This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.
Overview
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who are beginning to develop their own artistic voice and command of techniques in a range of art forms. It applies to work in different visual arts, craft and design work environments. Practice at this level is underpinned by application of broad and integrated technical and theoretical knowledge and the ability to analyse and use information from a range of sources. Individuals at this level usually operate autonomously, however they may provide some leadership and guidance to others with limited responsibility for the output of others.
The job roles that relate to this qualification may include Artist, Visual Artist, Arts Practitioner, Jewellery Designer, Studio Artist and Ceramic Artist. It also provides pathways to other visual arts, craft and design job roles.
There are 0 minimum work placement hours required for this unit.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification considerations
Qualification
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
Units of competency in qualification
Some individual units of competency may have their own licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. Users must check individual units of competency for licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements relevant to that unit.
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Financial help
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Government funding is not available for this course.
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Cost
Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.
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VET Student Loans are not available
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You may need to pay for equipment or materials.
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On-the-job training
- Apprenticeships and traineeships are not available for this course.
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Entry requirements
This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.
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Duration
You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.
- Qualification only:
6 months – 2 years
- Qualification only:
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Delivery options
You may be able to access this training in these ways:
Course content
This course is made up of units.
All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.
For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.
| Unit | Unit type |
|---|---|
| Apply work health and safety practices | Core |
| Develop and discuss ideas for own creative work | Core |
| Develop self as artist | Core |
| Produce drawings to communicate ideas | Core |
| Realise a creative project | Core |
| Research history and theory to inform own arts practice | Core |
| Address compliance requirements for new business ventures | Elective |
| Analyse influences on textile design and construction | Elective |
| Apply critical thinking to work practices | Elective |
| Apply marketing communication across a convergent industry | Elective |
| Apply photo imaging lighting techniques | Elective |
| Articulate, present and debate ideas | Elective |
| Author interactive media | Elective |
| Capture images in response to a brief | Elective |
| Capture images using drone technology | Elective |
| Capture photographic images | Elective |
| Collaborate in creative processes | Elective |
| Communicate effectively with arts professionals | Elective |
| Conduct research | Elective |
| Contribute to continuous improvement | Elective |
| Create 3D digital models | Elective |
| Create and optimise digital media | Elective |
| Create user interfaces | Elective |
| Create works of art for public spaces | Elective |
| Design user interfaces | Elective |
| Determine resource requirements for new business ventures | Elective |
| Develop and apply knowledge of communications industry | Elective |
| Develop and extend design skills and practice | Elective |
| Develop and present business proposals | Elective |
| Develop and refine illustrative work | Elective |
| Develop personal work priorities | Elective |
| Document the creative work progress | Elective |
| Enhance, manipulate and output photo images | Elective |
| Experiment with ceramic surface treatments | Elective |
| Experiment with moulding and casting techniques | Elective |
| Experiment with printing techniques | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce calligraphy | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce ceramic works | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce drawings | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce glasswork | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce jewellery | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce paintings | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce performance art | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce sculpture | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce textile work | Elective |
| Experiment with techniques to produce wood objects | Elective |
| Experiment with throwing techniques | Elective |
| Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms | Elective |
| Explore and apply the creative design process to 3D forms | Elective |
| Explore the use of colour | Elective |
| Extend expertise in specialist creative fields | Elective |
| Form glass | Elective |
| Generate design solutions | Elective |
| Hand carve wood to custom design | Elective |
| Hand mould products | Elective |
| Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices | Elective |
| Implement copyright arrangements | Elective |
| Install and dismantle exhibition elements | Elective |
| Integrate colour theory and design processes | Elective |
| Integrate disability access and inclusion | Elective |
| Interpret and respond to a design brief | Elective |
| Investigate business opportunities | Elective |
| Lead effective workplace relationships | Elective |
| Make scale models | Elective |
| Manage copyright arrangements | Elective |
| Manage personal health and wellbeing | Elective |
| Manipulate fabrics to create new finishes | Elective |
| Obtain revenue to support operations | Elective |
| Operate slip casting equipment | Elective |
| Organise finances for new business ventures | Elective |
| Organise personal work priorities | Elective |
| Paint and fire glass | Elective |
| Participate in collaborative creative projects | Elective |
| Plan a career in the creative arts industry | Elective |
| Plan work space | Elective |
| Prepare stencils and screens for textile printing | Elective |
| Prepare to work with confronting material and processes in the creative industries | Elective |
| Process colour materials in a wet darkroom context | Elective |
| Process photo images | Elective |
| Produce computer-aided drawings | Elective |
| Produce innovative digital images | Elective |
| Produce innovative video art | Elective |
| Produce screen-printed textiles | Elective |
| Produce technical drawings | Elective |
| Promote innovation in team environments | Elective |
| Provide freelance services | Elective |
| Provide technical support during virtual and hybrid events | Elective |
| Research and apply techniques for the design of wearable objects | Elective |
| Research and apply techniques in product design | Elective |
| Select and prepare creative work for exhibition | Elective |
| Select sites for creative projects and plan work | Elective |
| Source and apply design industry knowledge | Elective |
| Source and apply information on the history and theory of design | Elective |
| Store and maintain finished creative work | Elective |
| Use wet darkroom techniques to produce monochrome photographs | Elective |
| Work effectively in the creative arts industry | Elective |
| Write simple documents | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate IV in Visual Arts sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Painter (Visual Arts)
ANZSCO 211411
Painters (Visual Arts) conceive and create visual art forms, such as pictures, abstract designs and similar compositions, to communicate impressions and ideas.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Potter and Ceramic Artist
ANZSCO 211412
Potters or Ceramic Artists conceive and create functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass and other fusible materials using hand-building and wheel techniques.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Sculptor
ANZSCO 211413
Sculptors conceive and create three-dimensional forms to communicate impressions and ideas by carving or modelling materials, such as wood, stone, clay and metal, or assembling found and manufactured materials.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Other Visual Arts or Crafts Professional
ANZSCO 211499
Other Visual Arts or Crafts Professionals include jobs like Leadlighter, Multimedia Artist, Quilter, and Textile Artist.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Jewellery Designer
ANZSCO 232313
Jewellery Designers conceptualise and design prototypes and details for the manufacture of jewellery, watches, spectacles, homewares, trophies and silverware, using metals, precious stones, plastics, engraving, casting and fabrication, to develop designs for mass or batch production or one-off commissions.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher
Training providers delivering Certificate IV in Visual Arts
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
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Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (RTO code 0383)
Contact this provider
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CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY (RTO code 0373)
Contact this provider
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Sydney Art School (RTO code 41133)
Contact this provider
How to enrol in this course
To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.
When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.
The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.
How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Apprenticeships and traineeships let you combine hands-on work experience with training. You’ll gain job-ready skills and earn an income while you complete a qualification.
As an apprentice or a trainee, you work with an employer while completing your training. Most of your time is spent learning on the job, with some classroom or online training to support the skills you're developing in the workplace.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
See more information about the apprenticeship or traineeship you’re interested in pursuing on the Queensland Training Information Service.
How long will this course take?
This course is competency-based training, which means you progress as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, rather than in a set amount of time.
The duration shown here is an estimate for full-time study based on how long most people take to complete the course. You may finish earlier than other people, or it may take you a bit longer.
If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get credits or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the time needed for training.
Duration for apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships take longer than doing the qualification on its own, but you learn valuable hands-on skills.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Learn about how courses are delivered
Different courses have different delivery options. Consider your needs when you’re researching courses. Some courses may be delivered entirely online or partially online. Others may be delivered in a classroom.
Some courses, like those delivered through apprenticeships and traineeships, are mostly based in the workplace but with some classroom or online study.
If a certain type of delivery is important to you, talk to your provider before you enrol to make sure they offer that delivery option.
How to reduce the cost of your course
There are lots of ways you can reduce the cost of your course.
- The government could partly or fully cover the cost of your course. See information about financial help and government funding on this page.
- The government also offers funding for some costs related to your course.
- If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get a cost credit or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the cost.
Learn about financial help and government funding
The main cost of training is usually the course fees, which vary depending on things like which course and training provider you choose.
You may be able to get your training for free or at a reduced cost, or you could get help with paying for training-related costs. You can also pay for some courses with a VET Student Loan.
Find out more about getting help paying for your training or check if you're eligible.
What are entry requirements?
Some courses have conditions you need to meet before you can enrol in the course. They help make sure you have the right background or skills for the training.
Entry requirements might include a certain education level, skills or knowledge, work status, or experience.