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Cert III
UEE32220
Most In Demand
Certificate III in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Extremely High Demand
RPL
Gap Training
Full Course
Typical income$90,000 – $150,000+
$50k$115k$180k
Commercial refrigeration and after-hours service work pays above the residential range.
Plan the ARC refrigerant handling licence alongside the qualification
Course overview
About this qualification
This is Ramzi's course. He came to Mahmoud wanting his air conditioning and refrigeration licence, was introduced to the right people, and was supported from the first phone call to the certificate. It remains one of the outcomes we are proudest of, and one of the trades we recommend most often.
Australia's climate guarantees the work. Split systems, ducted residential, commercial HVAC and refrigeration in food retail and cold storage all need qualified technicians, and the sector has been short of them for years. The qualification covers refrigeration cycle theory, installation and commissioning of systems, electrical testing and fault diagnosis on HVAC equipment, and the safe handling and recovery of refrigerants.
Refrigerant handling is the part that catches people out. Working with fluorocarbon refrigerants requires a separate Refrigerant Handling Licence issued through the Australian Refrigeration Council, and it is not the same thing as your trade qualification. We plan for it up front, because finding out about it at the end is how people lose a month.
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Refrigeration cycle principles and thermodynamics
- Install and commission split and ducted air conditioning systems
- Commercial refrigeration systems and cold storage
- Electrical testing and safety on HVAC equipment
- Diagnose and rectify faults in refrigeration systems
- Safe handling, recovery and charging of refrigerants
- Brazing, pipework and system evacuation
- Read and interpret HVAC drawings and schematics
- Preventative maintenance and system servicing
- Work health and safety, including working at heights
Exact units are set by the training package and confirmed by your RTO at enrolment.
Where it leads
Career opportunities
Refrigeration Mechanic
Commercial refrigeration, cold storage and food retail
$90,000 – $150,000+
Air Conditioning Technician
Residential and commercial split and ducted systems
$90,000 – $150,000+
HVAC Service Technician
Maintenance contracts and building services
$90,000 – $150,000+
Self-Employed Technician
Installation and service business under ABN
$90,000 – $150,000+
Commercial refrigeration and after-hours service work pays above the residential range.
Is this you?
Who this course suits
Installers working without a trade certificate, overseas-trained HVAC technicians, electrical trades assistants moving into refrigeration, and anyone drawn to a licensed trade with steady year-round demand.
Not sure you fit? Ring anyway. The most common thing Mahmoud hears is “I probably do not qualify” from someone who does. The session costs nothing and the answer is honest either way.
The CME Pathway Method
How we help you get it
Discover
We map your work history and existing tickets against the qualification you need.
Advise
A straight answer on which pathway fits — RPL, gap training or full course.
Connect
We place you with the partner RTO best suited to your evidence and situation.
Support
We stay with you through the paperwork until the certificate is in your hand.
Questions we get asked
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ramzi wanted his air conditioning and refrigeration licence, and Mahmoud introduced him to the right RTO contacts and supported him from the first conversation through to completion. His words were that he was helped from start to finish — that is the service model, not a marketing line.
Yes. Handling fluorocarbon refrigerants requires a Refrigerant Handling Licence issued through the Australian Refrigeration Council, and it is separate from your trade qualification. We build it into your plan from the start so it does not become a surprise delay at the end.
If you have genuine installation and service experience, a meaningful portion often can be. Evidence matters: job records, photographs of installations, references from the businesses you worked for, and any tickets you hold. Expect a practical or technical assessment component — this is a safety-critical trade and assessors verify capability rather than take your word for it.
The qualification covers the electrical testing and fault diagnosis directly relevant to HVAC equipment, and includes a restricted electrical component within defined limits. It does not make you a licensed electrician, and full electrical work still requires an electrician's licence. We will explain exactly where that boundary sits for the work you intend to do.
Consistently strong and not especially seasonal, because commercial refrigeration and maintenance contracts run all year and Australian summers guarantee installation work. It is one of the trades we most often recommend to clients who want licensed technical work with reliable demand.
Important. Certification Made Easy is not a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). We operate solely as a consulting agency, providing advisory and referral services to our clients through our trusted RTO partners.
Course codes, units and any licensing requirements are set by the training package and the relevant regulator, and change over time. Confirm current details with your RTO and, where a licence is involved, with the regulator in your state.
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