Certificate III in Printing

ICP31220

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 working as print machinists who typically set up and operate letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure printing presses, digital printers or screen printers and work on a range of printed products. They prepare material, monitor and run equipment and machinery and apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems. They may also provide guidance to others with some limited responsibility for the output of others.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Start (apprenticeship)
      • Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s

      *To be eligible for this funding, you have to do an apprenticeship.

      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through an apprenticeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    These apprenticeships are available:

    • Screen Printing
    • Print Machining

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through apprenticeship:
      4 years
    • Qualification only:
      1–2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

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
Communicate in the workplace Core
Develop and apply knowledge of the printing and graphic arts industry Core
Inspect quality against required standards in a production environment Core
Maintain a safe work environment Core
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices Core
Advise on products and services Elective
Apply 5S procedures Elective
Apply advanced software applications to digital production Elective
Apply competitive systems and practices Elective
Apply cost factors to work practices Elective
Apply problem solving techniques to 3D printing maintenance and operation Elective
Apply quick changeover procedures Elective
Apply software applications to digital production Elective
Automatically produce basic screen prints Elective
Create a markup language document to specification Elective
Deliver and monitor a service to customers Elective
Deliver customer service Elective
Design and produce business documents Elective
Develop basic design concepts Elective
Develop detailed design concepts Elective
Digitise complex images for reproduction Elective
Digitise images for reproduction Elective
Dispose of waste Elective
Electronically combine and assemble data for page layouts Elective
Finish screen print products Elective
Generate high-end PDF files Elective
Generate proofs for digital production Elective
Investigate micro business opportunities Elective
Lift and shift loads mechanically Elective
Manage colour Elective
Manage digital files Elective
Manage the impact of change on own work Elective
Manipulate 3D files in preparation for 3D printing Elective
Manually prepare and produce screen prints Elective
Manually prepare direct emulsion stencil Elective
Manually produce basic screen prints Elective
Manually produce complex screen prints Elective
Market the small business Elective
Mount and demount flexographic plates for complex printing Elective
Mount and proof flexographic plates for basic printing Elective
Operate a semi-automatic screen printing machine Elective
Operate an automatic screen printing machine Elective
Operate and monitor machines (basic) Elective
Operate databases for digital printing Elective
Output images Elective
Pack and dispatch (advanced) Elective
Pack and dispatch product Elective
Perform basic industry calculations Elective
Plan operational processes Elective
Plan small business finances Elective
Preflight and import complex images for digital devices Elective
Prepare and maintain the work area Elective
Prepare film for basic screen printing Elective
Prepare film for complex screen printing Elective
Prepare for personalised digital printing Elective
Prepare for variable data printing Elective
Prepare imposition format for printing processes Elective
Prepare ink and additives (advanced) Elective
Prepare inks and additives Elective
Prepare machine and drying/curing unit Elective
Prepare machine for operation (basic) Elective
Prepare screen Elective
Prepare stencil using direct projection method 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 and manage complex digital print 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 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 complex flexographic printed product Elective
Produce complex gravure printed product Elective
Produce complex laminated product Elective
Produce complex lithographic printed product Elective
Produce complex pad printed product Elective
Produce complex relief printed product Elective
Produce complex rotary die cut or embossed product Elective
Produce computer image for screen printing Elective
Produce computer images for screen printing Elective
Produce flexographic photopolymer plates Elective
Produce foil stamped product Elective
Produce offset lithographic plates Elective
Produce pages using a page layout application Elective
Produce PDF files for online and screen display Elective
Produce typographic images Elective
Provide basic instruction for a task Elective
Reclaim screen manually Elective
Scan images for reproduction Elective
Select and apply type Elective
Sell to the retail customer Elective
Semi-automatically produce basic screen prints Elective
Semi-automatically produce complex screen prints Elective
Set up and operate automated workflow Elective
Set up and produce 3D prints Elective
Set up and produce 3D scans Elective
Set up and produce basic digital print Elective
Set up and produce basic guillotined product Elective
Set up and produce complex digital print Elective
Set up and produce specialised digital print Elective
Set up and use complex colour management for production Elective
Set up for basic coating Elective
Set up for basic flexographic printing Elective
Set up for basic gravure printing Elective
Set up for basic lithographic printing Elective
Set up for basic pad printing Elective
Set up for basic relief printing Elective
Set up for complex flexographic printing Elective
Set up for complex gravure printing Elective
Set up for complex lithographic printing Elective
Set up for complex pad printing Elective
Set up for complex relief printing Elective
Set up for foil stamping 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 complex laminating Elective
Set up machine for complex rotary die cutting or embossing Elective
Set up machine for complex sequenced or multiple folding Elective
Sustain process improvements Elective
Transfer digital files Elective
Troubleshoot digital media Elective
Undertake basic machine maintenance Elective
Undertake basic production scheduling Elective
Undertake inventory procedures Elective
Undertake root cause analysis Elective
Undertake warehouse materials processing Elective
Use and respect copyright Elective
Use colour management for production Elective
Use colour management systems Elective
Use computer systems in the printing and graphic arts sectors Elective
Use digital workflow Elective
Use structured problem-solving tools Elective
Work with digital information Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate III in Printing sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • 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

  • Photographic Developer and Printer

    ANZSCO 711411

    Photographic Developers and Printers edit and adjust digital images, develop photographic film, and print photographic images from digital media, negatives and positives using computer software, fully automatic equipment and by separate processes.

    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 III in Printing

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

Showing: 6 providers

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.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
Back to top