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 applies to individuals who perform a range of mainly routine tasks in the printing and graphic arts industry. They work under direct supervision, and use limited practical skills and fundamental operational knowledge in a defined context.
It is a preparatory qualification that can be used as a pathway into a range of specialist Certificate III qualifications within the printing and graphic arts industry.
Licensing/Regulatory Information
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
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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
- Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.
This traineeship is available:
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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.
- Through traineeship:
1 year - Qualification only:
6 months – 1 year
- Through traineeship:
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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 |
|---|---|
| Inspect quality against required standards in a production environment | Core |
| Prepare and maintain the work area | Core |
| Access and use the internet | Elective |
| Apply quick changeover procedures | Elective |
| Automatically produce basic screen prints | Elective |
| Capture digital images | Elective |
| Clean sack and bag machines | Elective |
| Create and test interactive storage devices | Elective |
| Deliver a service to customers | Elective |
| Design basic carton | Elective |
| Develop basic design concepts | Elective |
| Digitise images for reproduction | Elective |
| Dispose of waste | Elective |
| Edit digital images | Elective |
| Electronically combine and assemble data for page layouts | Elective |
| Enter data into electronic systems | Elective |
| Finish a digital product | Elective |
| Finish screen print products | Elective |
| Lift and shift loads mechanically | Elective |
| Manually prepare and produce screen prints | Elective |
| Manually prepare direct emulsion stencil | Elective |
| Manually produce basic screen prints | Elective |
| Mount and proof flexographic plates for basic printing | Elective |
| Operate and monitor machines (basic) | Elective |
| Operate databases for digital printing | Elective |
| Output images | Elective |
| Pack and dispatch product | Elective |
| Perform basic industry calculations | Elective |
| Prepare film for basic screen printing | Elective |
| Prepare film for complex screen printing | Elective |
| Prepare inks and additives | Elective |
| Prepare machine for operation (basic) | Elective |
| Prepare screen | Elective |
| Prepare substrate | Elective |
| Prepare, load and unload product on and off machine | Elective |
| Prepare, load and unload reels and cores on and off machine | Elective |
| Produce and manage basic digital print | Elective |
| Produce basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fastened product | Elective |
| Produce basic coated product | Elective |
| Produce basic collated or inserted (sheet/section) product | Elective |
| Produce basic converted or finished product | Elective |
| Produce basic flat-bed cut product | Elective |
| Produce basic flat-bed die cut or embossed product | Elective |
| Produce basic flexographic printed product | Elective |
| Produce basic folded and glued cartons | Elective |
| Produce basic folded product | Elective |
| Produce basic gravure printed product | Elective |
| Produce basic laminated product | Elective |
| Produce basic lithographic printed product | Elective |
| Produce basic pad printed product | Elective |
| Produce basic relief printed product | Elective |
| Produce basic rotary die cut or embossed product | Elective |
| Produce double-faced web | Elective |
| Produce flexographic photopolymer plates | Elective |
| Produce foil stamped product | Elective |
| Produce graphics using graphics applications | Elective |
| Produce offset lithographic plates | Elective |
| Produce pages using a page layout application | Elective |
| Produce PDF files for online and screen display | Elective |
| Produce single-faced web | Elective |
| Produce typographic images | Elective |
| Proof images | Elective |
| Reclaim screen manually | Elective |
| Reconcile process outputs | Elective |
| Run and monitor in-line bottom making machine for sack or bag manufacture | Elective |
| Run and monitor sack and bag machines | Elective |
| Scan images for reproduction | Elective |
| Select and apply type | Elective |
| Semi-automatically produce basic screen prints | Elective |
| Set up and produce basic digital print | Elective |
| Set up and produce basic guillotined product | Elective |
| Set up and produce hand-collated or inserted product | Elective |
| Set up and produce hand-fastened product | Elective |
| Set up double-faced web | Elective |
| Set up for basic coating | Elective |
| Set up for basic flexographic printing | Elective |
| Set up for basic pad printing | Elective |
| Set up for foil stamping | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fastening | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic collating or inserting (sheet/section) | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic flat-bed cutting | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic flat-bed die cutting or embossing | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic folding | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic laminating | Elective |
| Set up machine for basic rotary die cutting or embossing | Elective |
| Set up machine for complex sequenced or multiple folding | Elective |
| Set up single-faced web | Elective |
| Transfer digital files | Elective |
| Undertake basic machine maintenance | Elective |
| Undertake inventory procedures | Elective |
| Undertake warehouse materials processing | Elective |
| Use colour management systems | Elective |
| Use computer systems in the printing and graphic arts sectors | Elective |
| Use digital media consumables | Elective |
| Use digital processes | Elective |
| Use digital workflow | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Other Metal Fitter and Machinist
ANZSCO 323299
Other Metal Fitters and Machinists includes jobs like Printing Engineer.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Print Finisher
ANZSCO 392111
Print Finishers bind books and other publications, and finish printed products by hand or machine.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Screen Printer
ANZSCO 392112
Screen Printers prepare stencils, and set up and operate power-driven or hand-operated screen print equipment.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker
ANZSCO 392211
Graphic Pre-Press Trades Workers manipulate, set and compose text and graphics into a format suitable for printing and other visual media.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Printing Machinist
ANZSCO 392311
Printing Machinists produce books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters, leaflets, packaging materials and stationery using printing presses.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Small Offset Printer
ANZSCO 392312
Small Offset Printers set up and operate small offset printing presses used in instant print shops or for in-house printing.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Mail Clerk
ANZSCO 561411
Mail Clerks collect, sort and despatch mail within organisations.
Recommended education level:
Certificate I or secondary education -
Paper Products Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711311
Paper Products Machine Operators operate machines to manufacture paper packaging and other products from paper and fibreboard stock.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Chemical Production Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711911
Chemical Production Machine Operators operate machines to produce chemical goods such as soaps, detergents, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and explosives.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Printer's Assistant
ANZSCO 899511
Printers' Assistants perform routine tasks in the production of printed materials.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Printing Table Worker
ANZSCO 899512
Printing Table Workers operate bindery machines and perform manual binding and finishing of books and printed products.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Certificate II in Printing and Graphic 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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Halo Nation Training Pty Ltd (RTO code 32485)
Contact this provider
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MCC Adelaide PTY LTD (RTO code 45628)
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.