Aged Care Courses in Australia: The Certificate III, the Certificate IV and the Short Courses Employers Ask For
Which aged care course you need depends on the job: personal care roles need the Certificate III in Individual Support, senior and coordination roles the Certificate IV in Ageing Support, and every role expects a handful of short courses. Here is the full map, with costs and study options in 2026.
Match the course to the job
People search for "aged care course" as if it were one thing. It is three tiers, and enrolling in the wrong one wastes a year. The working in care guide covers the sector broadly; this page is specifically about aged care qualifications.
| Role | Qualification | Award minimum from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen, laundry, cleaning, maintenance | None required; food safety or WHS short courses help | Aged Care Award general staff rates |
| Personal care worker, home care worker, assistant in nursing | Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) | $34.42/hr level 2, $36.23/hr level 3 |
| Senior personal care worker, team leader, lifestyle or leisure coordinator | Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015) | $36.23 to $38.74/hr levels 3 to 6 |
| Enrolled nurse, registered nurse | Diploma of Nursing / Bachelor of Nursing (Nurses Award) | Separate award |
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
This is the qualification the overwhelming majority of aged care workers hold. Fifteen units, a 120-hour placement in a residential or home care service, six to twelve months part-time, and fee-free for eligible students in most states in 2026. The Ageing specialisation electives cover dementia, palliative approaches and delivering care to older people; the combined Ageing and Disability stream is the common choice because it also qualifies you for NDIS work. We have a full guide to the Certificate III in Individual Support covering units, placement, cost and providers.
Certificate IV in Ageing Support
The Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015) is the progression qualification for people already working in aged care. It focuses on leading and coordinating care: implementing and monitoring care plans, supporting people living with dementia and at end of life, facilitating lifestyle programs, and supervising other workers. It is 18 units with a 120-hour placement that experienced workers can usually complete at their own workplace, and takes about 12 months part-time.
It leads to senior personal care worker, care team leader, lifestyle coordinator and, with experience, care coordinator or care manager roles. Many residential providers fund it for staff they intend to promote. The unit list is on training.gov.au. Note that the training package is under review and a replacement code may be released; providers will advise which version you enrol in.
Short courses employers expect
Alongside the qualification, most aged care employers require or prefer a set of short units and checks. Doing them during the Certificate III, rather than after, is the single easiest way to shorten the time to a first shift:
- First aid and CPR (HLTAID011) - one day, $100 to $180
- Manual handling - usually included in the Certificate III; standalone refreshers are half a day
- Assist clients with medication (HLTHPS006) - increasingly required for home care and residential roles; two to three days
- Infection control - free government-endorsed online modules exist
- Dementia care - Dementia Training Australia and Dementia Australia run free and low-cost short courses that employers value
- National Police Check and, for home care, a driver licence and reliable car
Under the Aged Care Act 2024 all workers are bound by the Aged Care Code of Conduct, and providers must screen workers against it. Expect to sign an acknowledgement on hiring.
Study modes: TAFE, private RTO, online, traineeship
- TAFE - lowest fees for eligible students, structured placements, campus practical labs; timetables are fixed and intakes fill early in the year.
- Private RTOs - more flexible starts and online theory, higher full fees, variable placement support. Check the RTO is on scope for the code on training.gov.au and ask about placement in writing.
- Online - theory only. The placement and practical assessment are always in person.
- Traineeship - employed by a provider and paid while you study; fee-free in NSW under Smart and Skilled and common with large residential providers. The slowest route on paper and the fastest to a permanent job.
What it pays
Aged care pay has risen faster than any other award in the last three years, following the Fair Work Commission's work value decisions and the 2026 Annual Wage Review. A level 2 direct care worker earns an award minimum of $34.42 an hour from 1 July 2026 ($43.03 casual), and a qualified level 3 worker $36.23 ($45.29 casual), before evening, weekend and public holiday penalties. Full tables, including the home care stream and comparisons with disability and early childhood, are in care worker pay rates 2026.
Employers near you
The AusCareGuide aged care directory lists every government-approved residential and home care provider by state and suburb. With Support at Home expanding home-based care, home care providers in particular are recruiting continuously, and most accept applications from people currently completing the Certificate III.
Course structures are from training.gov.au and pay rates are award minimums from 1 July 2026, current as at August 2026. Fees, subsidies and fee-free eligibility change by state, provider and intake, so confirm with the provider and your state training authority before enrolling. Employers often pay above award. This guide is general information, not careers or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What course do I need to work in aged care?
- For personal care and support roles, the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, or Ageing and Disability). For senior worker, team leader and lifestyle coordinator roles, the Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015). Entry-level roles such as kitchen, laundry and cleaning staff need no formal qualification.
- Can I do an aged care course online?
- The theory of both the Certificate III and Certificate IV can be studied online, but each requires supervised work placement (120 hours for the Certificate III) in a real aged care service, so no aged care qualification is fully online.
- How long is an aged care course?
- The Certificate III in Individual Support takes about six to twelve months part-time or around 20 weeks full-time. The Certificate IV in Ageing Support takes about 12 months. Short courses such as first aid, manual handling and medication assistance take one to three days each.
- Are aged care courses free in 2026?
- For eligible students, the Certificate III in Individual Support is fee-free under Free TAFE in Victoria and Fee-Free TAFE in Queensland, and subsidised or free as a traineeship under Smart and Skilled in NSW. Other states have equivalent programs. Full fees at private providers run about $2,000 to $9,000.
