Certificate III in Solid Plastering (CPC31020)
Interior solid plaster, exterior render, cornicing, decorative plasterwork, repairs and patching.
Who is it for? Solid plasterers and renderers with 3+ years on the float and trowel.
RPL in 5 Simple Steps
Free RPL Suitability Enquiry
Discuss your skills, work history and experience with our team to determine whether RPL may be suitable for you. Eligible applicants are referred to a partnered RTO for enrolment.Enrolment & RPL Kit
The partnered RTO enrols you into the qualification or units and provides the RPL assessment kit, evidence guide and submission requirements.Evidence Collection & Submission
Gather and submit evidence of your skills and experience — resumes, employment documents, licences, references, work samples and previous training records. We can assist you with organising your evidence.Assessment & Review
The RTO assessor reviews your evidence and may conduct a competency conversation, workplace verification, practical assessment or request additional information if required.Outcome
The RTO determines the assessment outcome. Where competency requirements are met, the RTO issues the qualification or Statement of Attainment.86%
Graduate Satisfaction
Source: NCVER Student Outcomes (industry avg)
78%
Reported Work Status Improvement
Employment outcomes vary and are not guaranteed
$85k
Typical Median Earnings
Source: Seek / Indeed AU 2026
Qualification Description
CPC31020 — Official description from training.gov.au
This qualification provides a trade outcome in solid plastering for residential and commercial work. The qualification has core unit of competency requirements that cover common skills for the construction industry, as well as the specialist field of work, solid plastering. Solid plasterers apply plaster, cement and other mixtures to walls to create smooth or decorative finishes to interior walls and to render to exterior walls.
Occupational titles may include:
- Solid Plasterer
- Renderer
State and territory jurisdictions may have different licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.
You Can Plaster as an Employee. Contracting Plastering Needs the Cert.
Solid plastering as an employee — no certificate needed, you work under your employer’s licence. Solid plastering as a contractor running your own jobs over the state threshold — CPC31020 and a state contractor licence are required.
Demand is strong across new builds, renovations and restoration. The bottleneck is licensed contractors who can quote commercial and strata work.
Qualified Solid Plasterer (employed)
$80k–$90k / yr
Interior and exterior solid plaster, render, fine finish. Award-rate band once CPC31020 is on file.
Commercial Plasterer / Renderer
$85k–$105k / yr
Strata, commercial fit-outs, restoration. Bigger sites, bigger contracts, better hourly.
Plastering Foreman
$95k–$115k / yr
Run crews, quote jobs, coordinate with builders. Senior role context.
Contracting Plasterer / Subby
$120k–$160k+ / yr
Quote your own work. Required for contracting above state thresholds — and for builder subcontracts.
Your float doesn’t care about paperwork. Builders, banks and head contractors do.
Request RPL Suitability Check — Free →
Salary ranges sourced from Seek, Indeed and Payscale Australia (2026). Licensing thresholds vary by state and project value. Figures are typical full-time ranges and exclude superannuation unless noted.
You May Need To Provide Evidence Such As
- Photos of completed render, cornice, repair work
- References from builders, painters or repeat clients
- Pay slips or invoices showing plastering work
- Evidence of relevant Australian workplace experience, where required by the partner RTO
- White card + any safety tickets
- Supplier accounts (CSR, Boral, Rockcote)
- Previous training records or qualifications, if available
FQ helps you understand what evidence may be requested before assessment by the partner RTO.
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