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AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture

Horticulture FreeTAFE

Next intake

To be advised

Duration

Full-time: 12 months
Part-time: 3 years

Course description

If you enjoy being outdoors, have an interest in plants and gardens, and are looking for a hands-on career, then horticulture could be for you.  

This generalist course will equip you with comprehensive skills and knowledge to enter the industry. You will learn about plant identification, pest and disease, weeds, propagation, soils and plant nutrition, customer service, turf establishment, plant establishment, drainage and irrigation, retaining walls and paving and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) matters. 

Full-Time:

  • For individuals with no prior industry experience. This path allows you to complete the course in 12 months.

Part-Time:

  • For individuals without industry experience, suitable for newcomers and allows you to complete the course in 3 years.
  • For individuals with prior industry experience, ideal for upskilling, with a course duration of 2.5 years.

Possible career outcomes

  • Horticulturalist 
  • Nursery worker - retail/wholesale 
  • Landscaper 
  • Grounds person 
  • Parks and gardens assistant 

Applications & attendance

Applications for this course are not currently open.

Please contact customer service on 1300 769 279 during business hours to discuss upcoming intake dates.

Class times are indicative and may change before the course starts. Students may need to complete some self-paced learning and assessments outside class, varying by course and skill level, or may be required to attend classes both on campus and online.

Follow the link for more information on attendance mode definitions and offer timing.

An application doesn't guarantee a place in the course.

Many courses have limited spots and may fill quickly, so apply early and ensure your application is fully completed, as only successful applicants will receive offers, issued as soon as possible. If numbers are low, intakes or courses may be cancelled.

Additional attendance information

Night Classes are delivered between 5pm and 9pm, one night a week at the East campus.

The length of the course is 2.5 years and the entrance requirements are the same as for the Day Certificate III in Horticulture.

Entrance requirements

  • Applicants must be 17 years and over at the time of course commencement.
  • Applicants are expected to have literacy skills at Year 11 or Year 12 or Australian Core Skills Framework Level 3 and numeracy skills at Year 10 or Year 11 or Australian Core Skills Framework Level 2.
  • You must reside in Victoria to access Victorian Government Subsidised Fees and any incentive such as Free TAFE. Full fees apply to all non-Victorian residents.

Personal Learning Requirements

There are personal learning requirements for each qualification at The Gordon. These are essential personal capabilities and skills required to successfully complete the course and be ready to work in the industry.

Please review the requirements here and consider any challenges you may have in meeting them. When applying for your course, please let us know what support you may need.

Pre-training review

Each student must complete a pre-training review as part of their application. The outcome of your pre-training review assists our teachers and trainers to better understand your capabilities prior to training and enables you to be matched to the right program. Your literacy and numeracy skills will be evaluated and you may be required to undertake a separate assessment. Follow this link for more information about literacy and numeracy skills.

Units & assessments

Core Units Code Hours
Apply environmentally sustainable work practices AHCWRK320 60
Contribute to workplace health and safety processes AHCWHS302 50
Control plant pests, diseases and disorders AHCPMG302 80
Control weeds AHCPMG301 70
Identify and select plants AHCPCM308 90
Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas AHCSOL304 60
Operate machinery and equipment AHCMOM304 40
Operate pressurised irrigation systems AHCIRG346 50
Perform specialist amenity pruning AHCPGD309 65
Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases AHCCHM307 70
Transport and store chemicals AHCCHM304 50
Profile Elective Units Code Hours
Implement a plant establishment program AHCPGD307 80
Implement a plant nutrition program AHCPCM305 60
Implement a propagation plan AHCNSY313 90
Produce technical drawings CUAACD313 50
Provide information on plants and their culture AHCPCM306 70
Receive and dispatch nursery products AHCNSY309 40
PT Night Elective Units Code Hours
Implement a plant establishment program AHCPGD307 80
Implement a plant nutrition program AHCPCM305 60
Implement a propagation plan AHCNSY313 90
Produce technical drawings CUAACD313 50
Provide information on plants and their culture AHCPCM306 70
Receive and dispatch nursery products AHCNSY309 40
Please note that the listed electives are delivered by The Gordon but you may not need to complete all of these units to successfully complete this qualification. If you have previously completed any of the units of competency relevant to this course, you may be eligible for Credit Transfer (CT). Any previous relevant experience may qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Find out more about CT or RPL here.

Assessment is based on:

  • Questioning 
  • Observations and practical demonstrations 
  • Portfolio (work samples) 
  • Product (reports, projects, role plays etc) 

Fees

This course is eligible for Free TAFE!

Eligible Victorian students who elect to use their Free TAFE opportunity will not incur any tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply. Follow the link for further information and to check the eligibility criteria.

Fees Rate Unit Indicative Course Hours Indicative Tuition Indicative Gov Total
Concession Tuition AUD $1.69 per hour 1075 AUD $1,817.00 AUD $8,138.00
Standard Tuition AUD $8.47 per hour 1075
 AUD $9,105.00 AUD $8,138.00
Full Fee Tuition AUD $9.74 per hour 1075
 AUD $10,470.00
Add the costs below to your relevant tuition fee
Materials AUD $680.00
Charged at enrolment
Resources AUD $60.00 Once Charged at enrolment
Education Levy AUD $161.25
Charged at enrolment
Excursions Fee AUD $120.00 Once charged at enrolment

All fees and charges are correct at time of publication but may change without notice. The student tuition fees are indicative only. Additional fees may apply. Where GST is applicable to any courses or materials, the fee displayed is inclusive of the GST.

Which fee will I pay?

Your fees will be charged according to your eligibility for government funding. For more information, visit our Fees & Payments pages.

Fee help

Payment plans may be available for eligible students who need assistance to manage their fee payments.

Further study options

Many Gordon courses offer pathways to higher qualifications within The Gordon and in some cases, to university degrees. Your Gordon course may provide credit points which could reduce further study time. Follow the link to find more information about pathways, or contact Customer Service.