Certificate II vs Certificate III in Hospitality: Which Should I Do?

Both qualifications lead to work in cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels, and both are nationally recognised. So the question is usually less about which one is better and more about where you are right now: still at school, starting out, or already working in a venue and wanting to move up.

Here is how the two compare, and how to work out which one fits.

What is the difference between Certificate II and Certificate III in Hospitality?

The Certificate II is the entry point and the Certificate III is the step up. SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality has 12 units of competency (6 core, 6 elective). SIT30622 Certificate III in Hospitality has 15 units (6 core, 9 elective) and reflects someone with well-developed service or operational skills and a sound understanding of how a venue runs.

Certificate II (SIT20322) at a glance:

• 12 units
• Minimum 12 workplace shifts
• Suits bar and cafe attendants, food and beverage attendants, front office and room attendants
• Funded for school students through VETiS

Certificate III (SIT30622) at a glance:

• 15 units
• 36 workplace shifts
• Suits baristas, senior bar attendants, front desk receptionists and function hosts
• Subsidised for eligible Queenslanders through Career Start

Who should start with a Certificate II?

Start with the Certificate II if you are new to hospitality. It covers the foundations employers expect on the floor: customer service, food and beverage service, hygiene and food safety, and working in a team.

It is also the level school students usually study. Queensland students in Years 10 to 12 can study it fee-free through VETiS, which means finishing school with a hospitality qualification and real shifts already on their resume. If that is you, your school’s guidance officer or VET coordinator is the first person to talk to.

Who should go straight to a Certificate III?

Go to the Certificate III if you have already left school and want hospitality to be more than a first job. The extra units let you specialise in food and beverage, accommodation services or gaming, and the longer placement means you finish with far more time in a real venue.

It also suits people already working in hospitality. The Certificate III can be completed on the job, with a trainer visiting your workplace, so you are not stepping away from your shifts to study. A traineeship pathway is available too, where your employer is involved in the training.

You do not need a Certificate II first. Plenty of people start at Certificate III, particularly if they have some hospitality work behind them.

How do the work placement shifts work?

Both qualifications include time in a real hospitality venue, and it is a required part of the training rather than an optional extra. The Certificate II needs a minimum of 12 shifts and the Certificate III needs 36. Placement can be paid or voluntary.

The placement is where the classroom content gets tested against a real service. It is also the part employers tend to ask about, because it shows you have already worked a busy shift rather than just read about one.

What does each one cost?

That depends on the funding program you are eligible for, and the figures change from time to time, so we keep them in one place. See current Hospitality pricing and funding for the VETiS, Career Start and full-fee options.

One point worth knowing if you are weighing up both: Career Start’s prior-qualification rule is about a Certificate III or higher, so completing a Certificate II does not count against it. If you are thinking about a broader range of funded qualifications, our government funding page covers how Career Start works across courses.

Do I also need an RSA?

If your role involves serving alcohol, yes. Anyone serving or supplying alcohol in Queensland must hold a current RSA within 30 days of starting work. SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol is an elective unit in both hospitality qualifications, so it can sit inside your certificate rather than being done separately, and Queensland accepts it either way. Check with us which electives your course includes if this matters for the job you are chasing. We explain how it compares with RSG in RSA vs RSG: what’s the difference, and both are available as standalone short courses.

Still not sure which level suits you? Call us on 07 3822 7362 and we will talk through your experience, confirm your funding eligibility and point you to the right starting point.