Is It Worth Getting a TAFE Certification?
Imagine this – you’re in Year 12. Your teachers and constantly hounding you to think about your future. Some of your friends already have a 5-year plan for their future. Then, there’s you – confused and worried. You might not have plans to pursue higher education, but considering the skill requirements for the most basic jobs, you’re left wondering whether you should go with the flow and get a Bachelor’s degree or would a TAFE course be enough.
Ask any expert offering TAFE assignment help, and they’ll tell you immediately that traditional universities aren’t your best option if you want to enter the professional world ASAP. A Bachelor’s degree will take a minimum of three years on average. Meanwhile, you can complete a TAFE course in 6-12 months. That’s a lot of time you’re saving.
Is the duration the only difference between vocational programs and a Bachelor’s degree? But do these TAFE courses guarantee a successful career? What courses should you opt for? Let’s find out!
TAFE vs Standard Universities – What’s the Difference?
While your standard universities focus more on research and gathering theoretical knowledge, TAFE courses focus on developing your practical skills. As you’ve already gathered from the course duration, you don’t really have a lot of time to write complex dissertations or research papers. Now, let me just put in a small disclaimer here. The duration usually depends on the level of the TAFE course. While the certificate programs can be completed within 6 months to a year, some diploma courses can even take three years.
Now, when you consider the ten fastest-growing occupations in Australia, only two require a university degree.
- Registered nurses
- Solicitors
Suppose you’re considering a career in Psychology. There’s no need to spend over 20,000 AUD a year to get a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (and that too for three years!). According to experts providing psychology assignment help at MyAssignmentHelp, a Certificate IV in mental health is enough to secure a job in healthcare.
How much does this cost? Approx. 200 AUD – 14,000 AUD, depending on the provider.
How long does this take to complete? 6 months to 2 years at most.
Now, if you’re unfamiliar with the various TAFE certifications, here’s a breakdown of your TAFE options –
| Qualification Type | What to Expect? |
| Certificate I | Learn basic skills that are required for simple jobs. |
| Certificate II | Learn skills required for apprenticeships and entry-level positions. |
| Certificate III | Learn the skills to solve complex problems. |
| Certificate IV | Learn skills to apply for management and supervisor positions. |
| Diploma | Learn skills related to creative, technical and professional fields. |
| Advanced Diploma | Learn high-level skills related to creative, technical and professional fields. |
| Graduate Certificate & Graduate Diploma | Learn skills equivalent to what you’ll learn in degree courses. |
For someone who’s looking for the bare minimum qualifications for an entry-level position, do you really see any point in spending three years and thousands of Australian dollars? If you ask me, I’d say it’s smarter to opt for a vocational course.
Will You Be Guaranteed a High-Paying Job?
“Won’t I get paid less compared to those who have a formal degree?”
Well, I won’t lie and tell you degrees don’t matter at all when it comes to determining one’s salary. However, in the professional field, recruiters pay more attention to one’s job knowledge and employability skills.
Just think about it from the recruiter’s perspective.
Let’s say you have two candidates.
Candidate A is someone who has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology but can’t even code properly.
Candidate B is someone with a Certificate IV in IT and can code with their eyes closed.
Who do you choose?
The obvious answer is Candidate B, isn’t it?
If you want a more comprehensive guide to the average salary you can expect after completing certain TAFE courses, then check out this table:
| Certification | Average Yearly Salary (AUD) |
| Diploma of Accounting | AUD 91,000 |
| Certificate III in Business | AUD 63,000 |
| Diploma in Business | AUD 127,000 |
| Diploma in HRM | AUD 127,000 |
| Certificate III in Individual Support | AUD 71,000 |
| Certificate IV in Community Services | AUD 77,000 |
| Certificate IV in Information Technology | AUD 120,000 |
Compare the average yearly salary of a TAFE candidate to that of someone who holds a Bachelor’s degree. The difference might just be in peanuts.
So, in conclusion, is a TAFE certification worth it?
Personally, I feel that the answer is “Yes.” Getting a TAFE certification is very practical.
- You get to complete your studies within 6 months to 2 years.
- You spend significantly less than what you would have for a Bachelor’s degree.
- You have the option to opt for flexible classes if you’re working a part-time or full-time job.
- You learn valuable skills that are crucial to becoming a pro at your future job.
Now, whether you opt for a TAFE or sign up for your standard college degree depends on you. Do you want to experience the romanticised version of college that you’ve seen in movies throughout your life? The academic stress will be greater, but you can always depend on reliable websites offering assignment help services to lend you a helping hand.
There’s nothing wrong with going with the flow. Everyone has their own dreams and priorities. If you’re more interested in research work and academia as a whole, then college is definitely the better option. However, if you want to secure a well-paying job ASAP and polish your skills in the meantime, then a TAFE is definitely worth looking into.
