Certificate III in Production Horticulture

Program Overview

Certificate III in Production Horticulture

Course Overview

Break ground on your horticulture career with this entry-level course and get qualified to work as a production nursery tradesperson or orchard farmhand grower.

What Can I Do?

• Orchard Farmhand Grower
• Vegetable Grower

Course Outcome

AHC30624 Certificate III in Production Horticulture

Practical Training

Throughout this course, you will have every opportunity to get hands-on with the skills, equipment, and technology required to be a leader in the industry. This will ensure you are ready to tackle a diverse range of horticultural management projects.

Industry Input

We have worked closely with the horticulture industry to ensure all elements of our course match both industry needs and employer expectations. This allows us to provide you with the latest industry insights, knowledge, and equipment from day one.

What You Will Study

The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 12 elective units from the list below.

Core Units

• UNIT CODE: AHCBIO303
  • UNIT NAME: Apply biosecurity measures
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret and apply control measures in a biosecurity plan to protect a site from the entry and spread of biosecurity threats.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWHS302
  • UNIT NAME: Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
  • Unit 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.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK318
  • UNIT NAME: Comply with industry quality assurance requirements
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to comply with industry quality assurance requirements.

Elective Units

• UNIT CODE: AHCCHM304
  • UNIT NAME: Transport and store chemicals
  • Unit 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.
• UNIT CODE: AHCCHM307
  • UNIT NAME: Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds, and diseases
  • Unit 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.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG337
  • UNIT NAME: Measure irrigation delivery system performance
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to measure pressure, flow, and distribution uniformity of an irrigation system, monitor supply of equipment and spare parts, and record system performance.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG338
  • UNIT NAME: Troubleshoot irrigation systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to locate and identify irrigation system faulty components and blockages, shut down and isolate components, replace faulty components, clear blockages, and return irrigation system to normal operating status.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG346
  • UNIT NAME: Operate pressurised irrigation systems
  • Unit 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.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG347
  • UNIT NAME: Maintain pressurised irrigation systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret a maintenance program, inspect and maintain pressurised irrigation systems, and record and report maintenance activities.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM202
  • UNIT NAME: Operate tractors
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate tractors with and without attached equipment.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM213
  • UNIT NAME: Operate and maintain chainsaws
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely operate a hand-held chainsaw and maintain it in working condition.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM216
  • UNIT NAME: Operate side by side utility vehicles
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely operate a side by side utility vehicle including undertaking pre-start checks and shut down procedures.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM217
  • UNIT NAME: Operate quad bikes
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely operate quad bikes including undertaking pre-start checks and shut down procedures.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM302
  • UNIT NAME: Perform machinery maintenance
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain machinery and equipment that is used principally in agriculture, horticulture, and conservation and land management work.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM304
  • UNIT NAME: Operate machinery and equipment
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate and maintain machinery and equipment.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM305
  • UNIT NAME: Operate specialised machinery and equipment
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate specialised machinery and equipment.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM205
  • UNIT NAME: Fell small trees
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for tree felling, fell small trees, and complete felling operations where hazards have been assessed as low risk.
  • Pre-requisite unit: AHCMOM213
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM305
  • UNIT NAME: Implement a plant nutrition program
  • Unit 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.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM306
  • UNIT NAME: Provide information on plants and their culture
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify client issues or requirements, identify the preferred solution, and provide information and solutions to clients.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPGD209
  • UNIT NAME: Prune shrubs and small trees
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prune shrubs and small trees that are less than three meters in height, including identifying pruning requirements, undertaking pruning, and completing pruning work.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPHT313
  • UNIT NAME: Implement a post-harvest program
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a post-harvest program for horticultural crops.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPHT315
  • UNIT NAME: Establish horticultural crops
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to establish horticultural crops by seed, seedlings, or other vegetative means.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPHT317
  • UNIT NAME: Coordinate horticultural crop harvesting
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to coordinate crop harvesting activities, including preparing, coordinating, and monitoring harvest activities, monitoring crop quality during harvest, and delivering crop.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPMG301
  • UNIT NAME: Control weeds
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and coordinate weed control activities using appropriate strategies to provide effective, economic control while minimising environmental damage.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPMG302
  • UNIT NAME: Control plant pests, diseases, and disorders
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and assess the effect to plants of plant pests, diseases, and disorders and plan and coordinate control measures.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK212
  • UNIT NAME: Work effectively in industry
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively within an industry on an individual basis and within a work team, including observing employment requirements and accepting responsibility for quality of own work.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK314
  • UNIT NAME: Monitor weather conditions
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor and interpret weather and climate conditions and assess the likely impact on work functions and activity.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK320
  • UNIT NAME: Apply environmentally sustainable work practices
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply environmentally sustainable work practices.
• UNIT CODE: HLTAID011
  • UNIT NAME: Provide First Aid
  • Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies.
• UNIT CODE: TLILIC0003
  • UNIT NAME: Licence to operate a forklift truck
  • Unit description: This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to operate a forklift truck safely in accordance with all relevant legislative requirements.

Ways to Study

• Apprenticeships or traineeships

Study Locations

• Sunshine Coast
• Wide Bay Burnett

Campus

• Nambour
• Bundaberg

Payment Options

• Payment plan
• Upfront payment

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Selection Criteria

You must be employed within the Production Horticulture Industry.

To study a traineeship program, you must be indentured as a trainee with your employer.

Employers need to be able to provide necessary human and physical resources to qualify for a trainee.

Resources Required

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Assessment Methods

Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning.

University Pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfers

Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.