Evantaa Institute Editorial Team | Courses | 23 September 2026 | 7 min read
Choosing a trade is easier once you can see all the options side by side. Over the past two months, Evantaa Institute has published a detailed “what you actually learn” guide for each of its five trade Certificate III qualifications — Carpentry, Bricklaying and Blocklaying, Wall and Floor Tiling, Solid Plastering, and Cabinet Making and Timber Technology. This article pulls all five together in one place, so you can compare duration, campus availability and day-to-day work before you commit to an application.
It also lands at a genuinely useful moment. On 16 September 2026, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) released Australia’s Future is Built by Tradies, warning that the residential construction industry is short around 83,000 skilled workers nationally. The report doesn’t promise anyone a job — no training provider honestly can — but it’s a clear signal that trade careers are in demand across the country, including in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Information checked on: 23 September 2026. Course details, campuses and durations are drawn from Evantaa’s live course pages at the time of writing and can change between intakes — always confirm current fees, intake dates and entry requirements directly on the relevant course page.
The Five Trade Qualifications at a Glance
| Qualification | Course code | Duration | Campuses | Hands-on focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate III in Carpentry | CPC30220 | 60 weeks | Melbourne & Brisbane | Framing, fixing, structural timberwork |
| Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying | CPC33020 | 60 weeks | Melbourne & Brisbane | Laying masonry, blockwork, footings |
| Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling | CPC31320 | 62 weeks | Melbourne & Brisbane | Surface preparation, waterproofing, precision tiling |
| Certificate III in Solid Plastering | CPC31020 | 52 weeks | Melbourne only | Rendering, solid plaster finishes |
| Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology | MSF30322 | 60 weeks | Melbourne & Brisbane | Joinery, CAD/CNC, furniture and fit-out |
A quick note on scope: this recap focuses on the five trades covered in Evantaa’s single-qualification deep-dive series. Evantaa also offers Certificate III in Painting and Decorating and Certificate IV in Building and Construction for students who want to explore beyond these five — both are worth a look on the full course list.
What Each Trade Actually Involves
Carpentry: framing and structure
Carpentry sits at the centre of almost every build — framing floors, walls and roofs, fixing doors and windows, and reading plans on site. It’s a good fit if you enjoy building things from the ground up and want a qualification that transfers across residential, commercial and renovation work. See the full course details on the Certificate III in Carpentry page.
Bricklaying and Blocklaying: masonry and footings
Bricklaying and blocklaying is physical, outdoor, pattern-focused work — laying courses of brick or block to a true line and level, building footings, and working to exact measurements. Read the full breakdown in What You Actually Learn in a Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying.
Wall and Floor Tiling: precision and waterproofing
Tiling is the most detail-oriented of the five trades — surface preparation, waterproofing to Australian Standards, and cutting and setting tiles so that patterns line up exactly. It’s the longest course of the group at 62 weeks, reflecting the precision involved. Full details are in What You Actually Learn in a Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling.
Solid Plastering: rendering and finishing
Solid plastering covers rendering and solid-plaster finishing techniques, and it’s currently the shortest course of the five at 52 weeks. It’s also the only one of the five offered exclusively at Evantaa’s Melbourne campus — a genuine point of difference if you’re weighing up campuses. See What You Actually Learn in a Certificate III in Solid Plastering for the full picture.
Cabinet Making and Timber Technology: joinery and fit-out
Cabinet making is the most workshop-based of the five, blending traditional joinery with CAD design and CNC machinery for furniture, cabinetry and fit-out work. If you’re drawn to detailed indoor work rather than an outdoor site, this is usually the closest fit. Full unit-by-unit detail is in What You Actually Learn in a Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Choose
- Indoors or outdoors? Cabinet making and much of tiling happen largely under cover; carpentry, bricklaying and plastering involve more time on an open site.
- Precision or pace? Tiling and cabinet making reward patience and exact measurement. Bricklaying and carpentry reward consistency across a large volume of repetitive, physical work.
- Which campus works for you? Solid plastering is Melbourne-only. If you’re planning to study in Brisbane, that narrows your shortlist to carpentry, bricklaying, tiling or cabinet making.
- How long can you commit? Course length ranges from 52 weeks (solid plastering) to 62 weeks (tiling) — a meaningful difference if your visa, budget or study plan is time-sensitive.
- Where do you want the trade to take you? If you’re already thinking beyond your first qualification, it’s worth reading how a Certificate III can lead into further study, such as Certificate III vs Certificate IV in Building and Construction or a pathway into site supervision.
Why the Timing Matters
None of this guarantees a job, a licence or a particular income — outcomes always depend on your own effort, the employer, and the state or territory’s own licensing requirements. But the industry context is genuinely favourable for people starting a trade qualification now. HIA’s 16 September 2026 report puts the national shortfall in residential construction at roughly 83,000 skilled workers, and names five priorities for closing that gap, including improving apprenticeship completion and strengthening school-to-trade pathways. That’s an industry-wide signal, not a promise about any individual outcome — but it does mean trade careers are firmly on the national policy agenda in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study more than one of these trades at Evantaa?
Yes — many students complete one Certificate III and later add a second qualification or step up to a Certificate IV. Speak with Evantaa’s Student Services team about how a second qualification could fit your study plan.
Which of these trades is easiest to learn?
There’s no single answer — each trade rewards different strengths, from the physical consistency of bricklaying to the precision of tiling and cabinet making. The “day to day” sections above are a better guide than any ranking.
Do any of these qualifications guarantee a job or a trade licence afterwards?
No. Evantaa Institute does not guarantee employment, salary or licensing outcomes for any qualification. Trade licensing in Victoria and Queensland is managed by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) respectively, and requirements can change — always check directly with the relevant authority.
Is solid plastering only available in Melbourne?
Yes, based on Evantaa’s current course list, Certificate III in Solid Plastering is offered at the Melbourne campus only. The other four qualifications in this recap are offered at both Melbourne and Brisbane.
Where can I check current fees and intake dates?
Always confirm current fees, intake dates and entry requirements directly on the relevant course page, as these are not fixed and can change between intakes.
Next Steps
If one of these five trades stands out, the next step is simple: open its course page, check the current intake dates, and get in touch with Evantaa’s Student Services team with any questions about entry requirements or study load. You can find contact details and campus information on the Evantaa Institute website.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore all of Evantaa’s trade and business qualifications, or get in touch with our Melbourne or Brisbane Student Services team to talk through which course fits you best.
Sources
- Australia’s Future is Built by Tradies, Housing Industry Association (16 September 2026) — hia.com.au (accessed 23 September 2026)
- Evantaa Institute — Our Courses — evantaa.edu.au (accessed 23 September 2026)
- Evantaa Institute — individual course pages for CPC30220, CPC33020, CPC31320, CPC31020 and MSF30322 (accessed 23 September 2026)
- Victorian Building Authority — vba.vic.gov.au
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission — qbcc.qld.gov.au
Information checked on: 23 September 2026. Evantaa Institute is an Australian vocational education provider, RTO 45866 and CRICOS Provider Code 04025C, with campuses in Melbourne and Brisbane. This article provides general information only and does not guarantee any job, apprenticeship, licensing or migration outcome. Course and qualification details should always be confirmed at evantaa.edu.au.