Not sure which certificate you should study, or the difference between different qualification levels? Consider where you want the qualification to get you – In some fields a Certificate III is the standard, while others will require a Cert IV or Diploma. Another consideration is the amount of time needed to graduate from your chosen course, with Cert 3, Cert 4, and Diplomas taking (on average) 12, 18, and 24 months to complete, respectively. Think about your weekly schedule and if you can include 20 hours of online study per week.
Certificate III
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply a broad range of knowledge and skills in varied contexts to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning”
A Certificate III will help you refine the necessary skills for your career. If you already have a good foundation or work an entry-level role in the same industry, a Certificate III is a great step up and can land you a mid-level position or assistant role in some industries. The standard qualification for Care Workers is a Certificate III in Individual Support
Certificate IV
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply a broad range of specialised knowledge and skills in varied contexts to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning”
Diploma
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply integrated technical and theoretical concepts in a broad range of contexts to undertake advanced skilled or paraprofessional work and as a pathway for further learning”
Diplomas like the Diploma of Counselling qualify you for high level specialist roles, or as a supervisor to others. Studying a Diploma will provide in-depth knowledge of specialisations. Leadership roles in Mental Health or Child, Youth and Family Intervention will generally need a Diploma level qualification as they must deal with laws and have minimal supervision.
Bachelor Degree
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake professional work and as a pathway for further learning”
Bachelor Degrees qualify you for autonomy, well-developed judgement, and ability to transmit knowledge to others.
Masters Degree
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for research/professional practice and scholarship and as a pathway for further learning”
Studying a Masters Degree equips you with expert, specialised technical skills and the ability to transmit that knowledge to specialists and non-specialists alike. You will learn to critically analyse and reflect on complex information.
Doctoral Degree
From AQF: “qualifies individuals who apply a substantial body of knowledge to research, investigate and develop new knowledge, in one or more fields of investigation, scholarship or professional practice”
Doctoral Degrees involve critical understanding of complex ideas and cover specialised research which helps advance the field. Those qualified promote new insights to peers and the community, and generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to their discipline or area of practice.