Hey there! I’m Sam from Qualify Me!, Australia’s leading RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) company. If you’ve been working in the construction industry for a while but don’t have formal qualifications, you’re probably already aware of how important a carpentry qualification can be in unlocking new opportunities.
Here at Qualify Me!, I’ve helped hundreds of people just like you turn their hard-earned skills into nationally recognised qualifications. Today, I want to talk about how getting your CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry can set you up for a successful career and how you can achieve this qualification quickly without going through years of training.
Why You Need a Carpentry Qualification
Let’s face it—Australia’s construction industry is booming, and qualified carpenters are in high demand. But without formal qualifications, you might be missing out on better pay, more jobs, and higher job security.
As I always say, “A formal qualification doesn’t just validate your skills—it opens doors to bigger and better projects.”
You might already have years of experience, but a nationally recognised carpentry qualification is what employers are looking for. It’s a must if you want to work on major construction sites or start your own carpentry business.
Fast-Track Your Carpentry Qualification with RPL
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to go back to TAFE or spend years in an apprenticeship to get qualified. With Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), you can use the skills and experience you already have to fast-track your carpentry qualification.
At Qualify Me!, we’ve designed a streamlined process that’s quick and easy:
- Skills Assessment: We start with a free skills assessment to determine your eligibility.
- Portfolio of Evidence: You’ll gather proof of your experience (such as photos of your work, references, and certificates).
- Competency Check: We review your skills and ensure everything meets the standards.
- Get Qualified: Once everything’s in order, you’ll receive your nationally recognised carpentry qualification.
This process could save you years of formal training. And the best part? You’ll be ready to take on bigger roles and increase your earning potential.
"At Qualify Me!, we believe in turning your experience into qualifications fast, so you can keep moving forward in your career without slowing down."
The Skills You’ll Gain with a Carpentry Qualification
When you complete your carpentry qualification, you’ll gain a wide range of practical skills that are essential on any job site:
- Framing and formwork: You’ll learn how to construct the skeleton of buildings, which is a fundamental skill for any carpenter.
- Blueprint reading: Understanding how to read and interpret building plans is crucial for accurate construction.
- Building codes and safety regulations: You’ll be fully aware of Australia’s construction laws and ensure that every project meets safety standards.
These skills will make you stand out from the competition and give you the confidence to take on more complex projects.
Career Opportunities with a Carpentry Qualification
Once you’ve secured your CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry, you’ll have access to a wide range of job opportunities:
- Residential Carpenter: Work on homes, renovations, and extensions.
- Commercial Carpenter: Get involved in large-scale construction projects like office buildings, schools, or shopping centres.
- Formwork Carpenter: Specialise in creating the molds for concrete structures, an essential skill for infrastructure projects.
And if you’re thinking about starting your own carpentry business, a formal qualification is your golden ticket to get registered and insured as a contractor.
"With a carpentry qualification, you’re not just another tradie—you’re a skilled professional who’s ready to take on any job."
Frequently Asked Questions About Carpentry Qualifications
How long does it take to get a carpentry qualification through RPL?
The RPL process can be completed much faster than traditional training methods. At Qualify Me!, we typically see our clients qualify within a few months, depending on how quickly they can gather their evidence.
What is the CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry?
The CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry is the nationally recognised qualification for carpenters in Australia. It covers essential skills like framing, formwork, and blueprint reading.
Can I apply for RPL if I have informal carpentry experience?
Absolutely! Recognition of Prior Learning is designed for people who’ve gained their skills on the job, whether that’s through informal work or previous training.
Why should I get a carpentry qualification if I already have experience?
Without a formal qualification, you could be missing out on better job opportunities and higher pay. A carpentry qualification shows employers that your skills meet national standards and that you’re ready to take on more responsibility.
How does getting qualified through Qualify Me! help me locally?
As Australia’s leading RPL company, Qualify Me!, we specialise in helping local tradies fast-track their qualifications. This gives you an edge in your local job market, helping you stand out from the crowd and secure better contracts.
How to Get Started with Qualify Me!
Ready to take the next step? At Qualify Me!, we make the process as simple as possible. Whether you’ve been working as a carpenter for 2 years or 20, we can help you get your carpentry qualification fast. And if you’re looking for a local RPL company you can trust, you can always check out our Google reviews here.
"Getting your qualification shouldn’t slow you down. With Qualify Me!, it’s quick, easy, and tailored to your experience."
Conclusion
A carpentry qualification is the key to unlocking better job opportunities, higher pay, and more job security in Australia’s booming construction industry. With Qualify Me!, you can fast-track your certification and start enjoying the benefits of being a fully qualified carpenter.
Get Qualified Australia Pty Ltd, known as ‘Get Qualified Australia’ or ‘GQA’ was, up until recently, a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) company that assisted job seekers in turning their on-the-job experience into a qualification in industries ranging from the automotive industry to business and beauty. It described itself as ‘Australia’s leading Skills Recognition & Recognition of Prior Learning Specialist’.
THE STORY SO FAR
Late last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) successfully obtained an asset freezing order (pending further legal action by the ACCC) in the Federal Court of Australia against Get Qualified Australia, GQA’s sole director and shareholder, Adam Wadi, and Mr Wadi’s spouse, Lama Al-Natour. The ACCC then filed substantive legal proceedings against Get Qualified Australia and Mr Wadi, alleging:
- misleading or deceptive conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law 2010 (ACL);
- false or misleading representations in contravention of the ACL;
- unconscionable conduct in contravention of the ACL;
- contravention of the unsolicited consumer agreement division of the ACL;
- unfair contract terms under the ACL.
Specifically in respect of Mr Wadi, the ACCC alleged that he ‘aided, abetted, counselled or procured and was directly and indirectly knowingly concerned in each of GQA’s contraventions of the ACL’.
GQA has now declared that it is unable to pay its debts and is now in liquidation. It has left thousands of students who were in the middle of obtaining their qualifications after having paid fees to GQA, as well as many students who were already claiming refunds from GQA. A creditors’ report revealed that the company owed over $1.5 million to creditors including Facebook and Google AdWords. Blair Pleash of insolvency firm Hall Chadwick has been appointed as the liquidator for GQA and has said that it was “not looking good” for customers and creditors as the company itself did not have a large amount of finances in their bank. The creditors report revealed that GQA has only $1,600 in cash in its bank account and an apparently overstated $210,012 in plant and equipment. It has been reported that, up until shortly before Mr Pleash’s appointment as liquidator, GQA staff members were still contacting clients advising that they had established a whole new service team and requesting the payment of fees.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector. They regulate courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met. GQA is not itself a registered training organization (RTO), In March, the cancellation of RTOs owned or operated by GQA and Mr Wadi by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) was confirmed by the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Those cancelled RTOs were Get Qualified Australia Adelaide, Get Qualified Australia Canberra and Get Qualified Australia Brisbane.
The ACCC claims that GQA call centre sales staff were motivated by their sales targets. It was alleged that consumers were advised and assured that they were eligible for qualifications by sales representatives who had no idea whether or not the consumer was eligible or not.
Numerous consumers were signed up, charged fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars and then GQA never communicated with them again and their much sought after qualification was never acquired. Staff members of GQA pressured consumers for upfront payments before they could reveal any information regarding how they could go about gaining their qualification.
The ACCC also alleges that the company itself had a “money back guarantee” in where consumers were promised their money back if they didn’t receive their qualification but the company almost always declined refund requested when consumers did not receive their qualification.
Recently, the Federal Court heard the ACCC’s claim, in which it seeks orders for consumer refunds, monetary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for corrective publication, the implementation of a trade practices compliance program, and legal costs. However the likelihood of this occurring is low as GQA is now in liquidation. The ACCC also seeks orders against Mr Wadi disqualifying him from managing corporations.
Alongside the legal action being taken against GQA by the ACCC, Qualify Me! has also taken legal action against GQA for trademark infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct.
THE RESULTS
As a result of the legal case the ACCC has brought against GQA and GQA’s collapse into liquidation, we have received a large number of student enquiries requesting support in achieving their desired qualifications. We are very concerned for students who have already paid for qualification services and prepared all or a substantial part of the required evidence, yet are now faced with having to pay for the full RPL process again.
The Qualify Me! Team have finalised a tailored model of their RPL & Skills Recognition programs that is designed to allow ex-GQA clients to continue their RPL process with Qualify Me!, saving them both time and money compared with the alternative of having to start from scratch and pay again in full. There are still some challenges in such a model, for example our evidence collection criteria is aligned closely with industry and performance criteria as per the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards and may therefore differ to what was requested of them prior.
Students who have been impacted should try the Qualify Me! Free Skills Assessment to get started on our program. Unfortunately, we may not be able to service all students as we have become aware that a number of students previously on GQA's books do not meet our RPL Program entry criteria. Students who do not qualify for our RPL program, have the option to undertake suitable nationally accredited vocational courses.
Our management team empathise with the number of students involved and would like to do our part for the industry. To date, we have already established a dedicated student support team to cater for the high demand of applicants coming across. This student support team is there to only work with those students who have been affected by GQA and with this comes several benefits, some of which include quick one-on-one service, supporting you when needed and ensuring faster processing time. Students impacted by GQA’s liquidation have been offered discounts, in some cases below cost, as a step forward in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility.
Here is a list of Qualifications we can help with:
Make the switch! Let Qualify Me, Qualify You!
