Fee Free and Low Fee training to get you Skills Ready

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.  

*In 2025, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 24 October 2024. 

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: 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 - external site or contact the student hotline on 1800 020 108.  

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.

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. 

The seven pre-apprenticeship courses added to the fee free list are: 

• Electrotechnology Pre-apprenticeship* 
  • Plumbing Pre-apprenticeship*
  • Brick and Block Laying Pre-apprenticeship*
  • Wall and Floor Tiling Pre-apprenticeship*
  • Painting and Decorating Pre-apprenticeship*
  • Carpentry Pre-apprenticeship*
  • Cabinet Making and Timber Technology Pre-apprenticeship

*Denotes course previously subsidised under Lower fees, local skills.

All Australian citizens, permanent visa holders and some temporary visa holders, whose primary residence is in Western Australia are eligible to access free training through fee free courses. This includes new and continuing students.

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. 

Existing worker trainees are not eligible for the fee free arrangements. 

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 - external site for the full list of free courses. 

These courses will become 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. 

Applications for fee free courses are open now until end-January for Semester 1, 2025. 

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.