Whether you're looking for a job, thinking about a career change, or upskilling for your own development, now's the time to start a fee free or low fee course.
Get into training with no course fees! There are more than 130 fee free* courses and skills sets to choose from across WA TAFE colleges and private training providers. Fee free training is available for courses in priority industry areas like healthcare, IT, building and construction, and hospitality, to help build WA’s skilled workforce.
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Take advantage of around 160 low fee* courses reduced by half or more - some by up to 72%! There’s also an annual fee cap of $400 for jobseekers, youth up to 25 and concession holders, and $1,200 for all other students. The Lower fees, local skills initiative offers qualifications with skills that employers are looking for. *Other fees may apply for some qualifications. View our FAQs for full details. |
Get the skills you need for your first job or your next career move, for free! Free* Job Ready skill sets are the perfect solution to get into a short course and into a job! Job Ready skill sets are a great pathway to get new skills, plus the units you complete will count towards a full qualification, if you choose to continue studying. *View our FAQs for full details about eligibility for free training. |
Explore fee free and low fee courses and Job Ready skill sets
Start your journey towards a brighter, more skilled future.
Whether you need a full qualification or to quickly upskill, there’s fee free and low fee training options including Job Ready skill sets, designed to get you the skills you need to achieve your career and employment goals.
Contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre for free advice on how to choose the best training option, course or qualification to suit your goals.
Call your local JSC on 13 64 64 or find your nearest centre and drop in for a chat.
Frequently asked questions
Here we have provided answers to some frequently asked questions about the fee free, low fee courses as well as Job Ready skill sets.
General questions: Free and reduced-fee training courses
Yes, course fees don't apply but resource fees may.
Resource fees cover materials purchased by the TAFE or training provider that are required for and used during your training; such as workshop materials, workbooks and essential uniforms. For example; you may need to use timber for a course in carpentry — you would pay a resource fee to cover this cost.
All enquiries regarding eligibility, course and resource fees should be made to the TAFE college or private training provider.
You must have left school*, have your primary place of residence in Western Australia, and are either:
- an Australian citizen; or
- a permanent visa holder; or
- hold a temporary visa type specified in section 6.3.7 of the VET Fees and Charges Policy; or
Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 27 October 2025.
First Nations people, young people, people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, people with disability, and women facing economic insecurity are particularly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for fee free training.
Please note that existing worker trainees are not eligible for the fee-free arrangements.
The Department of Training and Workforce Development’s VET Fees and Charges Policy outlines eligibility for subsidised training in WA.
*All enquiries regarding eligibility and/or course fees should be made to the TAFE college or private training provider.
Yes – fee FREE courses are available at WA TAFE colleges, and some are available at selected private training providers.
Once you have found your chosen course using our course search, click the ‘Find out more’ link on the course page to view application and enrolment instructions. This will generally connect you to the TAFE college or private training provider website for detailed instructions on how to apply and enrol.
Low fee courses (Lower fees, local skills)
Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 27 October 2025.
The annual course fee caps under Lower fees, local skills are applied at qualification/course level for the calendar year.
For example; if you complete two courses in one year, the course fees will be capped for each course.
Please note: Course fees are reduced for the Lower fees, local skills qualifications, however you may be required to pay other fees such as for resources that are specifically needed for your course.
Under Lower fees, local skills the $400 course fee cap applies to units of competency that are commenced by concession students, and by people aged between 15 and 24 years.
If you are turning 25 during your course, please speak to your TAFE college or training provider to check what course fees and/or price caps will apply.
Please note: Course fees are half price for the Lower fees, local skills qualifications, however you may be required to pay other fees such as for resources that are specifically needed for your course.
Yes! Some of the Lower fees, local skills half price qualifications are available as an apprenticeship or traineeship, which means as an apprentice or trainee you or your employer would be eligible for the half price course fees and annual course fee caps.
Pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships courses are also available under Lower fees, local skills; to help you prepare to get an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Please note that the lower course fee rates under Lower fees, local skills and the annual course fee cap apply only to units of competency within a course or qualification that you commence from the date the new fee applied to 31 December 2025.
If your apprenticeship or traineeship is likely to go beyond 2025, please speak to your TAFE college or training provider for information on how this might affect your course fees.
Please note: In addition to course fees, you may be required to pay other fees for resources that are specifically needed for your course. Please check with your TAFE college or training provider for details.
If you re-commence units that form part of one of the Lower fees, local skills qualifications between the date the new fee applied and 31 December 2025, you will still be eligible for the half price course fee rates and fee caps.
If you have to withdraw from the course, you are entitled to a refund of the course fee and 50% of the resource fee for units that you withdraw from, before the unit withdrawal date (which is set by your TAFE college or training provider). Please check with your TAFE or training provider for information about refunds.
The Australian Government offers VET Student Loans (VSL) only for courses at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level. If your Lower fees, local skills qualification is at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, you may be eligible for VSL.
What are VET student loans?
Eligible students can apply to get a loan to pay for their fees through the Australian Government’s VET Student Loans scheme (VSL). Under this scheme, once you’re employed and your income exceeds a set level, you start repaying the loan through the tax system. For more information contact your training provider, visit the Australian Government's VET Student Loans website- external site or contact the student hotline on 1800 020 108.
Job Ready skill sets
Because the skill sets are not a full qualification, you will not receive a certificate.
You will receive a Statement of Attainment that lists all of the units of competency you completed in the skill set. This statement is recognised nationally as an official record. It verifies that you have completed those units, so you can receive credit for them should you continue on to further study.
Yes! Completing a skill set is a great way to find out whether this is the industry area for you, and decide if you want to do further study and gain a full qualification.
The Job Ready skill sets contain units of competency taken from nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications. This means they work perfectly as a pathway to further study.
Please check the information in the Job ready skill sets section of this page, where we have listed possible pathways for each of the skill sets.
The Statement of Attainment you receive on completion of a skill set verifies that you have completed those units, so you will receive credit for them should you continue on to further study.
Fee free building and construction courses
The fee free courses will be available at WA TAFE colleges and Department of Training and Workforce Development approved private training providers.
View the Fee free course list on our training page for the full list of free courses.
These courses are fee free from 1 January 2025 until the end of 2026.
All students who enrol in one of the fee free building and construction courses in 2025 and 2026 at a TAFE college or approved private training provider will be able to complete their course under the fee free arrangement.
All enquiries regarding eligibility, course and resource fees should be made to the TAFE college or private training provider.
You can apply for fee free courses during regular TAFE application windows. For more information, contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64.
There are no course fees for fee free courses.
- Students may need to pay other fees for full qualifications, such as a resource fee for materials used during the course.
- Skill sets are 100% fee-free for all* students and do not incur resource fees or course fees.
TAFE colleges or approved training providers will be able to provide details of any additional fees that apply to the course students are interested in.
*Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training. All enquiries regarding eligibility, course and resource fees should be made to the TAFE college or private training provider.
For more information on fee free courses, contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64.
