SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing
Set yourself up for a career creating and styling, surrounded by people in our modern program. Earn while you learn by studying our certificate and completing your apprenticeship alongside it, or you can treat our program as an authentic alternative to an apprenticeship.
Course essentials
Qualification Code
Entry requirements
Fees
Duration
Locations
SMB (on campus)
Course overview
This qualification reflects the role of hairdressers who use a range of well-developed sales, consultation and technical skills and knowledge to provide a broad range of hairdressing services to clients. They use discretion and judgement to provide client services and take responsibility for the outcomes of their own work.
Horsham will be accepting School Based apprentices. Once the student has left school and become a full time apprentice, they will need to attend Ballarat campus.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Federation TAFE
Career paths
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
2026 indicative fees
The fees you pay will depend on your eligibility for a Victorian Government subsidised place under the Skills First Program. The indicative fees displayed below are estimates for the total course and may change depending on individual circumstances at enrolment.
Fees are subject to change annually.
| Concession Government Subsidised Place | Standard Government Subsidised Place | Full Fee Place (Not eligible for government subsidy) |
|---|---|---|
| $703 | $3,515 | $16,385 |
Material fees
This covers things like tools, stationery, uniforms, textbooks, excursions and so on. Expect the cost to be around $1,930.
Other study costs
Students have the option to purchase a Hairdressing kit through Federation TAFE, or they can supply their own. A list of required items will be provided to the student ahead of their first class.
Students will be required to supply their own:
- uniform: Black long pants or smart casual or knee-length skirt,
- and black fully enclosed, non-slip shoes which must be low-heeled, closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes to reduce risk of slips, trips, and fatigue.
Other important information
If you need help managing your fee payments, you might be eligible for a direct debit payment plan. Students doing certificate-level TAFE courses can access payment plans for both tuition and materials fees. Diploma and advanced diploma students can access payment plans for materials fees only.
If you’re accessing government-subsidised training under the Skills First Program, doing this course might affect your ability to access future government-subsidised training.
If you’re eligible to enrol in a course under the Victorian Government Free TAFE initiative, the tuition would be free but you’d still have to pay the materials fee (if applicable).
Find out more about fees, payments and refunds.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 1, 2026
Locations
Horsham (on campus)
SMB (on campus)
Semester 2, 2026
Locations
Horsham (on campus)
SMB (on campus)
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat.
Contact hours
On average, apprentices attend one day per week training on campus from 9am – 4pm, in conjunction with ongoing employment at a hairdressing salon.
Apprentices: Approximately 1 hour per week of self-directed/independent learning.
Sample course structure
This is a list of units available in this course. Which units you enrol in will depend on the course and stream available.
- Participate in environmentally sustainable work practicesBSBSUS201
- Provide shampoo and basin servicesSHBHBAS001
- Colour and lighten hairSHBHCLS002
- Provide full and partial head highlighting treatmentsSHBHCLS003
- Neutralise unwanted colours and tonesSHBHCLS004
- Provide on scalp full head and retouch bleach treatmentsSHBHCLS005
- Design haircut structuresSHBHCUT001
- Create one length or solid haircut structuresSHBHCUT002
- Create graduated haircut structuresSHBHCUT003
- Create layered haircut structuresSHBHCUT004
- Cut hair using over-comb techniquesSHBHCUT005
- Create finished hair designsSHBHDES003
- Maintain and organise tools, equipment and work areasSHBHIND001
- Develop and expand a client baseSHBHIND003
- Straighten and relax hair with chemical treatmentsSHBHREF002
- Identify and treat hair and scalp conditionsSHBHTRI001
- Conduct salon financial transactionsSHBXCCS001
- Provide salon services to clientsSHBXCCS002
- Comply with organisational requirements within a personal services environmentSHBXIND001
- Communicate as part of a salon teamSHBXIND002
- Apply safe hygiene, health and work practicesSHBXWHS001
- Provide head, neck and shoulder massages for relaxationSHBHBAS002
- Create combined haircut structuresSHBHCUT006
- Create combined traditional and classic men's haircut structuresSHBHCUT007
- Braid hairSHBHDES002
- Create classic long hair up-stylesSHBHDES004
- Research and use hairdressing industry informationSHBHIND002
- Recommend products and servicesSHBXCCS004
- Produce visual merchandise displaysSIRRMER001
Entry requirements
Have employment within a hairdressing salon.
How you apply will depend on your current situation. Visit our how to apply page for options and instructions.
After you submit your application, we’ll get you to do an online literacy and numeracy review to help us understand where you’re at (and if the course you’re applying for is a good fit). We’ll give you feedback and offer you support if needed.
For information about students’ rights and responsibilities, please refer to the VET Information Guide.
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- SHB
- National course code
- SHB30416
Alternate Entry: Certificate II in Salon Assistant (SHB20216)
This course can lead onto:
- Certificate IV Hairdressing
- Diploma of Salon Management