory and management study areas within a Certificate IV. The duration of a certificate course ranges from six months to two years.

Diploma

This qualification level develops students’ specialised skill set to be applied in a variety of industry-specific workplace contexts. It can also be used as a pathway to further education. The duration of a diploma course is generally one to two years of full-time study.

Advanced diploma

This course type teaches an advanced level of applied skills in areas such as building and construction, IT and engineering. The duration of an advanced diploma is approximately eighteen months to two years of full-time study.

Graduate certificate and graduate diploma

This qualification type is comparable to a higher education graduate certificate and diploma – this has been designed to ensure students adopt an advanced skill set that covers a range of knowledge areas that will complement future roles in the workplace.

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VET course subjects

VET qualifications are offered across a broad range of subjects. Some of the most popular courses include:

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Where are VET courses offered?

VET courses are offered through both public and private RTOs, generally via TAFE and private training providers. Some VET courses are delivered through Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships, which enable students to gain structured on-the-job training as a major part of their study. Along with these institutions, VET training is also accessible through participating schools, as well as external community educational centres. VET courses are offered throughout Australia, with qualifications recognised nationwide, from Melbourne, Hobart, and Canberra to regional NSW.

VET entry requirements

To be eligible to enter the VET system for further study, students are usually required to have completed a degree of study that is equivalent to Year 10, 11 or 12. Sometimes, students may need to pass basic literacy and numeracy requirements. Also, depending on the industry area, some creative courses that include design or art may also need a submission of a portfolio to be considered. Other requirements may need to be fulfilled, depending on the course provider and the nature of the study. To find out this information, it is best to contact your course provider via an enquiry form.

Higher education pathways

If you are looking to pursue higher education but do not meet the entry requirements, VET training can help. VET courses that are at the certificate IV, diploma and advanced diploma level, once completed, can offer students a pathway to meet the higher education sector’s entry requirements. Also, depending on the course type, some VET courses may offer credit towards a higher education course. This means that you may not need to complete the full duration of a course, as you’ve already covered some elements in your previous studies. Of course, this is all subjective to the institution and qualification, so it is important to check the finer details regarding pathways and credit procedures with the institution of your choice.

VET courses online and other study methods

One of the key factors that makes Vocational Training so accessible is the wide range of study methods offered by VET. With a variety of courses available online, as well as in-class and a combination of both, there is a course option to suit the needs of every student and their schedule.