Most Popular Australian Tertiary Qualifications & Vocational (VET) Courses

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) play a crucial role in providing vocational education and training (VET) to meet the demands of various industries. Offering high demand courses is essential for RTOs to remain competitive and meet the needs of both learners and the job market.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular vocational courses with high demand, ensuring that RTOs are well-equipped to cater to industry trends and learner preferences effectively. Additionally, it includes CRICOS in-demand courses, addressing the needs of international learners seeking quality education in Australia.

This comprehensive list, curated by our team, reveals the most popular vocational courses across RTOs and CRICOS. Not found anywhere else, this list not only showcases the top qualifications but also provides insights into why they’re in such high demand.

Top Tertiary Qualifications in 2024: The Most Popular Courses in Australia

1. UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

This remains one of the popular vocational courses for international students because electrical skills support clear trade, apprenticeship, and technical career pathways. Its strong ranking reflects continued interest in practical VET qualifications linked to construction, maintenance, infrastructure, and energy work.

2. TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

This qualification is one of the most popular vocational courses for learners interested in training, assessing, and adult education roles. It also appeals to students looking for tertiary qualifications in Australia that connect existing industry experience with vocational training pathways.

3. SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality

This entry-level hospitality qualification remains one of the high-demand courses for students seeking practical skills in service, food and beverage, and customer-facing work. Its popularity reflects the continued strength of hospitality as one of the most accessible tertiary courses for building workplace-ready skills.

4. SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness

This qualification ranks among popular courses in Australia for students interested in gym instruction, exercise programming, and health-focused service roles. Its appeal comes from combining practical training with career pathways in fitness centres, community programs, and personal training preparation.

5. CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice

This qualification remains one of the top courses in Australia for students pursuing property, sales, and agency support pathways. Its popularity reflects strong interest in business-facing VET qualifications that can lead to roles in real estate practice, property services, and client relationship management.

Top Tertiary Qualifications in 2023: The Most Popular Courses in Australia

1. UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

One of the most popular courses in Australia, this qualification leads to strong job outcomes as demand for licensed electricians continues to rise. It provides essential trade skills and serves as a pathway into stable employment or further tertiary qualifications in Australia.

2. CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice

Real estate remains a thriving industry, making this one of the most popular VET qualifications. It equips learners with compliance and sales skills while opening doors to licensing, property management, and agency leadership opportunities.

3. HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

As healthcare demand grows, this diploma stands out as one of the most popular courses in Australia. It prepares graduates for immediate roles as enrolled nurses while providing a pathway to higher tertiary qualifications in nursing and health.

4. SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness

The booming wellness industry makes this one of the top courses in Australia. It trains learners to become personal trainers and fitness instructors, offering flexible career opportunities in gyms, sports centres, or self-employment.

5. TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

This high-demand course is mandatory for those who wish to deliver and assess nationally recognised training. It equips learners with the skills to design, deliver, and evaluate training programs, opening career pathways as vocational trainers and assessors across diverse industries.

Popular Tertiary Courses in 2023: High-Demand Courses on CRICOS

HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing

A consistently high-demand CRICOS course, this diploma is one of the most popular courses in Australia for international students. It prepares graduates for nursing roles while providing a clear pathway to advanced tertiary qualifications in healthcare.

SIT30816 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

This qualification is highly sought after by students aiming to enter Australia’s vibrant hospitality industry. As one of the most popular courses in Australia, it equips learners with hands-on culinary skills for employment as commercial cooks.

BSB40820 Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication

One of the most popular VET qualifications for international students, this course builds practical skills in marketing, digital communication, and campaign management. It also provides a pathway to higher tertiary qualifications in Australia in business and communications.

AUR30620 Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

Highly sought after in the automotive sector, this course is among the top courses in Australia for CRICOS learners. It offers hands-on training in servicing and repairing vehicles, leading to strong job prospects in workshops and dealerships.

CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations

As demand for security professionals rises, this qualification is one of the most popular courses in Australia for international students. It equips learners with the skills needed for entry-level roles in security services, with opportunities to progress into advanced tertiary courses in protective services.

High-Demand Courses in 2022: The Most Popular Vocational Courses in RTOs

We analysed the enrolment data from training.gov.au for both the current and superseded versions of each qualification in the same year to ensure accurate enrolment information is presented.

1. SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness

As health and wellness awareness grows, so does the demand for professionals in this field. SIS30321 caters to the fitness industry’s growing demand for qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers, making it one of the most popular vocational courses. It continues to rank among high-demand courses for health and fitness careers in Australia.

2. TAE40122 Certificate IV Training and Assessment

With 39,675 enrolments across 112 RTOs, this qualification is essential for individuals seeking to become trainers and assessors. The continuous need for skilled trainers across various industries elevates its demand, especially with the recent updates to the qualification. This VET qualification is a leading choice among tertiary courses in Australia for education professionals.

3. SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation

This qualification equips individuals with the practical skills to thrive in the growing sports, aquatics, and recreation industries. It’s been added to our list of courses with high demand as learners seek popular tertiary qualifications tied to active lifestyles and community wellbeing.

4. SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation

The sport and recreation industry has been experiencing an upward trend in employment demand these past few years. This high-demand course is crucial for building foundational skills and is widely regarded as one of the most popular courses in Australia for entry into the sports sector.

5. SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness

A higher-level qualification in the fitness sector, this course covers more advanced topics in anatomy and physiology and exercise prescription. This top course in Australia appeals to those seeking to open fitness businesses or move into specialised roles in the wellness industry.

Popular Vocational Courses in 2022: High Demand Offerings on CRICOS

1. MEM20105 Certificate II in Engineering

Australia has seen increased engineering job vacancies for the past two years. Most apprenticeship and entry-level roles require candidates to have a Certificate II qualification to ensure they have the basic skills and knowledge necessary for the job, making it one of the most popular vocational courses on CRICOS. This VET qualification serves as a key tertiary pathway for international students in technical fields.

2. AHC30620 Certificate III in Production Horticulture

The horticulture industry experienced increased production gross value and a rise in exports last year. The trend will continue in 2024, with more employment opportunities available. This course is one of the top courses in Australia for students seeking hands-on training in agriculture and horticulture.

3. FNS40821 Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking

The finance and mortgage broking sectors are ever evolving. Practising professionals must keep up with new regulatory requirements and complex financial products consistently on the horizon. This is one of the most popular tertiary courses in Australia’s finance education sector, in high demand among CRICOS students aiming to enter client-facing roles.

4. CPC20120 Certificate II in Construction

Long-term civil engineering and residential construction projects are expected to bolster employment demand for the construction industry in the next few years. This popular vocational course continues to address Australia’s skills shortage in the building trades and offers a gateway into higher VET qualifications.

5. MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade

In 2023, mechanical engineers were the second most in-demand professionals in the engineering field. The demand for mechanical tradespeople remains high to support various aspects of production. This high demand course is consistently listed among the most popular vocational courses and CRICOS tertiary qualifications for technical careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications are best for getting a job quickly in Australia?

Courses in nursing, trades, and cookery are considered high demand courses because they lead directly to job openings. These qualifications focus on practical training, helping graduates enter the workforce faster.

Are VET qualifications recognised as tertiary qualifications in Australia?

Yes. VET qualifications are part of Australia’s tertiary education system, alongside universities. They’re popular because they provide job-ready skills and often articulate into higher tertiary courses.

Why are some tertiary courses in Australia more popular than others?

The most popular tertiary qualifications align with labour shortages, migration pathways, and global recognition. For example, healthcare and construction are consistently listed among top courses in Australia because of ongoing industry demand.

How do international students choose which courses to study in Australia?

International learners usually look for courses with high demand that improve employability and may support migration goals. CRICOS offerings in nursing, hospitality, and automotive are especially attractive because of strong job outcomes.

What is the outlook for popular vocational courses in Australia?

Employment forecasts suggest continued growth in healthcare, education, construction, and digital industries. This means many popular vocational courses today will remain high demand courses in coming years, ensuring stable enrolments.

Empowering RTOs to Meet Market Demand

With demand growing across key industries—such as healthcare, construction, engineering, and early childhood education—RTOs have a unique opportunity to offer high demand vocational courses that deliver real employment outcomes.

By aligning programs with the most popular courses in Australia, including top VET qualifications and tertiary qualifications that meet international standards, RTOs can better serve both local and CRICOS students.

This guide to the most popular vocational courses empowers providers to future-proof their offerings. Whether students are looking for hands-on tertiary qualifications in Australia, or practical courses with high demand in global job markets, RTOs play a pivotal role in delivering quality education that leads to success.