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Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722
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Overview

Gain the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career in the horticulture industry with this hands-on course designed for those passionate about the environment and outdoor work.

You’ll develop practical skills to:

  • identify plants and maintain gardens
  • build and manage gardens
  • grow and propagate plants in a nursery
  • maintain and care for specialised plant species.

Delivered at CIT's state-of-the-art horticulture facility, this course provides hands-on experience and prepares you to work under broad supervision, coordinate resources, operate equipment and tackle challenges in diverse settings.

This course does not deliver a trade outcome.

Qualification:

 Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722

Course start date:

 February 2026, July 2026

Course No:

 C3-BD79

Campus:

 CIT Bruce 

Duration:

Apprentice: Apprentices/Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbA) attend Bruce Campus one day per week (approx. 8 hours) for 6 semesters.

Standard and Night Students: Standard students attend Bruce Campus for one, two or three days or nights per week, completing the certificate in either 1, 2 or 3 years. Subjects range from 2 to 4 hours.

Cost Info:

Further information about fees is available at Course fees and assistance

Indicative Cost:

Standard $4,990

ACT Apprentice/Trainee

  • Subsidised Fee - $5,000
  • Full Fee - $15,000
  • ASBA Fee - $350

Likely Job Outcome:

Wholesale or retail nursery, General Services Officer, general horticultural positions

Application Type:

 Portfolio - Standard
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Timetable

To find out more about class scheduling, request a timetable.

Additional Information

You must wear relevant work PPE during practical outdoor work at CIT including:

  • protective boots
  • gloves
  • sun-smart wear including a hat.

You also need to buy:

  • digital resources available through CIT’s online learning environment
  • textbooks
  • logbooks
  • reflective learning journals.

Before you enrol, you will need to complete an online task to measure your language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills (LLND), so we can give you access to support if needed.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this course you must have a Year 10 Certificate or equivalent and be working in the Horticulture industry. You will need Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) literacy levels of at least 3 for language, literacy, and numeracy.

We recommend that you be in generally good health and be able to participate in the physical activities required by this course and the industry.

Physical activities may include:

  • manual handling tasks for sustained periods (no more than 20kgs) like bending and kneeling, lifting heavy items, carrying, pulling and pushing
  • walking distances.

If you are entering this course as an Apprentice/ASbA you must:

  • be enrolled in an ACT school (ASbAs only)
  • be employed in the Horticultural industry (a part-time basis for ASbAs)
  • be an apprentice under the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme (AAS) and be registered with an Apprentice Network Provider (ANP) before you enrol.

If you already have skills in this area, you may seek recognition for all or part of this course.

Skills Recognition

To study any course at CIT (excluding non-accredited training) you must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

Literacy Skills Information

We suggest that you will need Australian Core Skills Framework literacy levels of at least 3 across reading, writing, learning, oral communication and, depending on your course of study, numeracy skills to successfully complete this course. If you do not have this level, you can still enrol and seek support to improve your skills or you may prefer to begin with the lower level course. Please visit Foundation Skills.

Transition Information

Qualifications at CIT are regularly updated or replaced to meet current industry needs and maximise your employment opportunities. If this occurs while you are part way through a qualification, you may need to vary your learning to meet the new national requirements. CIT will aim to make this as smooth as possible for you.

Subject Cancellations/Changes

To ensure positive outcomes for all students, CIT may need to cancel or change classes at short notice. CIT will make every effort to inform students as soon as changes are made and will also make every effort to offer alternative arrangements for students to meet the requirements of the subject and complete their qualification. In an unfortunate instance when this cannot be met, you will receive a full refund. Please ensure you maintain current contact details via CIT Self Service or by contacting CIT Student Services at infoline@cit.edu.au.


Subject Information

Complete 17 subjects

Core: Complete all 11

  • AHCCHM304   Transport and store chemicals
    • CIT Code: HORT644
      Cost: Standard $170.00
      Apprentice $170.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely transport, handle and store liquid and dry chemical formulations across a broad range of industry sectors. This unit does not cover operation of specialised chemical application equipment and machinery or application of chemicals. All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety and pesticide legislation and codes. All work is carried out to comply with Safety Data Sheets, chemical label directions and relevant legislative requirements. This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCCHM307   Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
    • CIT Code: HORT1348
      Cost: Standard $170.00
      Apprentice $170.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely prepare and apply chemicals for the control of pests, weeds and diseases, using general application equipment. The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems. State or territory licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply in some jurisdictions.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCIRG346   Operate pressurised irrigation systems
    • CIT Code: HORT1352
      Cost: Standard $330.00
      Apprentice $330.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to pre-start check, inspect, start up, operate, monitor and shut down pressurised irrigation systems. The unit applies to individuals who operate pressurised irrigation systems under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCMOM304   Operate machinery and equipment
    • CIT Code: HORT658
      Cost: Standard $330.00
      Apprentice $330.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate and maintain machinery and equipment. All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety requirements manufacturer's specifications and sustainability practices. This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPCM308   Identify and select plants
    • CIT Code: HORT1403
      Cost: Standard $240.00
      Apprentice $240.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and select plants to suit plant use and work site, including identifying commonly used plants, describing plants and explaining plant cultural requirements. The unit applies to individuals who identify and select plants under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPGD309   Perform specialist amenity pruning
    • CIT Code: HORT1397
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to perform specialist amenity pruning, including preparing, undertaking and completing amenity pruning work using specialist pruning techniques.The unit applies to individuals who perform specialist amenity pruning under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPMG301   Control weeds
    • CIT Code: HORT642
      Cost: Standard $360.00
      Apprentice $360.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and coordinate weed control activities. This unit applies to workers in agriculture, horticulture or land management-based enterprises who are required to carry out the control of weed infestations using cultural, biological and chemical methods to provide effective, economical control of weeds while minimising damage to the environment.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPMG302   Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
    • CIT Code: HORT665
      Cost: Standard $220.00
      Apprentice $220.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to control plant pests, diseases and disorders, taking into consideration Integrated Pest Management options. The unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify a range of pests, diseases and disorders and beneficial organisms, assess damage or threat to plants and select and apply pest and disease controls and timing of operations. It includes preparing and calibrating equipment, monitoring the effectiveness of controls and keeping records.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCSOL304   Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas
    • CIT Code: HORT1361
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect and test soil samples for their physical and chemical characteristics and take corrective action to improve the soil for garden beds and turf areas. The unit applies to individuals who carry out soil improvements under general direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCWHS302   Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
    • CIT Code: HORT1404
      Cost: Standard $150.00
      Apprentice $150.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to workplace health and safety procedures, including applying policies and procedures, assisting in hazard identification and risk control, and observing safe practices during work operations. The unit applies to individuals who contribute to workplace health and safety processes under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work. All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, health and safety in the workplace requirements, legislative and regulatory requirements. NOTES: 1. The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) are equivalent and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the model WHS Laws have not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements. 2. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations, and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCWRK320   Apply environmentally sustainable work practices
    • CIT Code: HORT1405
      Cost: Standard $220.00
      Apprentice $220.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply environmentally sustainable work practices. The unit applies to individuals who apply environmentally sustainable work practices under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, health and safety in the workplace requirements, legislative and regulatory requirements and sustainability and biosecurity practices. No licencing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Electives: Complete 6 subjects

  • AHCNSY308   Maintain nursery plants
    • CIT Code: HORT1409
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor and maintain the nursery environment, determine water requirements and plant interventions that promote plant growth, and complete nursery plant maintenance work.The unit applies to individuals who maintain nursery plants under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCNSY313   Implement a propagation plan
    • CIT Code: HORT1412
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a propagation plan, including; preparing for, implementing and completing propagation of plants.The unit applies to individuals who implement a propagation plan under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPGD308   Plan and maintain plant displays
    • CIT Code: HORT1396
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and establish plant displays, including preparing, selecting, placing and maintaining plants either indoors or as seasonal displays of annual and perennial plants in garden beds and completing work.The unit applies to individuals who plan and maintain plant displays under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPCM305   Implement a plant nutrition program
    • CIT Code: HORT1393
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a plant nutrition program, including preparing for the nutrition program, monitoring and controlling the nutritional requirements of plants, preparing fertilisers and application equipment, applying products to plants, and completing plant nutrition program activities.The unit applies to individuals who implement a plant nutrition program under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCPGD307   Implement a plant establishment program
    • CIT Code: HORT1395
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to establish planting areas, including preparing, implementing, reviewing and completing plant establishment work, in new projects and in programs of extensive replacement and renovation works across a range of situations and environments.The unit applies to individuals who implement a plant establishment program under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • AHCNSY312   Prepare specialised plants
    • CIT Code: HORT1411
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Apprentice $350.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare and implement plant treatments and maintain aesthetic appearance of specialised plants. The unit applies to individuals who prepare specialised plants under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Related Courses

Certificate III Conservation and Ecosystem Management AHC31424
Certificate III Landscape Construction AHC30921
Certificate III Parks and Gardens AHC31024
Certificate III Sports Turf Management AHC31324
Statement Attainment Conservation and Ecosystem Management Taster
Non-Accredited Training Introduction to Permaculture Design

More Information

For more information about this course please contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au