AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture

In order to achieve this qualification, students must complete sixteen (16) units made up of two (2) core units and fourteen (14) elective units.

The electives chosen must include:

• 5 units must be from Group A,
• 5 units not already selected must be from groups A or B
• The remaining 4 units must be selected from groups A, B, C or D, or any currently endorsed Training Package or accredited course.
• Elective units from group D can only be selected where required as a prerequisite.

You must complete 16 units of study to complete the course. Details of the available units are provided in the Course descriptions PDF, 447 KB.

This course trains students for entry into a wide range of agricultural industries including beef, horse, cropping, sheep, poultry and dairy industries. The skills and knowledge obtained also allow graduates entry into agribusinesses, such as Stock and Station Agency, rural merchandise sales and farm contracting and servicing. Most students continue onto the Certificate IV in Agriculture course before seeking employment in these industries. Go to our page on careers or refer to the Tocal College Prospectus (PDF) for more career prospects available to students following graduation.

Participants must:

• Have completed Year 10 or equivalent (completion of Year 12 is beneficial, particularly for students intending to pathway into higher-level qualifications).
• Be physically capable of performing practical, outdoor farm duties, including walking across uneven terrain, standing for extended periods, lifting and carrying equipment, working with livestock, and operating machinery in varying weather conditions.
• Supply and wear mandatory protective workwear, including steel-capped safety boots,  a hat, long-sleeved work shirts and long trousers.
• Be comfortable learning to work with and handling various livestock species (beef/dairy cattle, sheep, horses, poultry) and adhering to strict workplace safety (WHS) and farm biosecurity protocols.

Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital Capability Requirements

To complete this qualification successfully, participants will need:

• Reading: Interpreting Safety Data Sheets (SDS), machinery operator manuals, pesticide labels, enterprise WHS procedures, and animal health plans.
• Writing: Completing chemical application logs, machinery pre-start checklists, livestock treatment logs, and workplace incident reports.
• Numeracy: Calculating chemical application and dilution rates, measuring livestock feed rations and medication dosages, reading pressure gauges, and recording livestock numbers.
• Oral Communication & Hearing: Communicating effectively with supervisors and team members on farm sites, responding to emergency commands, and participating in safety toolbox talks.
• Digital Literacy: Basic computer or tablet skills to navigate digital learning platforms, access course resources, and complete online assessments or agricultural tech modules.

One year, full-time.

The course is delivered at Tocal College, which has up-to-date training facilities and equipment, as well as commercial and demonstration farm enterprises including beef, dairy, sheep, horses, poultry, bees and cropping.

These enterprises invest in the latest technologies such as individual cow activity and health monitors, irrigation scheduling, and soil moisture probes; GPS / autosteer tractors and variable application rate equipment and automatic livestock ID, recording and drafting.

As a NSW DPIRD Research Centre, the College has had recent upgrades to many of its livestock handling facilities.

Fees are charged for the course studied (including the Smart and Skilled Student Fee), as well as Board & Lodging (includes room, meals, laundry), and Student Association & Recreation, and Resource & Equipment Levies.

Fees are payable at the start of each term or by fortnightly instalments. Further information is available from the current year's Student Handbook (PDF, 7307.8 KB), and our Course fees page.

There are a large number of scholarships available for students enrolled at Tocal. Information about these, and the relevant application forms, are available from our Financial Assistance page.

Many students also qualify for Youth Allowance or Abstudy which may allow concessions or exemptions from the NSW Smart and Skilled Student Fee, fortnightly support payments or coverage of other fees (contact Centrelink for more information).

For information on students rights and responsibilities, and the Tocal College Code of Practice see Student policies.

Tocal youth education students in this qualification have the opportunity to complete more than the minimum number of units required at no extra charge. These extra units provide students with a broader range of skills and experience and are based on feedback from industry and the employers of Tocal graduates. Completing these extra units increases a student’s employability skills and industry readiness, making them more desirable to potential employers.

Tocal also has articulation (credit for study at Tocal) arrangements in place with a number of Australian universities. For further information please contact us.

Support is available via email, phone, face to face on-campus, and through Cloud Assess (the online learner management system).