MEM31925 - Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade

Version Effective: 21st of May, 2026
Course Details

Course Summary

This qualification defines the skills and knowledge required of an engineering tradesperson - fabrication within metal, engineering, manufacturing and associated industries. The qualification has been specifically developed to meet the needs of apprentices in the above trade.

This qualification must be undertaken through a training contract or through formal trade recognition assessment processes.

The skills associated with this qualification are intended to apply to a wide range of fabrication work, including undertaking metal fabrication, structural steel erection, sheetmetal work, welding, blacksmithing and surface finishing.

This qualification is designed to provide an industry recognised skills profile related to trade work as an engineering tradesperson - fabrication.

Assessment of some units of competency must, where indicated, include evidence of the candidate’s performance in a functioning workplace where there is a sufficient range of appropriate tasks and materials to cover the scope of application of those units. All outcomes must reflect the standard of performance inherent in the job.

In some jurisdictions, units in this qualification may relate to licensing or regulatory requirements. Licensing and regulatory information is included in the relevant units of competency. Local regulations should be checked.

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.

This qualification is for apprenticeship training only. Students must be employed as a registered apprentice in a relevant industry. 

Enrolment from international students is subject to a formal contract agreement.

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
  • International
Fees
Full Fee $21,635.00 (2026)
Fee for service per unit $637.00 (2026)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $478.00 (2026)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
  • Other
How to Apply Please Enquire
Study Area
  • Apprenticeships, Trades & Training
Skill Area
  • Engineering
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

Career opportunities include roles such as sheetmetal worker or fabricator, boilermaker, welder or welding technician, and fabrication tradesperson. Graduates may find employment across industries including manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, infrastructure, mining, and industrial maintenance. With experience, they can progress into supervisory positions, specialist welding roles, or pursue further studies in engineering or fabrication technologies.

This nationally recognised trade qualification is highly valued in the workforce due to increasing demand for skilled fabricators across Australia. It provides a strong foundation for long-term employment and career growth in the engineering and fabrication industries.

Course Structures
Standard Course Structure

This qualification is delivered as part of a four-year apprenticeship, combining face-to-face training at CQUniversity with on-the-job learning in the workplace. Students undertaking this course are indentured apprentices, employed under a formal training contract between the apprentice, their employer, and CQUniversity.

The program involves approximately 960 hours of study, although the duration may vary depending on the electives and study mode selected.

Training is delivered at CQUniversity’s Rockhampton City, Gladstone Marina, Mackay Ooralea, and Emerald campuses.

Training by CQUniversity is delivered through a block format, apprentices are required to complete 6 blocks throughout the duration of their qualification over a four (4) year period totalling 16 weeks of training blocks.

Block A: 1 x 2-week block
Block B: 1 x 3-week block
Block C: 1 x 2-week block
Block D: 1 x 3-week block
Block E: 1 x 3-week block
Block F: 1 x 3-week block 

Attendance schedules for these blocks are guided by each apprentice’s individual training plan, developed in consultation with their employer and CQUniversity after sign-up. Between blocks, apprentices will continue to build their skills in the workplace, applying what they’ve learned in real-world settings under the supervision of their employer. An e-profile is utilised to record work completed on the job which are in line with competencies apprentices have been taught or are being instructed in. 

  • On-campus
Core

Nil

MEM13015 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering More Information Training.gov Details
MEM16006 Organise and communicate information More Information Training.gov Details
MEM14006 Plan work activities More Information Training.gov Details
MEM16008 Interact with computing technology More Information Training.gov Details
MEM11011 Undertake manual handling More Information Training.gov Details
MSMENV272 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices More Information Training.gov Details
MEM12024 Perform computations More Information Training.gov Details
MEM12023 Perform engineering measurements More Information Training.gov Details
MEM09002 Interpret technical drawing More Information Training.gov Details
MEM18001 Use hand tools More Information Training.gov Details
MEM18002 Use power tools/ hand held operations More Information Training.gov Details
MEM17003 Assist in the provision of on-the-job training More Information Training.gov Details
Electives

Elective units will be outlined in your apprenticeship training plan

MEM05049 Perform routine gas tungsten arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05056 Perform routine flux core arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM10010 Install pipework and pipework assemblies More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05005 Carry out mechanical cutting More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05007 Perform manual heating and thermal cutting More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05012 Perform routine manual metal arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05050 Perform routine gas metal arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05090 Weld using manual metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05091 Weld using gas metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05092 Weld using gas tungsten arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05096 Weld using flux core arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05072 Perform advanced manual metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05073 Perform advanced welding using gas metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05052 Apply safe welding practices More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05085 Select welding processes More Information Training.gov Details
MEM12007 Mark off/out structural fabrications and shapes More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05037 Perform geometric development More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05010 Apply fabrication, forming and shaping techniques More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05089 Assemble fabricated components More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05013 Perform manual production welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM03003 Perform sheet and plate assembly More Information Training.gov Details
MEM08010 Manually finish/polish materials More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Unit Code Unit Name
MEM13015 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering
MEM16006 Organise and communicate information
MEM14006 Plan work activities
MEM16008 Interact with computing technology
MEM11011 Undertake manual handling
MSMENV272 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
MEM12024 Perform computations
MEM12023 Perform engineering measurements
MEM09002 Interpret technical drawing
MEM18001 Use hand tools
MEM18002 Use power tools/ hand held operations
MEM17003 Assist in the provision of on-the-job training
MEM05049 Perform routine gas tungsten arc welding
MEM05056 Perform routine flux core arc welding
MEM10010 Install pipework and pipework assemblies
MEM05005 Carry out mechanical cutting
MEM05007 Perform manual heating and thermal cutting
MEM05012 Perform routine manual metal arc welding
MEM05050 Perform routine gas metal arc welding
MEM05090 Weld using manual metal arc welding process
MEM05091 Weld using gas metal arc welding process
MEM05092 Weld using gas tungsten arc welding process
MEM05096 Weld using flux core arc welding process
MEM05072 Perform advanced manual metal arc welding process
MEM05073 Perform advanced welding using gas metal arc welding process
MEM05052 Apply safe welding practices
MEM05085 Select welding processes
MEM12007 Mark off/out structural fabrications and shapes
MEM05037 Perform geometric development
MEM05010 Apply fabrication, forming and shaping techniques
MEM05089 Assemble fabricated components
MEM05013 Perform manual production welding
MEM03003 Perform sheet and plate assembly
MEM08010 Manually finish/polish materials

RPL Structure

RPL only, as required by assessor

  • RPL/RCC/Credit
RPL Units

RPL units only

MEM12023 Perform engineering measurements More Information Training.gov Details
MEM09002 Interpret technical drawing More Information Training.gov Details
MEM18001 Use hand tools More Information Training.gov Details
MEM18002 Use power tools/ hand held operations More Information Training.gov Details
MEM17003 Assist in the provision of on-the-job training More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05049 Perform routine gas tungsten arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05056 Perform routine flux core arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM10010 Install pipework and pipework assemblies More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05005 Carry out mechanical cutting More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05007 Perform manual heating and thermal cutting More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05012 Perform routine manual metal arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05050 Perform routine gas metal arc welding More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05090 Weld using manual metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05091 Weld using gas metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05092 Weld using gas tungsten arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05096 Weld using flux core arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05072 Perform advanced manual metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05073 Perform advanced welding using gas metal arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05052 Apply safe welding practices More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05085 Select welding processes More Information Training.gov Details
MEM12007 Mark off/out structural fabrications and shapes More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05037 Perform geometric development More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05010 Apply fabrication, forming and shaping techniques More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05089 Assemble fabricated components More Information Training.gov Details
MEM05084 Perform advanced welding using flux core arc welding process More Information Training.gov Details
MEM13015 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering More Information Training.gov Details
MEM16006 Organise and communicate information More Information Training.gov Details
MEM14006 Plan work activities More Information Training.gov Details
MEM16008 Interact with computing technology More Information Training.gov Details
MEM11011 Undertake manual handling More Information Training.gov Details
MSMENV272 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices More Information Training.gov Details
MEM12024 Perform computations More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Unit Code Unit Name
MEM12023 Perform engineering measurements
MEM09002 Interpret technical drawing
MEM18001 Use hand tools
MEM18002 Use power tools/ hand held operations
MEM17003 Assist in the provision of on-the-job training
MEM05049 Perform routine gas tungsten arc welding
MEM05056 Perform routine flux core arc welding
MEM10010 Install pipework and pipework assemblies
MEM05005 Carry out mechanical cutting
MEM05007 Perform manual heating and thermal cutting
MEM05012 Perform routine manual metal arc welding
MEM05050 Perform routine gas metal arc welding
MEM05090 Weld using manual metal arc welding process
MEM05091 Weld using gas metal arc welding process
MEM05092 Weld using gas tungsten arc welding process
MEM05096 Weld using flux core arc welding process
MEM05072 Perform advanced manual metal arc welding process
MEM05073 Perform advanced welding using gas metal arc welding process
MEM05052 Apply safe welding practices
MEM05085 Select welding processes
MEM12007 Mark off/out structural fabrications and shapes
MEM05037 Perform geometric development
MEM05010 Apply fabrication, forming and shaping techniques
MEM05089 Assemble fabricated components
MEM05084 Perform advanced welding using flux core arc welding process
MEM13015 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering
MEM16006 Organise and communicate information
MEM14006 Plan work activities
MEM16008 Interact with computing technology
MEM11011 Undertake manual handling
MSMENV272 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
MEM12024 Perform computations

Course Assessment Information

Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
Third Party Verification
RPL
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?

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