If you live or work in NSW, the NSW Government may subsidise your qualification through Smart & Skilled — and some students qualify for a fee exemption and pay $0. What you pay depends on your circumstances, not just your course. Pick your course below and the Smart & Skilled fee calculator will work out what you’d pay. Eligibility criteria apply, and NCVE (RTO 90283) confirms it with you before you enrol.
NSW releases a limited number of fee-free places on selected qualifications. Five of ours are on that list.
CHC33021 — aged care and disability support, with both specialisations in one qualification.
CHC30125 — the standard entry qualification for working in childcare.
CHC32015 — community support, case work and client services.
BSB40320 — for people starting or running their own business.
SIT20322 — a first step into kitchens, cafes, bars and venues.
They’re broader than most people expect. To be eligible for NSW Smart & Skilled you need to:
That’s the base test. Meet it, and a fee-free place on one of the five courses above costs you nothing. Meet it on any other subsidised course and you pay a student fee — which may be reduced or waived depending on your circumstances.
Eligibility is confirmed by NCVE, not self-assessed. We check it with you before you enrol.
Separate to the fee-free places above, Smart & Skilled waives or reduces the student fee for some people on any subsidised course.
Four things. The calculator weighs them all and gives you a figure for your situation.
Different qualifications carry different subsidies — and five of ours currently have fee-free places.
Smart & Skilled is a NSW scheme, with an age and schooling requirement.
Citizenship, permanent residency, New Zealand citizenship or an eligible humanitarian visa.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status, disability, whether you’re working, and veteran status — any of which can reduce or remove your fee.
You can still do the qualification. For CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support, NCVE’s fee-for-service price is $650 to start, which includes your first unit, then $130 per unit after that — $2,470 for all 15 units, or $1,976 if you pay upfront. Afterpay and ZipPay are available.
Smart & Skilled is a NSW scheme. If you’re studying online from another state, fee-for-service is your pathway — and NCVE delivers online Australia-wide.
Fee is one of two things students actually ask about. The other is work placement — and at most providers, finding a host facility is the student’s job.
Which NSW courses are fee-free at NCVE?
Five: CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support, CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, CHC32015 Certificate III in Community Services, BSB40320 Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business, and SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality. New fee-free places open in July and January each year. While a place is available you pay nothing if you meet the standard Smart & Skilled eligibility requirements — no concession card needed. Places are limited, and once they’re taken the usual student fee applies until the next release.
How much does Certificate III in Individual Support cost in NSW?
For many students, nothing. CHC33021 is one of the NSW fee-free courses, with new places opening each July and January — while a place is available and you meet the standard Smart & Skilled eligibility requirements, you pay no student fee. If the places have been taken, the Smart & Skilled student fee is $1,450, or $240 if you’re unemployed, on a government benefit or a veteran. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students with a disability are exempt regardless. Without Smart & Skilled, NCVE’s fee-for-service price is $650 to start including your first unit, then $130 per unit — $2,470 for all 15 units, or $1,976 upfront.
When do the fee-free places open?
July and January each year. The number of places is set by the NSW Government and they’re taken on a first-come basis, so it’s worth checking early in each intake. Call NCVE (RTO 90283) on 1800 180 881 and we’ll tell you what’s available right now.
Do I need a concession card to get a fee-free place?
No. That’s what makes these different. While a fee-free place is available on one of the five courses, you only need to meet the standard Smart & Skilled eligibility requirements — aged 15 or over, no longer at school, living or working in NSW, and an Australian citizen, permanent resident, New Zealand citizen or eligible humanitarian visa holder.
Which courses can I check a fee for?
Ten NCVE qualifications: Certificate III in Individual Support, Community Services, Business, Retail and Hospitality; Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business, Leadership and Management, and Marketing and Communication; and the Diplomas of Business and of Leadership and Management. Pick yours from the dropdown at the top of the page.
Can I get Smart & Skilled if I live outside NSW?
No. Smart & Skilled is a NSW Government scheme and you need to live or work in NSW. NCVE delivers online Australia-wide on a fee-for-service basis for students in other states and territories.
Why is there no reduced fee on the Diplomas?
Smart & Skilled reduced fees are available at Certificate IV level and below only, so Diploma and Advanced Diploma students pay the standard fee. The exemptions still apply at every level — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students with a disability may still pay nothing.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. On a fee-for-service basis NCVE’s structure for CHC33021 is $650 to start, which includes your first unit, then $130 per unit as you go. Afterpay and ZipPay are available.
Is the figure the calculator gives me final?
It’s an estimate. NCVE confirms your exact student fee against your eligibility evidence before you enrol, and no payment is taken at this stage.
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