Printingapprenticeship
Digital, flexographic, screen or lithographic printing — a nationally recognised Certificate III, assessed on your own kit, in your own shop, on the jobs already going out the door.
Trained where you print
The Certificate III in Printing is the trade qualification for printers. You stay at work and keep earning: your RTA assessor comes to your workplace, the theory is done online, and you finish with a nationally recognised qualification with your specialisation named on the certificate.
Four specialisations
You and your employer choose the stream that matches the work your workplace does. The specialisation appears on your testamur — for example, ICP31220 Certificate III in Printing (Digital Printing).
Digital
Wide-format and production digital print, from file to finished job.
ICPPRN2820Produce and manage basic digital printICPPRN3840Set up and produce basic digital printICPPRN3920Set up and produce specialised digital printICPPRN4960Set up and produce complex digital print
Flexographic
Flexo presses for labels, packaging and continuous print.
ICPPRN2140Produce basic flexographic printed productICPPRN3140Produce complex flexographic printed productICPPRN4130Set up for complex flexographic printing
Screen
Screen preparation and printing, by hand and on the press.
ICPSCP2710Manually produce basic screen printsICPSCP2820Prepare film for basic screen printingICPSCP3830Prepare film for complex screen printing
Lithographic
Offset lithographic printing — press set-up and production.
ICPPRN2320Produce basic lithographic printed productICPPRN3320Produce complex lithographic printed productICPPRN3310Set up for basic lithographic printingICPPRN4310Set up for complex lithographic printing
Pre-press and print finishing are separate qualifications and are not part of this course.
What you'll cover
Every apprentice completes the five core units. The example below is the digital printing stream; in the other streams the digital print units are swapped for that stream's units above.
BSBSUS201Participate in environmentally sustainable work practicesCoreICPKNW3220Develop and apply knowledge of the printing and graphic arts industryCoreICPSUP2160Inspect quality against required standardsCoreICPSUP2600Maintain a safe work environmentCoreICPSUP2620Communicate in the workplaceCoreICPSUP2810Use computer systems in printing and graphic artsICPPRN3890Manage digital filesBSBOPS304Deliver and monitor a service to customersMSMSUP106Work in a teamICPSUP2630Perform basic industry calculationsICPSUP2020Prepare, load and unload product on and off machineICPSUP2820Undertake basic machine maintenanceICPSUP2030Prepare and maintain the work areaICPPRN284Use colour management systemsICPPRP2840Produce PDF files for online or screen displayICPSUP2070Prepare machine for operation (basic)ICPPRP2110Develop a basic design conceptICPPRN3840Set up and produce basic digital printICPPRN4960Set up and produce complex digital printICPPRN3920Set up and produce specialised digital printICPPRN2820Produce and manage basic digital print
Electives are confirmed with you and your employer in your training plan, to suit the work your workplace does.
Start to certificate
Sign up
Your employer signs you up through an Apprenticeship Connect Australia provider and nominates RTA as your training organisation.
Plan
We build your training plan with you and your employer, matched to your stream and the work you do.
Learn and do
Theory online, one unit at a time. Practical skills on the jobs you already run, signed off by your supervisor in the app.
Assessed on site
Your assessor visits your workplace across the apprenticeship, and you finish with your Certificate III.
Get your skills recognised
If you have been printing for years without the qualification, recognition of prior learning (RPL) assesses the skills you already have against the Certificate III in Printing. It usually suits people with at least two to three years of industry experience. Talk to us first — we will tell you honestly whether it is worth applying.
Government subsidised
New South Wales
This training is fee-free and fully subsidised by the NSW Government under the Fee-Free Apprenticeships initiative.
Queensland
Free for eligible apprentices under 25 (Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s). Otherwise a co-contribution of $1,336.00, or $534.40 concessional, for the standard 21 units. RTA is a Skills Assure Supplier — proud to be a Queensland Government subsidised training provider.
Tasmania
No student fee. This training is subsidised by the Department of State Growth, Tasmania. Fees are absorbed by RTA under a special agreement.
Full details, including how the Queensland fee is calculated and who pays it, are on our fees page.
Good to know
How long does a printing apprenticeship take?
A printing apprenticeship runs for four years. Completion is competency based, so you may finish earlier once you have been assessed competent in every unit. It is a registered apprenticeship, so you train and are assessed while you work.
Do I have to leave work to attend training?
No. Your RTA assessor comes to your workplace and assesses you on the jobs you already run. The theory is completed online, one unit at a time.
Which printing specialisations can I do?
Digital, flexographic, screen or lithographic (offset) printing. You and your employer choose the one that matches the work your workplace does, and it is named on your certificate.
What does it cost?
In NSW apprenticeships are fee-free, and in Tasmania there is no student fee. In Queensland the course is free for eligible apprentices under 25; otherwise the co-contribution is $1,336.00 ($534.40 concessional). See our fees page for details.
Who sets up the apprenticeship training contract?
Your employer signs you up through an Apprenticeship Connect Australia provider and nominates Regional Trade Assessments as your training organisation.
Does RTA provide qualifications in print finishing or prepress?
No. Pre-press and print finishing are separate qualifications. The Certificate III in Printing at RTA covers digital, flexographic, screen and lithographic printing.
I have been printing for years. Can I get my skills recognised?
Yes. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) assesses the skills you already have against the qualification. It usually suits people with at least two to three years of industry experience.
Have a chat first
It can be hard to get the right information, and to understand how an apprenticeship begins. We know it's a minefield! Give us a call and we'll help you get everything sorted.
This training is subsidised by the Department of State Growth, Tasmania.