AQF Specification For The Certificate III

AQF specification for the
Certificate III
This Specification informs the design and accreditation of Certificate III qualifications.
The principal users of the AQF Qualification Type Specifications are the accrediting authorities in each education
and training sector which are responsible for the accreditation of AQF qualifications and the developers of AQF
qualifications in each education and training sector.
The other users of the Specifications are the authorised issuing organisations, industry and professional bodies,
licensing and regulatory bodies, students, graduates and employers.
The purpose of the Certificate III qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad range of knowledge
and skills in varied contexts to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.
Certificate III qualifications are located at level 3 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Certificate III qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning
outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 3
criteria and the Certificate III descriptor.
AQF level 3 criteria
Summary Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning
Knowledge Graduates at this level will have factual, technical, procedural and some theoretical knowledge of a specific
area of work and learning
Skills Graduates at this level will have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select
and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to:
• complete routine activities
• provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems
Application Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and judgement and to take
of knowledge limited responsibility in known and stable contexts within established parameters
and skills
32 Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013

Certificate III
Certificate III qualification type descriptor
Purpose The Certificate III qualifies individuals who apply a broad range of knowledge and skills in varied contexts
to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning
Knowledge Graduates of a Certificate III will have factual, technical, procedural and theoretical knowledge in an
area of work and learning
Skills Graduates of a Certificate III will have:

• cognitive, technical and communication skills to interpret and act on available information
• cognitive and communication skills to apply and communicate known solutions to a variety of
predictable problems and to deal with unforseen contingencies using known solutions
• technical and communication skills to provide technical information to a variety of specialist and
non-specialist audiences
• technical skills to undertake routine and some non-routine tasks in a range of skilled operations
Application Graduates of a Certificate III will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:
of knowledge • with discretion and judgement in the selection of equipment, services or contingency measures
and skills • to adapt and transfer skills and knowledge within known routines, methods, procedures and time
constraints
• in contexts that include taking responsibility for own outputs in work and learning including participation
in teams and taking limited responsibility for the output of others within established parameters
Volume of The volume of learning of a Certificate III is typically 1 – 2 years. Up to 4 years may be required to achieve
learning the learning outcomes through a program of indentured training/employment
Qualification nomenclature
The title used for the Certificate III must be consistent with the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy.
Pathways
Each qualification accredited as a Certificate III will include documented pathways consistent with the AQF Qualifications
Pathways Policy.
Issuing organisations offering a Certificate III qualification must meet the requirements of the AQF Qualifications Pathways
Policy.
Responsibility for accreditation and development

Accrediting authorities and those developing qualifications for accreditation must adhere to the AQF specification for this
qualification type and any government accreditation standards for vocational education and training when accrediting a
Certificate III qualification.
Accrediting authorities are responsible for monitoring the quality of issuing organisations against any government regulatory and
quality assurance arrangements.
Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013 33

Certificate III
When accrediting Certificate III qualifications accrediting authorities must ensure that:
• Graduates of a Certificate III qualification will achieve learning outcomes at level 3.
• All the learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills) of the Certificate III
qualification type are evident in each qualification accredited as this type. Some may have more emphasis than
others in different Certificate III qualifications depending on their purpose.
• Generic learning outcomes are explicitly identified in the qualification and align with the level of the qualification type,
the purpose of the qualification and the discipline. Generic learning outcomes fall into four broad categories:
fundamental skills; people skills; thinking skills; and personal skills. In the vocational education and training sector
they are expressed as foundation skills.
• The relationship between the learning outcomes in the level 3 criteria, the qualification type descriptor, and the
discipline is clear.
• The design of the components of the qualification will provide coherent learning outcomes for the level and
qualification type and will enable graduates to demonstrate them.
• The volume of learning is sufficient for graduates to achieve the learning outcomes for a qualification of this level and
type. Learning outcomes for Certificate III qualifications may be achieved through a program of indentured
training/employment or a program of learning in an institution which may include work placements.
Once a qualification is accredited it must be placed on the AQF Register in a form consistent with the AQF Qualifications
Register Policy.
Authority to issue the qualification

A Certificate III qualification may only be issued by an organisation that is authorised by an accrediting authority to do
so, and meets any government standards for the sector.
Assessment leading to the award of the qualification lies with the issuing organisation. The issuing organisation is
responsible for ensuring the quality of the learning outcomes and that the graduate has satisfactorily completed any
requirements for the awarding of the qualification.
Issuing organisations must issue qualifications consistent with the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy.
Issuing organisations will maintain a register of the AQF qualifications they have issued consistent with the
AQF Qualifications Register Policy.
34 Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013

Australian Qualifications
Framework Council
www.aqf.edu.au

AQF Specification For The Certificate III

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AQF specification for the

AQF level 3 criteria

32 Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013

Certificate III qualification type descriptor

Skills Graduates of a Certificate III will have:

Responsibility for accreditation and development

Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013 33

• Graduates of a Certificate III qualification will achieve learning outcomes at level 3.

Authority to issue the qualification

34 Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013

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