CUA31125 - Certificate III in Visual Arts

Version Effective: 22nd of June, 2026
Course Details

Course Summary

The Certificate III in Visual Arts is a great place to begin your training as a visual artist. The Certificate III in Visual Arts develops a range of visual art skills. Primary skills in painting, drawing, printmaking, creative process and basic design are offered in this course.”

 

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

To help us understand how best to support you, you’ll need to complete the bksb (Basic Key Skills Builder) online literacy, numeracy and digital literacy assessments to progress your application. Alternatively, completion of an equal or higher level course may exempt you from this testing.

Start TAFE Now students must commence this qualification in Year 10 or Year 11.

There are no other entry requirements for this course.

 

 

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $5,772.00 (2026)
Subsidised Full Fee $2,412.00 (2026)
Subsidised Concession Fee $1,296.00 (2026)
Fee for service per unit $481.00 (2026)
Subsidised full fee per unit $201.00 (2026)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $361.00 (2026)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire or Apply Now
Study Area
  • Creative, Performing and Visual Arts
Skill Area
  • Arts and Entertainment
AQF Level Level 3: Certificate III

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Self-employment opportunities exist as a visual artist or craftsperson, visual designer, workshop tutor or theatre set painter. Skills acquired in this program may be relevant to the production of goods suitable for markets and gift galleries. Some candidates may produce work relevant to commercial fine art galleries. 

Course Structures
ONLINE

The Certificate III in Visual Arts has been designed to be delivered over a one-year period full-time or two years part-time through flexible online study, giving you the opportunity to learn through a range of interactive online learning and teaching sessions through our learning platform Moodle. To complete this qualification, you will undertake 4 core units and 8 elective units, for a total of 12 units. As the program is competency based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

Students studying full-time should enrol into 2 units at a time and plan to dedicate approximately 25 hours per week to their coursework. Part-time students should enrol into 1 unit at a time and expect to allocate around 12 hours per week.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

  • Online
REQUIRED UNITS

Students should enrol into units according to the sequence.

Units must be completed in sequential order.  
- Part time students enrol into one unit at a time.
- Full time students enrol into two units at a time in the same study period.

It is strongly recommended that students refrain from pre-enrolling into subsequent units until approval has been provided by the teaching team

CUADRA311 Produce drawings More Information Training.gov Details
CUAACD311 Produce drawings to communicate ideas More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES302 Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES301 Explore the use of colour More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR311 Produce creative work More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPAI311 Produce paintings More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR312 Document the creative work progress More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPRI312 Produce prints More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR211 Make simple creative work More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES202 Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context More Information Training.gov Details
BSBWHS211 Contribute to the health and safety of self and others More Information Training.gov Details
CUARES301 Apply knowledge of history and theory to own arts practice More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Sequence Unit
1 CUADRA311 - Produce drawings
2 CUAACD311 - Produce drawings to communicate ideas
3 CUADES302 - Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms
4 CUADES301 - Explore the use of colour
5 CUAPPR311 - Produce creative work
6 CUAPAI311 - Produce paintings
7 CUAPPR312 - Document the creative work progress
8 CUAPRI312 - Produce prints
9 CUAPPR211 - Make simple creative work
10 CUADES202 - Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context
11 BSBWHS211 - Contribute to the health and safety of self and others
12 CUARES301 - Apply knowledge of history and theory to own arts practice


Start TAFE Now - Online

The Certificate III in Visual Arts has been designed to be delivered over two years part-time through flexible online study, giving you the opportunity to learn through a range of interactive online learning and teaching sessions through our learning platform Moodle. To complete this qualification, you will undertake 4 core units and 8 elective units, for a total of 12 units. As the program is competency based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

Students should enrol into 1 unit at a time and plan to dedicate approximately 12 hours per week to their coursework. 

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

  • Online
REQUIRED UNITS

Students should enrol into units according to the sequence.

Units must be completed in sequential order.  
- Part time students enrol into one unit at a time.
It is strongly recommended that students refrain from pre-enrolling into subsequent units until approval has been provided by the teaching team

CUADRA311 Produce drawings More Information Training.gov Details
CUAACD311 Produce drawings to communicate ideas More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES302 Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES301 Explore the use of colour More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR311 Produce creative work More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPAI311 Produce paintings More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR312 Document the creative work progress More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPRI312 Produce prints More Information Training.gov Details
CUAPPR211 Make simple creative work More Information Training.gov Details
CUADES202 Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context More Information Training.gov Details
BSBWHS211 Contribute to the health and safety of self and others More Information Training.gov Details
CUARES301 Apply knowledge of history and theory to own arts practice More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Sequence Unit
1 CUADRA311 - Produce drawings
2 CUAACD311 - Produce drawings to communicate ideas
3 CUADES302 - Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms
4 CUADES301 - Explore the use of colour
5 CUAPPR311 - Produce creative work
6 CUAPAI311 - Produce paintings
7 CUAPPR312 - Document the creative work progress
8 CUAPRI312 - Produce prints
9 CUAPPR211 - Make simple creative work
10 CUADES202 - Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context
11 BSBWHS211 - Contribute to the health and safety of self and others
12 CUARES301 - Apply knowledge of history and theory to own arts practice


Course Assessment Information

Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
RPL
Project
Other
Practical Task
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?

Domestic 2026 Availabilities

ONLINE
Online
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time
December: Full Time/Part Time
Start TAFE Now - Online
Online
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time
December: Full Time/Part Time

Domestic 2027 Availabilities

ONLINE
Online
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time
December: Full Time/Part Time
Start TAFE Now - Online
Online
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time
December: Full Time/Part Time
More Details