Top 20 Vocational and Tertiary Qualifications in 2025

Planning to expand your RTO’s scope of registration? Strategically prioritise your plans according to the most in-demand courses in Australia.

Below are the top courses in Australia with the most enrolees in 2026, based on the most recent data from National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). Using this handy list, you can narrow down your options and expand your scope to strategically attract more enrolments in the coming year!

Top 20 Vocational Qualifications in Australia in 2025

Rank	Qualification Code	Qualification Name	2025 Enrolments	TGA Status
1	CHC33021	Certificate III in Individual Support	101,415	Current
2	CHC30125	Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care	81,610	Current
3	BSB30120	Certificate III in Business	64,410	Current
4	CPC30220	Certificate III in Carpentry	54,610	Current
5	UEE30820	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician	50,895	Current
6	SIT20322	Certificate II in Hospitality	45,660	Current
7	SIS30321	Certificate III in Fitness	43,905	Current
8	SIT50422	Diploma of Hospitality Management	37,950	Current
9	CPP41419	Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice	36,430	Current
10	SIT40521	Certificate IV in Kitchen Management	35,975	Current
11	FSK20119	Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways	34,760	Current
12	TAE40122	Certificate IV in Training and Assessment	34,275	Current
13	CHC50125	Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care	32,340	Current
14	BSB50420	Diploma of Leadership and Management	30,515	Current
15	HLT54121	Diploma of Nursing	29,925	Current
16	FNS40222	Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping	26,890	Current
17	BSB50120	Diploma of Business	26,460	Current
18	SIS30122	Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation	24,765	Current
19	CHC52025	Diploma of Community Services	23,750	Current
20	AUR30620	Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology	23,540	Current

1. CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support

CHC33021 develops the practical skills needed to support older people and people with disability across residential, home and community care settings.

• Career Outcomes: Aged care worker, disability support worker, personal care worker.
• Why It’s Popular: Ongoing demand across aged care and disability services keeps individual support among the most popular courses in Australia. The qualification offers a direct pathway into care roles while building practical, person-centred support skills.

2. CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

CHC30125 builds the foundational skills needed to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing in regulated education and care settings.

• Career Outcomes: Early childhood educator, childcare worker.
• Why It’s Popular: Early childhood services continue to need qualified educators as participation in childcare and early learning remains widespread. As a key entry-level qualification for the sector, it gives learners a practical starting point for employment and further study in early childhood education.

3. BSB30120 Certificate III in Business

Learners develop practical workplace skills in administration, communication, customer service and day-to-day business operations.

• Career Outcomes: Administrative assistant, customer service representative, office support worker.
• Why It’s Popular: Business administration skills apply across industries rather than tying learners to one sector. Its broad elective options and pathways into higher-level business tertiary qualifications also make it attractive to school leavers, career changers and existing workers building transferable skills.

4. CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry

Training covers practical carpentry skills used across residential and commercial construction, including structural work, installation and interpreting plans.

• Career Outcomes: Carpenter, joiner.
• Why It’s Popular: Carpentry offers an established apprenticeship pathway into a trade needed across housing, renovations and commercial construction. Carpenters also remain among the occupations experiencing skills shortages, reinforcing demand for qualified workers and trade training.

5. UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

Learners develop the technical and practical skills required to install, test, maintain and repair electrical systems and equipment.

• Career Outcomes: Electrician, electrical tradesperson.
• Why It’s Popular: Electrical work is needed across construction, infrastructure, maintenance and increasingly electrified homes and businesses. Combined with its role in the pathway towards electrician licensing, that broad demand keeps this vocational qualification highly attractive to trade-focused learners.

6. SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality

This entry-level course introduces core hospitality skills in customer service, workplace communication and day-to-day service operations.

• Career Outcomes: Food and beverage attendant, café attendant, hospitality assistant.
• Why It’s Popular: Hospitality offers accessible opportunities for people entering the workforce, including school leavers and learners seeking flexible work. The course builds practical skills that can transfer across cafés, restaurants, hotels and other venues, while also providing a foundation for further hospitality training.

7. SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness

Training focuses on the skills needed to deliver gym programs, instruct exercise sessions and support clients with their fitness goals.

• Career Outcomes: Gym instructor, group exercise instructor.
• Why It’s Popular: Strong consumer interest in exercise, wellbeing and structured fitness services creates opportunities across gyms, leisure centres and community programs. The qualification provides a focused entry point for learners who want to turn an interest in fitness into recognised industry skills.

8. SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management

This diploma combines hospitality operations with higher-level skills in leadership, budgeting, customer service and staff management.

• Career Outcomes: Restaurant manager, hotel manager, hospitality manager.
• Why It’s Popular: Hospitality workers often need broader operational and leadership skills to move into supervisory or management roles. This diploma supports that progression while remaining relevant across restaurants, hotels, clubs and other hospitality businesses, giving learners several directions for applying their training.

9. CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice

Learners develop skills relevant to property sales, leasing, property management and the day-to-day operations of a real estate agency.

• Career Outcomes: Real estate agent, property manager, sales representative.
• Why It’s Popular: Real estate combines property knowledge with sales, negotiation and client-facing work, attracting learners interested in a commercially focused career. Formal training also forms part of the registration or licensing pathway for many real estate roles, giving the qualification a clear professional purpose.

10. SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management

Advanced commercial cookery is combined with the supervisory skills needed to coordinate kitchen operations, staff and service delivery.

• Career Outcomes: Chef, chef de partie, kitchen supervisor.
• Why It’s Popular: Commercial kitchens need chefs who can do more than cook, particularly as they progress into roles involving staff supervision, food safety, stock and workflow management. Combining trade-level cookery with these responsibilities gives the qualification clear value for both apprentices and experienced kitchen workers moving forward.

11. FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways

This course strengthens reading, writing, numeracy, digital and employability skills that learners can apply in further training or the workplace.

• Career Outcomes: Entry-level roles across industries; pathway to further vocational study.
• Why It’s Popular: Not every learner is ready to move straight into a higher-level vocational qualification. FSK20119 provides a practical bridge by building the foundation skills needed to participate more confidently in work, apprenticeships or further VET.

12. TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Learners develop the skills to plan and deliver vocational training, facilitate learning and assess competency within the VET sector.

• Career Outcomes: VET trainer, workplace trainer, vocational assessor.
• Why It’s Popular: TAE40122 is a key qualification for people entering training and assessment roles, while experienced industry professionals also use it to move into VET delivery. Demand is reinforced by the ongoing need for suitably credentialled trainers and assessors across Australia’s RTO sector.

13. CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

This diploma develops advanced skills in curriculum planning, child development, service operations and leading practice in early childhood settings.

• Career Outcomes: Early childhood educator, room leader, educational leader.
• Why It’s Popular: As early childhood services expand, the sector needs experienced educators who can take on greater responsibility for programs, teams and quality practice. The diploma also provides a natural progression pathway for workers who already hold entry-level early childhood qualifications.

14. BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management

Training focuses on leading teams, managing workplace relationships, overseeing operations and supporting organisational performance.

• Career Outcomes: Team leader, operations manager, department manager.
• Why It’s Popular: Leadership skills are needed in virtually every industry, giving this diploma unusually broad relevance. It appeals to existing supervisors moving into management as well as workers seeking tertiary qualifications that can support progression without limiting them to one sector.

15. HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

Learners develop the clinical knowledge and practical skills needed to provide nursing care across a range of healthcare environments.

• Career Outcomes: Enrolled nurse.
• Why It’s Popular: Healthcare continues to require a substantial nursing workforce as Australia responds to population ageing and growing demand for health services. The diploma’s clear professional pathway and combination of classroom learning with clinical practice keep nursing among the most popular courses in Australia.

16. FNS40222 Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping

This qualification develops practical skills in bookkeeping, accounting systems, financial reporting, payroll and business activity statements.

• Career Outcomes: Bookkeeper, accounts officer, payroll officer.
• Why It’s Popular: Businesses of every size need accurate financial records and day-to-day accounting support. That cross-industry demand makes accounting and bookkeeping attractive to learners seeking practical finance skills that can be used in employed, small-business or self-employed settings.

17. BSB50120 Diploma of Business

Learners build higher-level skills across business operations, project work, communication and organisational planning, with electives allowing further specialisation.

• Career Outcomes: Business manager, office manager, program coordinator.
• Why It’s Popular: Its flexible structure allows learners to develop business capabilities relevant to different industries and job functions. This versatility makes it one of the more adaptable tertiary qualifications in Australia for workers seeking broader responsibilities or further career progression.

18. SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation

Training develops practical skills for assisting with sport, recreation and aquatic activities across community and leisure environments.

• Career Outcomes: Recreation officer, activity assistant, aquatic centre attendant.
• Why It’s Popular: Australians’ strong participation in sport, recreation and community activities supports a diverse leisure-services workforce. The qualification offers an accessible pathway into sporting organisations, aquatic facilities and recreation centres without locking learners into a single activity or setting.

19. CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services

This diploma prepares learners for complex client support, case management and service coordination within community service organisations.

• Career Outcomes: Community services worker, case manager, family support worker.
• Why It’s Popular: Community organisations need skilled workers to support people facing increasingly complex social and personal circumstances. The diploma appeals to learners seeking higher-responsibility roles in areas such as family services, housing, community support and case management.

20. AUR30620 Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

Learners develop hands-on skills in diagnosing, servicing and repairing engines, electrical systems and other components of light vehicles.

• Career Outcomes: Light vehicle mechanic, automotive technician.
• Why It’s Popular: Australia’s large vehicle fleet creates ongoing demand for servicing, diagnostics and repair skills. As vehicle technology becomes more sophisticated, the need for technically capable automotive workers helps keep this vocational qualification relevant to both apprentices and the wider automotive workforce.

Top 20 Vocational Qualifications in Australia in 2024

Rank	Qualification Code	Qualification Name	2024 Enrolments	TGA Status
1	BSB30120	Certificate III in Business	141,700	Current
2	CHC33021	Certificate III in Individual Support	112,715	Current
3	CPC30220	Certificate III in Carpentry	53,275	Current
4	SIT40521	Certificate IV in Kitchen Management	52,820	Current
5	UEE30820	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician	48,405	Current
6	TAE40122	Certificate IV in Training and Assessment	45,420	Current
7	SIT20322	Certificate II in Hospitality	43,400	Current
8	SIS30321	Certificate III in Fitness	42,070	Current
9	CPP41419	Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice	41,830	Current
10	SIT30821	Certificate III in Commercial Cookery	38,615	Current
11	BSB50420	Diploma of Leadership and Management	36,235	Current
12	FSK20119	Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways	33,975	Current
13	ICT60220	Advanced Diploma of Information Technology	33,800	Current
14	SIT50422	Diploma of Hospitality Management	33,745	Current
15	BSB50120	Diploma of Business	28,595	Current
16	FNS40222	Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping	28,570	Current
17	HLT54121	Diploma of Nursing	28,220	Current
18	AUR30620	Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology	27,355	Current
19	SIS30122	Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation	25,750	Current
20	SIT30622	Certificate III in Hospitality	23,995	Current

Top 20 Tertiary Qualifications in Australia in 2023

Rank	Qualification Code	Qualification Name	2023 Enrolments	TGA Status
1	CHC33021	Certificate III in Individual Support	107,210	Current
2	CHC30121	Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care	87,285	Current
3	BSB30120	Certificate III in Business	74,995	Current
4	CPC30220	Certificate III in Carpentry	49,395	Current
5	TAE40122	Certificate IV Training and Assessment	48,450	Current
6	UEE30820	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician	47,070	Current
7	SIT30821	Certificate III in Commercial Cookery	46,965	Current
8	SIT40521	Certificate IV in Kitchen Management	45,640	Current
9	SIS30321	Certificate III in Fitness	42,010	Current
10	SIT20322	Certificate II in Hospitality	39,410	Current
11	BSB50420	Diploma of Leadership and Management	37,835	Current
12	CPP41419	Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice	37,680	Current
13	BSB50120	Diploma of Business	35,045	Current
14	FSK20119	Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways	33,605	Current
15	FNS40222	Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping	31,315	Current
16	CHC52025	Diploma of Community Services	30,425	Current
17	CHC43121	Certificate IV in Disability Support	30,055	Current
18	SIT30622	Certificate III in Hospitality	28,565	Current
19	AUR30620	Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology	26,945	Current
20	HLT54121	Diploma of Nursing	26,820	Current

Top 20 Popular Vocational Courses in Australia in 2022

Rank	Qualification Code	Qualification Name	2022 Enrolments	TGA Status
1	CHC33021	Certificate III in Individual Support	86425	Current
2	CHC30121	Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care	73855	Current
3	BSB30120	Certificate III in Business	63345	Current
4	TAE40122	Certificate IV Training and Assessment	39675	Current
5	FSK20119	Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways	31530	Current
6	CPP41419	Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice	29475	Current
7	BSB50420	Diploma of Leadership and Management	27825	Current
8	HLT54121	Diploma of Nursing	21875	Current
9	BSB50120	Diploma of Business	20595	Current
10	CPP20218	Certificate II in Security Operations	16640	Current
11	BSB40120	Certificate IV in Business	16250	Current
12	CHC43015	Certificate IV in Ageing Support	16025	Current
13	BSB20120	Certificate II in Workplace Skills	15850	Current
14	BSB50820	Diploma of Project Management	15475	Current
15	HLT33115	Certificate III in Health Services Assistance	15050	Current
16	BSB40520	Certificate IV in Leadership and Management	14970	Current
17	UEE30820	Certificate III in electrotechnology electrician	14330	Current
18	BSB41419	Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety	13150	Current
19	BSB60420	Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management	11255	Current
20	RII30920	Certificate III in Civil Construction (General)	11040	Current

Top 20 Most Popular  VET Qualifications in 2021

Rank	Qualification Code	Qualification Name	2021 Enrolments	TGA Status
1	CHC33015	Certificate III in Individual Support	91,025	Current
2	CHC30113	Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care	64,075	Superseded by CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
3	CHC50113	Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care	49,770	Superseded by CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
4	UEE30811	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician	39,055	Superseded by UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
5	TAE40116	Certificate IV in Training and Assessment	38,975	Current
6	CPC30211	Certificate III in Carpentry	38,055	Superseded by CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
7	SIS30315	Certificate III in Fitness	36,980	Superseded by SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness
8	BSB30115	Certificate III in Business	36,265	Superseded by BSB30120 Certificate III in Business
9	SIT20316	Certificate II in Hospitality	36,190	Superseded by SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality
10	SIT40516	Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery	31,240	Superseded by SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
11	FSK20113	Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways	31,210	Superseded by FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
12	SIT30816	Certificate III in Commercial Cookery	30,255	Superseded by SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
13	SIT30616	Certificate III in Hospitality	29,435	Superseded by SIT30622 Certificate III in Hospitality
14	BSB51918	Diploma of Leadership and Management	29,345	Superseded by BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management
15	CHC52015	Diploma of Community Services	27,755	Current
16	HLT54115	Diploma of Nursing	26,830	Superseded by HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing
17	FNS40217	Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping	26,520	Superseded by FNS40222 Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
18	BSB20115	Certificate II in Business	26,375	Superseded by BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills
19	SIR30216	Certificate III in Retail	25,055	Current
20	CHC43115	Certificate IV in Disability	24,530	Current

What Australia’s Top VET Qualifications Reveal About Demand

The 2025 rankings show that demand remains spread across several major parts of the VET sector, with care, trades, business and hospitality all strongly represented. Comparing the rankings with 2024 also highlights which areas are maintaining momentum and where learner demand is shifting.

• Care and Early Childhood: Individual Support takes the top position in 2025, while Early Childhood Education and Care qualifications also feature prominently. This reinforces the continued importance of training pathways linked to care and education services.
• Skilled Trades: Carpentry and Electrotechnology remain near the top of the rankings in both years, pointing to sustained interest in established apprenticeship and trade pathways.
• Hospitality: Hospitality appears across several qualification levels, from entry-level training through to kitchen and hospitality management. This breadth shows demand for both workforce entry and career progression within the sector.
• Business and Management: Business remains well represented despite changes in individual enrolment rankings. Qualifications covering administration, leadership and broader business operations continue to attract learners across different career stages.
• Fitness and Recreation: Fitness and sport qualifications maintain a place in the Top 20, reflecting continued interest in training linked to exercise, recreation and community participation.

For RTOs considering new vocational qualifications or other tertiary qualifications in Australia, these rankings provide a useful indication of where learner interest is concentrated. They should still be considered alongside local demand, trainer availability, delivery requirements and the suitability of each qualification for the RTO’s scope and target market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can RTOs use enrolment data when planning their scope?

Enrolment figures reveal which qualifications have proven demand, helping RTOs reduce risk by investing in courses that are more likely to attract steady student numbers.

Do popular vocational qualifications differ across regions?

Yes. While some courses like nursing and individual support rank highly nationwide, local industries often influence demand, for example, trades in mining regions or hospitality in tourism hubs.

What role does government funding play in the popularity of courses?

Many of the most popular courses in Australia are supported by state or federal funding, making them more affordable and boosting enrolments significantly.

How can RTOs stand out if many providers already deliver popular courses?

Providers can differentiate through flexible delivery options, strong industry partnerships, and by offering high-quality training resources that improve student outcomes.

Do popular VET qualifications also support workforce shortages?

Absolutely. High-enrolment courses often align with industries experiencing skills shortages, meaning RTOs delivering them can contribute directly to filling critical workforce gaps.

Conclusion

Want to add the most popular VET qualifications to your scope of registration? Precision RTO Resources has a wide-range of Australian qualification training materials for you. Call 1300 626 556 or fill out the form to learn more.