| Name | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Batemans Bay - Certificate III in Retail - Tuesday - Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Campbelltown - Certifcate III in Retail - Monday - Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Goulburn - Certificate III in Retail - Monday - Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Mount Druitt - Certificate III in Retail - Wednesday Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Nowra - Certificate III in Retail - Tuesday - Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Virtual Classroom (Zoom) - Certificate III In Retail - Wednesday Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Wollongong - Certificate III in Retail - Thursday Rolling Start - 2027 | 01/01/2027 | 31/12/2027 | ||
| Certificate III Retail Online Course - Self Paced | 01/01/2029 |
Our Certificate III in Retail (SIR30216) gives you practical, job-ready skills for the retail industry — engaging customers, building loyalty, selling, managing safety and security, and working effectively in a team. It’s recognised by retailers across Australia. Study online, face-to-face or blended, or complete it as a traineeship, with real trainer support. It’s NSW Smart & Skilled funded — if you’re eligible, you pay a subsidised fee (the amount depends on your circumstances, confirmed at enrolment). Paying full fee-for-service? Get started with a $650 deposit and a flexible payment plan. Eligibility applies.
NCVE is an approved NSW Smart & Skilled provider. There are several funded ways to do this qualification.
Eligible NSW residents pay a reduced fee that varies with their circumstances — concessions may apply. We confirm your exact fee at enrolment.
Do it as a traineeship — you’re employed in a store, earn a wage while you learn, and the government subsidises the training.
Still at school? Start this qualification as a School-Based Traineeship alongside Years 10–12.
Eligibility criteria apply. Funding is subject to NSW Government Smart & Skilled guidelines and confirmed at enrolment.
Eligible NSW residents pay a subsidised student fee of $1,450, or $240 with a concession. Some students are fee-exempt and pay nothing. Eligibility criteria apply, and we confirm your exact fee before you enrol.
Generally NSW residents aged 15 or over who have left school and are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, New Zealand citizen or eligible humanitarian visa holder. Other criteria may apply.
We confirm your Smart & Skilled eligibility at enrolment and handle the paperwork — no guesswork. Traineeship pathways may also be available.
Eligibility criteria apply. Funding is subject to NSW Government Smart & Skilled guidelines and confirmed at enrolment.
Retail experience opens doors everywhere — here’s why students choose NCVE.
Smart & Skilled subsidised for eligible students, with traineeship and payment-plan options.
A named trainer with industry experience supports you the whole way.
Online, face-to-face, blended or as a traineeship — with self-paced options.
Customer engagement, selling, loyalty, security and teamwork — the real skills stores hire for.
SIR30216 is recognised by retailers across Australia.
Step up to a Cert IV in Retail Management and into supervisor roles.
You’ll complete 8 core units plus 5 electives:
Cert III in Retail leads to roles across stores of every kind, all over Australia.
Serve customers and sell across any store.
Build loyalty and handle customer needs.
Run the register and daily store operations.
Manage stock, displays and the shop floor.
Work effectively as part of a store team.
Step up to a Cert IV in Retail Management.
School leavers, career changers and people returning to work who want job-ready retail skills — plus existing retail staff and trainees upskilling. No prior experience or qualifications are needed to begin, and it’s ideal as a traineeship for people already working in a store.
Choose online, face-to-face, blended, or complete it on the job as a traineeship — always with a real trainer guiding you and the support you need to stay on track.
Study online from anywhere in Australia, or face-to-face at our NSW locations including Batemans Bay, Nowra, Goulburn, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Parramatta. Talk to our team about the option closest to you.
A free Unique Student Identifier — required for any nationally recognised course.
No formal entry requirements — just a willingness to learn and a short LLN check.
To verify your identity and Smart & Skilled eligibility.
If doing it as a traineeship, you’ll be employed in a retail store.
Eligible NSW residents can access Smart & Skilled funding — we confirm your eligibility at enrolment. Eligibility criteria apply.
On successful completion you’ll receive a nationally recognised Certificate III in Retail (SIR30216), recognised by retailers across Australia. For full details, visit training.gov.au. Ready for more? Step up to a Cert IV in Retail Management, or browse all NCVE courses.
I’ve already done some of this — can I get credit?
Yes. Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer both apply to the Certificate III in Retail. If you have relevant experience, or you have already completed matching units somewhere else, we assess it — and your fee is worked out on what you still need to complete, so it can come down. Raise it before you enrol rather than after: call 1800 180 881.
Can I pay it off, or do I need it all up front?
You pay as you go. $650 to start, which includes your first unit, then $110 per unit as you work through — $1,970 for the whole qualification, or $1,576 if you pay up front. Afterpay and ZipPay are available, and there is no contract: you only pay for the units you actually do. If you are eligible for Smart & Skilled in NSW you may pay considerably less — the calculator above works out your figure.
What units will I study?
13 nationally recognised units — 8 core (engage the customer, assist with customer difficulties, build loyalty, work in a team, work in a service environment, security risks, sell to the retail customer, and WHS) plus 5 electives covering customer service, workplace communication, diverse people, personal wellbeing and organising work. The full coded list is above.
Can I do it as a traineeship?
Yes — Cert III in Retail can be completed as a traineeship, where you’re employed in a store and earn while you train. It’s also available as a School-Based Traineeship for high-school students.
How much does it cost, all up?
Fee-for-service, you start with $650 — that covers your enrolment and your first unit — then it’s $110 per unit across the remaining 12. That’s $1,970 for the whole qualification, or $1,576 if you pay in full up front, saving you $394. Afterpay and ZipPay are available and there’s no lock-in contract. If you’re eligible for NSW Smart & Skilled funding you pay a subsidised student fee of $1,450 instead, or $240 with a concession. Eligibility applies and we confirm your exact fee before you enrol.
Do I need to be working in retail already?
No. There’s no work placement in this qualification and no requirement to be employed — it’s assessed on the work you submit, so you can complete it online whether you’re working or not. If you are on the floor, you can build the assessments around your actual store, and if you’d rather earn while you learn, the same qualification can be done as a traineeship.
Is a Certificate III in Retail actually worth doing?
It’s what separates you from everyone else applying with no qualification. Retail hires constantly and promotes from within, and a Cert III is what supervisors and store managers are usually asked for before they’re considered. Eight of the thirteen units are core selling and service skills — engaging the customer, handling difficult customers, building loyalty, selling, security risks and work health and safety — so it’s the job, not theory about the job.
Can I do this around shift work?
Yes, and most students do — retail runs nights and weekends and we build around that. It’s online and self-paced, you have up to 12 months from enrolment, and your trainer works around your roster by phone or one-to-one video. There’s no scheduled class you have to take leave for.
Can I do this course from outside NSW?
You can study it online from anywhere in Australia, but Smart & Skilled funding is NSW only — outside NSW it’s the fee-for-service price. Face-to-face study runs at our NSW locations: Batemans Bay, Nowra, Goulburn, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Parramatta.
Can I get credit for units I’ve already completed?
Yes, if you hold relevant units from another provider — that’s a credit transfer. Because you pay per unit, credit means you pay less. Send us your statement of attainment when you enrol and we’ll tell you exactly what carries across before you pay for anything.
English is my second language — is that a problem?
No. There’s a short language, literacy and numeracy check when you enrol. It isn’t a test you pass or fail — it tells your trainer what support you need. Retail is one of the most multilingual workforces in the country, and several of the units are about workplace communication, so the course builds the English you use on the floor.
Do I get a real trainer, or a chatbot?
A named trainer with retail experience, for the whole course. You can phone them or book a one-to-one video session — no helpdesk queue, and no AI marking your assessments.
What jobs does this lead to?
Retail assistant, sales assistant, customer service representative, team member and 2IC roles, and supervisor or store management as you gain experience. SIR30216 is recognised Australia-wide, and it credits toward business and management qualifications if you want to move off the floor later.
How long does it take, and can I finish faster?
You have up to 12 months from enrolment and it’s self-paced, so you can go faster. Students already working in retail often finish well inside that. Your trainer sets a realistic plan with you rather than leaving you to guess.
What do I need to enrol?
A USI — a free Unique Student Identifier, get one here — photo ID such as a driver licence, photo card or passport, and the short LLN check. Photo ID also lets us verify your Smart & Skilled eligibility. No prior qualifications and no experience required.
✓ NAME : Certificate III in Retail
✓ TYPE : PROGRAM
✓ DURATION : 6 Months
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