Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying

Lay the foundation for a career that lasts.

Course overview

The Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying is a trade qualification that builds the skills to work across residential, industrial and commercial construction. Through intensive hands-on training in a purpose-built on-campus masonry workshop, you’ll master cavity brick and masonry veneer construction, multi-thickness walls and piers, masonry arches, curved walls, structural systems, flashings and damp-proof course installation — alongside setting-out, levelling, safe scaffolding erection and elevated work platform operation. Graduate as a qualified bricklayer or blocklayer, ready to work on new builds and heritage projects alike. This is an AQF Level 3 trade qualification, taught by trainers with real industry experience, available at our Melbourne and Brisbane campuses.

Why choose Certificate III at Evantaa?

• Workshop-first learning — The majority of your training takes place in our on-campus masonry workshop — laying real courses of brick and block, building walls, arches and structural systems under the guidance of experienced trade trainers.
• Structural and decorative masonry in one qualification — This course covers the full bricklaying trade — cavity brick construction, masonry veneer, multi-thickness walls, curved walls, arches, structural systems, damp-proof course and decorative brickwork — so you graduate work-ready across a wide range of project types.
• Heights and scaffolding training included — You’ll complete scaffolding erection and dismantling, working at heights and elevated work platform units as part of the course — the safety qualifications you need to work on any construction site.
• Heritage bricklaying skills — Your elective units include decorative brickwork and battered masonry walls — skills in demand for heritage restoration work, prestige residential projects and architectural feature walls.
• Two campuses, one qualification — Study in Melbourne or Brisbane — the same nationally recognised AQF Level 3 credential, the same masonry workshop quality at both locations.
• A trade with strong long-term demand — Bricklayers and blocklayers are in consistent demand across residential housing, commercial construction and infrastructure — and skilled masonry tradespeople are harder to find than ever.

What you’ll learn

• Lay bricks and blocks to plan
• Build and repair masonry structures
• Carry out levelling and set-out
• Work safely on construction sites
• Read and interpret plans

Entry requirements

Qualification package requirements: there are no entry requirements set by the CPC training package itself — everything below is Evantaa’s own admission standard.

• Age: 18 years or over at course commencement.
• Academic: completion of Australian Year 12, or an equivalent overseas senior secondary qualification.
• English language: IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each band), or PTE Academic 48 overall, or TOEFL iBT 54. Completed an AQF Level 4 (Australian) qualification? You may be exempt from the English test requirement — contact admissions to confirm.
• LLN assessment: all students complete an LLN assessment before training, referenced against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF), to identify any additional support you may need.
• Pre-training review: we conduct a pre-enrolment self-assessment and interview to check course suitability, your existing skills and knowledge, any support needs, and whether you may be eligible for credit transfer or RPL.
• Equipment: all bricklaying and masonry hand tools, portable power tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) are provided on campus for training purposes. You’ll need basic digital skills for study outside class hours.
• Attendance: face-to-face only — classroom and on-campus masonry workshop — with a minimum of 20 scheduled contact hours per week. There is no online or self-paced-only mode.

Next intake dates

Intake dates change regularly — contact our admissions team at admissions@evantaa.edu.au for current start dates for this course.

Course structure

28 nationally recognised units of competency — 20 core and 8 elective — delivered over 60 weeks, face-to-face, with a minimum of 20 scheduled contact hours per week. Units are sequenced in a modular format, progressing logically from WHS induction and heights safety through to tools, materials, setting out, core masonry work and advanced structural systems. A weekly timetable combining classroom sessions and masonry workshop practicals is provided to students at least two weeks before each term starts.

How you’ll be assessed

Assessment varies by unit and uses a consistent mix of methods:

• Written tasks — used across all 28 units to confirm your understanding of materials, procedures, construction standards, WHS requirements and building codes.
• Practical tasks and activities — all core masonry and elective units include assessed practical work completed in the on-campus workshop or masonry simulation environment, under conditions that replicate a real construction site.
• Projects — every unit includes a project component requiring you to plan, carry out and document a multi-step masonry or construction task. Structural units (masonry arches, curved walls, structural systems, battered walls, steps and stairs) have extended project requirements.
• On-site assessment (simulated) — most units are also assessed in a fully simulated on-site setting, where the assessor observes you completing tasks in integrated, time-pressured conditions that mirror real bricklaying and blocklaying work.

Practical units — particularly those involving masonry veneer, cavity brick, structural systems and heights — use all four methods. Foundation administrative units (plan and organise work, measurements, read and interpret plans) use written tasks, practicals and projects. No standalone written exams or third-party evidence are required.

Resources & facilities

Evantaa’s bricklaying and blocklaying program is delivered in purpose-built, industry-standard training facilities at both campuses:

• Fully equipped on-campus masonry workshop — the primary training environment for all practical units, set up to replicate real construction site and workshop conditions.
• Bricklaying and masonry-specific hand tools and portable power tools, provided on campus for all training and assessment activities.
• Specialised bricklaying and blocklaying equipment — including setting-out tools, levels, trowels, jointing tools, brick and masonry saws.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplied for all practical sessions.
• Scaffolding for restricted height scaffold erection/dismantling and working at heights units (CPCCCM2008 + CPCCCM2012).
• Elevated work platform for CPCCCM3001 assessment.
• Chemicals, mortar, cleaning products and raw masonry materials, along with up-to-date Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
• Sample building plans, technical specifications, masonry codes and WHS documentation used throughout the course.
• Dedicated classrooms with broadband internet, computers, printing and photocopying facilities, whiteboards and interactive panels.
• Student Management System, reference library and digital learning materials.

Where possible, Evantaa will also organise excursions to active construction sites to give students experience of real-world bricklaying and blocklaying conditions.

Evantaa’s bricklaying and blocklaying training facility is purpose-built for masonry trade training. The on-campus workshop provides realistic masonry construction conditions — with brick and block materials, mortar mixing stations, scaffolding, elevated work platforms and all the specialised hand and power tools of the trade. Students work at commercial pace on progressively complex structures, from basic wall sections in early terms through to curved walls, arches and masonry structural systems by the final terms. Both Melbourne and Brisbane campuses carry the same equipment and deliver the same program.

Recognition of prior learning & credit transfer

Already have relevant trade experience, qualifications or construction site skills? You may not need to start from scratch.

• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): if your existing skills and experience already meet a unit’s requirements, you can apply to have that competency formally assessed and recognised.
• Credit Transfer (CT): units you’ve completed at another RTO can be credited in full, based on verified AQF certification or authenticated VET transcripts. Credit is only granted for whole units.
• Apply before you enrol or at any point during your course — we’ll confirm the outcome in writing, generally within 10 working days of a complete application.
• See our Credit and Skills Recognition Policy and Procedure for full details.

Licensing & regulatory information

This course does not have an automatic licensing outcome. However:

• Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice: Construction Work requires anyone carrying out construction work to hold a construction induction card (white card). Evantaa delivers CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry as an elective unit, but is not an approved provider of construction induction training — completing this unit with Evantaa does not itself give you a construction induction card. See the “About CPCWHS1001” section below for how to obtain your card.
• Licensing, legislative and certification requirements for bricklayers and blocklayers vary between states and territories — for example, in some states you may need an owner-builder or contractor licence to carry out residential work. Contact the relevant regulatory authority in your state or territory before commencing independent contracting work after graduation.

About CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry

CPCWHS1001 is an elective unit in this qualification. It is commonly known as the “white card” unit.

Evantaa Institute is not an approved provider of construction induction training for the purpose of issuing a construction induction card. Completing CPCWHS1001 with Evantaa Institute does not give you a construction induction card (white card) in Victoria, Queensland, or any other state or territory.

When you complete this unit with us, you receive the unit of competency. It appears on your qualification testamur when you finish the full course, or on a statement of attainment if you leave before finishing.

A construction induction card is required before you can carry out construction work on site anywhere in Australia. To get one, you must complete construction induction training with a training organisation approved by the work health and safety regulator in the state where you will be working — WorkSafe Victoria in Victoria, or Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in Queensland. A card issued in one state or territory is recognised in the others.

If your course involves work on a construction site, you will need to arrange your card separately. Contact student services if you are not sure what you need.

Where it can take you

Skilled bricklayers and blocklayers are among the most in-demand tradespeople in the Australian construction industry. Strong residential construction activity, combined with a long-term shortage of masonry tradespeople, means qualified graduates are well-positioned for immediate employment and long-term career growth.

With a CPC33020, you could work as:

• Bricklayer — laying bricks and blocks for walls, piers, chimneys and structural elements on residential and commercial construction sites.
• Blocklayer — constructing structural and partition walls using concrete masonry units in commercial, industrial and civil construction.
• Paver — laying segmental paving for driveways, pathways, public spaces and commercial hardscaping projects.
• Heritage Bricklayer — restoring and replicating historical brickwork on heritage-listed buildings — a specialist, premium-rate trade.
• Stonemason (Structural) — transitioning to structural stone and masonry work on prestige residential and landmark commercial projects.
• Self-employed bricklaying contractor — running your own masonry contracting business, taking on residential, commercial and civil subcontracting work.

Pathways for further study

• CPC40120 — Certificate IV in Building and Construction: the natural next step, building supervisory, estimating and project management skills on your masonry trade foundation.
• CPC50220 — Diploma of Building and Construction (Building): for those aiming at building contracting and construction management roles.
• CPC40920 — Certificate IV in Construction Management and Supervision: for graduates looking to move into site supervision and construction management in residential or commercial projects.

Is this course right for you?

This course is designed for you if:

• You want to build structures that last — Bricklaying is one of the oldest and most enduring trades in the built environment. If you want a career where your work stands for decades, this is it.
• You’re physically capable and enjoy outdoor work — Bricklaying is a physically demanding, largely outdoor trade. If you enjoy working with your body and being on site, you’ll find the work highly satisfying.
• You have an eye for line, level and plumb — Great bricklayers are meticulous about alignment and accuracy. The workshop training develops this discipline from the ground up.
• You’re interested in heritage and architectural work — The decorative and heritage bricklaying electives in this course open doors to premium restoration and prestige residential work.
• You want a trade with a clear contractor pathway — Many bricklayers move into self-employment within a few years of qualifying — with low setup costs and consistent demand for skilled masonry work.

Not sure if it’s for you? Contact our admissions team at admissions@evantaa.edu.au — we’ll help you understand whether this course matches your goals.

Fast facts

Fees

Fees are shown in Australian dollars. See the full fee schedule for payment plans and international rates, and our Refunds Policy for refund terms.

Keep exploring

• Conditions of Enrolment — your study load and attendance obligations.
• Planning Your Arrival — what to book and pack before you fly.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) — your visa-required health insurance.
• Student Central — forms, support and services.

Frequently Asked Questions