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Study Painting & Decorating

Career Outcomes

Painting Trades Worker (332211): currently on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Interior Decorator (399912) *must undertake further study at the diploma level: not currently on the CSOL, MLTSSL or STSOL

Industry Overview

The construction industry is a significant driver of economic activity in Australia and is projected to grow by 2.4% in the next 5 years. It employs close to 1.2 million people and has the largest number of small businesses in Australia. Construction workers are employed in both residential and commercial sectors, and are involved in site preparation, building installation and structure services. The majority of workers in the sector are employed as carpenters and joiners, followed by construction managers and plumbers (Source: IBISWorld)

The number of people working as Painting Trades Workers (in their main job) grew very strongly over 5 years: from 43,100 in 2014 to 53,200 in 2019.

Insights

Average weekly earnings:  $1,371 per week

Mode of work: Most work full-time (76%)

Hours per week: full-time workers spend around 43 hours/ week at work.

Age: the average age is 42 years.

Gender: 4% workers are female

(Source: Job Outlook, historical figures)

Qualification Needed

Workers usually need a certificate III in painting and decorating. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Course Overview

Painting trades workers apply paint, varnish, wallpaper and other finishes to protect, maintain and decorate surfaces of buildings and structures. Studies in painting and decorating will teach you how to use trestle and plank systems, use painting and decorating tools and equipment, apply paint and wallpaper and operate elevated work platforms.

Course Requirements

Most institutions require completion of Australian Year 11 or 12 (or equivalent), as well as a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score less than 5.

Costs

A 2-year packaged trade course costs between $12,000 and $19,000 per year, depending on the institution.

Career Outcomes

Painting Trades Worker
Interior Decorator *must undertake further study at the diploma level.

Studying Painting and Decorating in Australia: What the Course Covers

Painting and decorating courses train you to prepare and finish surfaces on new and existing buildings. You learn surface preparation and repair, applying paints, stains and clear finishes by brush, roller and spray, hanging wallpaper, decorative paint effects, colour matching, protective coatings, working with lead paint and hazardous materials, using scaffolds, ladders and elevated work platforms, and estimating and quoting jobs. Training is practical, in workshops and on simulated work sites.

Qualifications and AQF Levels

Qualification AQF level What it prepares you for
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating AQF 3 Qualified painter; the core trade qualification
Certificate IV in Building and Construction AQF 4 Site supervisor or running a painting business
Certificate IV in Interior Decoration or Diploma of Interior Design AQF 5 Interior decoration and design roles, a different career path from trade painting

Study Pathways

Most international students complete the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, sometimes packaged with a Certificate IV in Building and Construction. If you are interested in interior decoration, that requires separate study in interior decoration or design. Painters in some states also need a licence or registration for larger jobs, and a TRA skills assessment generally needs paid work experience.

Related Occupations and Visa Pathways (as at October 2026)

Occupation ANZSCO CSOL (482 and 186) Skilled lists (189, 190, 491, 485)
Painter (Painting Trades Worker) 332211 Yes MLTSSL
Interior Decorator 399912 No Not listed

Our Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) guide explains which visas use each list and what that means for painters.

Career Outlook

Painters work in new housing, renovations, commercial and industrial projects, and building maintenance, and many are self employed. Demand is spread across cities and regional areas. Specialist skills such as industrial coatings, spray finishing and heritage restoration can open further opportunities.

What You Do in a Painting and Decorating Course

Painting and decorating courses are built around practical jobs that get more complex as you progress:

  • Surface preparation: cleaning, sanding, filling and priming timber, plaster, masonry and metal, which decides how long a paint job lasts.
  • Applying finishes: brush and roller work, airless spray painting, stains and clear finishes on doors, trims and furniture.
  • Wallpapering and decorative effects: measuring and hanging wallpaper, and paint effects such as texture coats and faux finishes.
  • Protective coatings: paints for steel, roofs and industrial surfaces, and the safety rules for working with solvents.
  • Access equipment: ladders, trestles, scaffolds and elevated work platforms, plus the risk assessments that go with them.
  • Running a job: colour consultation, estimating paint quantities and labour, and quoting.

Licences and Cards for Painters

Everyone who works on a construction site in Australia needs a General Construction Induction Card (White Card). Some states, including New South Wales and Queensland, require painters to hold a licence for residential work above a set value, while other states have no painting licence. If you want to operate an elevated work platform with a boom length of 11 metres or more, a high risk work licence is also required.

Applying for a Student Visa to Study Painting and Decorating

Explain why trade painting suits your background, for example earlier work in construction or decorating, and whether you plan to stay in trade painting or move into interior decoration later, since these are different careers. The current English, money and work rules are on our Student visa (subclass 500) page.

Painting and Decorating Study FAQs

Yes. As at October 2026, Painter (332211), also called Painting Trades Worker, is on both the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the MLTSSL. Interior Decorator is a separate occupation and is not on these lists, so the trade qualification is the one that opens visa options.

It can. Painter is on the MLTSSL, so this Certificate III can support the 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream (generally 18 months) if you hold a TRA skills assessment for Painter, which for Australian trained students usually starts with a Provisional Skills Assessment, and meet the age and English rules.

As at October 2026, Interior Decorator (399912) is not on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), the MLTSSL or the STSOL. It also requires a different qualification from trade painting.

Requirements vary by state. Some states require painters to be licensed or registered for work over a certain value. Check the rules in the state where you plan to work.

Older Australian buildings can contain lead based paint and asbestos. Painters must follow strict rules for preparing lead painted surfaces, and removing asbestos is licensed work that painters are not allowed to do without a specific licence. Your course will teach you how to identify these hazards and when to stop and call a specialist.

Related guides

Am I eligible for a Student visa? Student Visa Funds Calculator Study a Trade Course Assessment Study a Uni Course Assessment

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