Key Takeaways:
- Based on NCVER subject enrolment data and supplementary sector sources, health, safety, and construction units dominate in popularity.
- Popular units of competency often serve as legal or workplace requirements, making them reliable options for RTOs seeking steady enrolments.
- Many units of competency are included in multiple qualifications and skill sets, increasing their versatility and learner appeal.
- Adding high-demand units to scope helps RTOs attract both individuals seeking short courses and employers upskilling their workforce.
- RTOs should plan carefully by ensuring they have compliant training resources, qualified trainers, and facilities before adding new units to scope.
For RTOs considering opportunities to expand their scope, enrolment trends can provide a useful indication of where learner demand is strongest. Looking at the most popular units of competency in Australia can also highlight opportunities across short courses, workplace training and commonly required industry skills.
Using 2025 NCVER subject enrolment data, this article ranks 20 high-enrolment units of competency and explores the factors driving their popularity. It also considers what these trends may mean for RTOs reviewing their scope, course offerings and future delivery priorities.
The Most Popular Units of Competency in Australia in 2025
| Rank | Code | Unit of Competency | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HLTAID009 | Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation | 2,504,100 |
| 2 | HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid | 1,403,290 |
| 3 | HLTAID010 | Provide basic emergency life support | 1,083,130 |
| 4 | CPCWHS1001 | Prepare to work safely in the construction industry | 358,935 |
| 5 | SITHFAB021 | Provide responsible service of alcohol | 324,980 |
| 6 | CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people | 246,015 |
| 7 | HLTWHS001 | Participate in workplace health and safety | 183,970 |
| 8 | RIIWHS204E | Work safely at heights | 183,775 |
| 9 | HLTAID012 | Provide First Aid in an education and care setting | 180,270 |
| 10 | SITXFSA005 | Use hygienic practices for food safety | 174,660 |
| 11 | HLTINF006 | Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control | 132,115 |
| 12 | TLILIC0003 | Licence to operate a forklift truck | 129,395 |
| 13 | CHCCOM005 | Communicate and work in health or community services | 125,285 |
| 14 | HLTWHS002 | Follow safe work practices for direct client care | 112,155 |
| 15 | RIIWHS202E | Enter and work in confined spaces | 105,985 |
| 16 | CHCLEG001 | Work legally and ethically | 105,600 |
| 17 | SITXFSA006 | Participate in safe food handling practices | 98,670 |
| 18 | CPCCWHS2001 | Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry | 94,910 |
| 19 | CHCPRP003 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice | 92,765 |
| 20 | BSBPEF301 | Organise personal work priorities | 85,450 |
*All numbers are based on the NCVER subject enrolment report of 2025. This list only contains single course units of competency.
Here’s a breakdown of each unit and why they’re so popular:
1. HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTAID009 remains the most widely undertaken unit in Australia, attracting well over a million enrolments in recent years. Its popularity is driven by its versatility: it sits within more than 100 qualifications and also stands strong as a single-unit course. From agriculture and construction to health and community services, the CPR unit is valued across industries as a universal safety credential.
Why Students Enrol:
Most learners complete this unit to meet workplace requirements, as many roles legally or practically demand current CPR certification. Others choose it to gain practical, life-saving skills that build confidence and preparedness in emergencies. For job seekers, it can be the difference between being considered for a role or overlooked, while for those already employed, it ensures compliance and workplace safety.
2. HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTAID011 is the second most popular unit of competency in Australia, widely recognised as a core workplace skill. It is the minimum requirement for anyone designated as a workplace first aider, making it a fixture across countless industries and qualifications. Beyond compliance, this unit equips learners with the ability to assess emergencies, apply appropriate first aid responses, and use basic medical equipment—skills that are universally valued in both professional and community settings.
Why Students Enrol:
For many students, this unit is completed out of necessity, as workplaces often mandate it for safety and compliance. However, it’s equally appealing for those who want practical knowledge to handle everyday accidents and health emergencies. Whether for employment, career advancement, or personal preparedness, HLTAID011 offers learners the confidence and capability to respond effectively when it matters most.
3. HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTAID010 bridges the gap between CPR and full first aid training. It equips learners to respond to life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, asthma, or anaphylaxis using the DRSABCD action plan and defibrillation. Its balance of essential coverage and shorter delivery time makes it a practical choice for many industries.
Why Students Enrol:
Students often take this unit to meet compliance where CPR alone isn’t enough but full first aid isn’t required. It appeals to parents, volunteers, and staff in community roles who want the confidence to act in emergencies without committing to a longer course.
4. CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry
What Makes This Unit Popular:
Known as the ‘White Card,’ CPCWHS1001 is mandatory for anyone working on a construction site in Australia. Its popularity comes from being the national entry requirement across construction and related industries. The unit builds foundational knowledge of workplace safety, hazard management, and legal obligations.
Why Students Enrol:
Most students take this unit because it is legally required before stepping onto a job site. For apprentices, labourers, and tradespeople, the White Card is the first essential step toward employment in construction.
5. SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol
What Makes This Unit Popular:
SITHFAB021 attracts strong demand because responsible service of alcohol training is widely required for people working in licensed hospitality environments. Its relevance across bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and event venues also gives the unit broad appeal as both a standalone course and part of hospitality qualifications.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners commonly complete SITHFAB021 to meet RSA training requirements for roles involving the sale, service or supply of alcohol. It is particularly relevant for people entering hospitality, changing venues or updating their skills, while also building practical knowledge around responsible service, identifying intoxication and responding appropriately to alcohol-related situations.
6. CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
What Makes This Unit Popular:
CHCDIV001 has broad relevance across health, community services and other people-focused sectors, where workers regularly interact with individuals from different cultural, social and personal backgrounds. Its inclusion across multiple qualifications also makes it one of the more widely applicable units of competency for RTOs delivering into care and support industries.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete CHCDIV001 to build the communication, awareness and interpersonal skills needed to work respectfully with diverse colleagues and clients. The unit is particularly valuable for roles involving direct service delivery, where recognising different needs, perspectives and barriers can support more inclusive and effective workplace interactions.
7. HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTWHS001 is a core safety unit included in a wide range of qualifications across healthcare, community services, and many other industries. It introduces the fundamentals of safe work practices, risk identification, and compliance with workplace health and safety laws. Its broad application makes it one of the most commonly delivered WHS units.
Why Students Enrol:
Students enrol to meet workplace or qualification requirements and to gain the knowledge needed to contribute to a safe working environment. It’s especially important for those entering health, aged care, and community service roles where WHS compliance is tightly regulated.
8. RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights
What Makes This Unit Popular:
Working at heights is one of the highest risk activities in construction, roofing, maintenance, telecommunications, and more. RIIWHS204E is repeatedly in demand as regulatory bodies require safe practices, fall protection, and risk assessments whenever workers are elevated beyond prescribed limits. This makes this unit essential and frequent in relevant qualifications.
Why Students Enrol:
Students frequently enrol because many construction or maintenance roles won’t permit work above certain heights without proof of this competency. It’s also sought by tradespeople or subcontractors who want to expand their job site eligibility and reduce safety risk on project sites.
9. HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTAID012 is mandatory for early childhood educators, childcare workers, teachers and support staff under national education and care regulations. It combines general first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis management, and child-oriented emergency care into one recognised unit. Many providers deliver it via blended learning to make it more accessible and time-efficient.
Why Students Enrol:
Most students enrol because their role legally requires it, and education and care services must always have staff with approved first aid qualifications while caring for children. Others enrol to gain confidence in managing emergencies specific to infants and children (choking, asthma, playground injuries, etc.) and to meet professional or licensing standards in early childhood education.
10. SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety
What Makes This Unit Popular:
SITXFSA005 is widely undertaken because food safety practices are fundamental across hospitality and food service environments. Its relevance to cafés, restaurants, catering businesses, accommodation venues and other workplaces handling food gives the unit strong standalone demand as well as a place within broader hospitality qualifications.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners often complete SITXFSA005 to meet workplace expectations or prepare for roles involving food handling and preparation. The unit develops practical skills in preventing contamination, maintaining personal hygiene, handling food safely and responding to food safety hazards, making it highly relevant for both new and existing hospitality workers.
11. HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTINF006 is widely undertaken across health and community services because infection prevention is a core responsibility in environments where workers may be exposed to infectious agents, bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Its relevance across care, support and clinical settings makes it an important component of many health-related training pathways.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete HLTINF006 to develop practical skills for identifying infection risks and applying standard precautions in the workplace. This includes hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, safe handling of contaminated items and following procedures that help reduce the spread of infection.
12. TLILIC0003 Licence to operate a forklift truck
What Makes This Unit Popular:
TLILIC0003 sees strong demand because operating a forklift truck is classified as high-risk work and requires the appropriate High Risk Work Licence. Its relevance across warehousing, transport, manufacturing, construction and other materials-handling environments gives the unit a broad employment and industry footprint.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners typically complete TLILIC0003 as part of the pathway towards obtaining a forklift High Risk Work Licence, often to qualify for roles that involve moving, stacking or loading materials. The training develops practical skills in planning forklift work, managing hazards, handling loads and operating equipment safely.
13. CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
What Makes This Unit Popular:
CHCCOM005 is widely undertaken because effective communication underpins service delivery across health and community services. Its relevance to roles in aged care, disability support, community services and other client-facing settings gives the unit broad application across several major training pathways.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete CHCCOM005 to strengthen the communication skills needed when working with clients, colleagues and other service providers. The unit covers clear and respectful communication, responding to communication barriers, completing workplace documentation and contributing effectively within multidisciplinary service environments.
14. HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
What Makes This Unit Popular:
HLTWHS002 is widely undertaken across aged care, disability support, health and community services because workers in direct client care face specific safety risks when assisting people, using equipment or working in client environments. Its inclusion across key care qualifications contributes to consistently strong enrolment demand.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete HLTWHS002 to build the practical safety skills required for direct care work. The unit covers identifying hazards, following safe work procedures, managing manual handling risks, responding to incidents and maintaining safe practices while supporting clients.
15. RIIWHS202E Enter and work in confined spaces
What Makes This Unit Popular:
RIIWHS202E attracts strong enrolment because confined space work is common across construction, resources, utilities, maintenance and infrastructure environments where workers may need to enter tanks, vessels, pits or other restricted areas. Its connection to high-risk work activities gives the unit strong standalone demand alongside its use within broader industry training.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete RIIWHS202E to develop the skills needed to plan and carry out confined space work safely. The unit covers identifying hazards, following entry procedures, using permits and protective equipment, monitoring conditions and responding appropriately if risks change during the task.
16. CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
What Makes This Unit Popular:
CHCLEG001 is widely undertaken across community services because workers must understand the legal and ethical responsibilities that shape everyday practice. Its relevance to areas such as aged care, disability support, youth work and community services gives the unit broad application across several major qualifications.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete CHCLEG001 to understand how legislation, workplace policies, professional boundaries and ethical principles apply to their role. The unit also develops skills in recognising potential breaches, managing conflicts of interest and responding appropriately when legal or ethical issues arise.
17. SITXFSA006 Participate in safe food handling practices
What Makes This Unit Popular:
SITXFSA006 is widely undertaken because safe food handling is essential in workplaces where food is prepared, stored, displayed or served. Its relevance across restaurants, cafés, catering operations and other food service settings makes it an important unit within hospitality training pathways and for workers with food safety responsibilities.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete SITXFSA006 to build practical skills in handling food safely throughout day-to-day operations. The unit covers contamination control, temperature management, food storage, cleaning practices and following workplace food safety procedures to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
18. CPCCWHS2001 Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry
CPCCWHS2001 underlies much of the construction industry’s safety framework. It covers core WHS/legal obligations, risk identification (including hazardous materials, asbestos, etc.), planning and applying safe work practices, both on and off site. Because construction has high regulatory oversight in workplaces, this unit is widely offered and always in demand.
Why Students Enrol:
Many learners enrol because they need this unit for compliance in construction roles. It’s often linked as a prerequisite or required competency so they can enter job sites safely and legally. Others use it to refresh or formalise their understanding of WHS responsibilities, especially those supervising or coordinating safety, or wanting to improve site safety performance.
19. CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
What Makes This Unit Popular:
CHCPRP003 is widely undertaken across community services and other people-focused roles where ongoing reflection, supervision and professional development are part of maintaining effective practice. Its relevance across multiple CHC qualifications gives the unit broad application for workers whose performance depends on regularly reviewing how they work and where they can improve.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete CHCPRP003 to build a structured approach to evaluating their own performance, identifying development needs and using feedback to strengthen professional practice. The unit also covers setting professional goals, participating in supervision and applying new learning to improve day-to-day work.
20. BSBPEF301 Organise personal work priorities
What Makes This Unit Popular:
BSBPEF301 has broad relevance because planning workloads, meeting deadlines and managing competing priorities are fundamental skills across business and administrative roles. Its applicability across industries makes it a versatile unit within business qualifications and workplace upskilling programs.
Why Students Enrol:
Learners complete BSBPEF301 to strengthen how they plan, organise and monitor their own work. The unit develops practical skills in setting priorities, managing time, responding to changing demands and reviewing personal performance to work more effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does NCVER determine which units of competency in Australia are most popular?
NCVER tracks enrolments across all registered training organisations and publishes subject-level data annually. This data provides an evidence-based view of which units of competency are attracting the most students nationwide.
Can an RTO deliver a single unit of competency without offering the full qualification?
Yes. RTOs can deliver units as standalone courses provided the unit is on their scope of registration. This allows providers to meet demand for short courses or compliance-focused training.
Do employers value single-unit enrolments as much as full qualifications?
Often they do. For roles requiring specific safety or compliance credentials—like CPR, food safety, or White Card training—completing the relevant unit of competency may be more important than holding a full qualification.
What costs should RTOs consider before adding a new unit of competency to scope?
Beyond the application fee, RTOs need to budget for validated training resources, qualified trainers, assessment tools, and in some cases, industry-standard equipment or facilities.
Can popular units of competency in Australia change from year to year?
Yes. While safety and first aid units remain consistently popular, external factors like new regulations, industry trends, or public health events (e.g., COVID-19) can drive sudden spikes in enrolments for certain units.
Conclusion
Using demand to inform your addition to scope plans will help boost enrolments for your RTO. Before you start adding units of competency, here are a few additional considerations:
- Make sure that you can acquire resources, facilities, and equipment indicated in the training package or accredited course.
- Ensure that you reach the standards for RTOs for the training products you want to deliver.
Looking for quality training resources for popular units of competency? Compliant Learning Resources develops training resources for most of the units of competency. You can find them here or get in touch with our team by filling out the enquiry form to the right of this article.
