RPL for Certificate III in Agriculture

Certificate III in Agriculture takes 16 units. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, each unit is assessed on evidence of work you have already done rather than on training you sit through.

What the assessment looks at

Every unit sets out what you must be able to do and what you must know. An assessor works through them one at a time, asking the same question each time: does this person's evidence show they can do this reliably, in a real workplace, recently enough to count?

You can read the full requirements for AHC30122 on the national training register. They are public, and worth a look before you spend anything — if the units describe work you have never done, RPL is not your route.

Evidence worth gathering before you start

• Photos of completed jobs, ideally showing a few stages of the same job, with their original dates intact.
• Job sheets, dockets, work orders or site diaries covering a spread of jobs.
• Supervisors, employers or clients who will confirm specifically what you did.
• Any licences or tickets you already hold.

How the guided process works

You work through the 16 units one at a time, talking about jobs you have actually done. You can speak rather than type. Add photos as you find them, and stop whenever you like — progress saves itself, and most people spread this over weeks while they dig out records. At the end you have an evidence portfolio your RTO's assessor can work through.

What this does not do

It does not assess you, and it cannot promise you AHC30122. An assessor at a registered training organisation makes that decision and may require further evidence or training. What a complete portfolio buys you is a fair assessment rather than a rejection over paperwork.

See what AHC30122 involves →

The 16 units you complete, chosen from these 197

You do not do all 197. Certificate III in Agriculture is 2 core units, which everyone does, plus 14 chosen from the 195 electives below. Read both lists before you spend anything — it is the fastest way to tell whether RPL is your route. If most of this describes work you have done, you have a case to make. If whole sections describe work you have never touched, an assessor will say so, and doing the course is the honest answer.

Worth knowing: 8 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• AHCWHS302 — Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
• AHCWRK320 — Apply environmentally sustainable work practices

Electives — you choose from these

• ACMEQU212 — Handle horses safely
• ACMEQU214 — Prepare to work safely around horses
• ACMEQU217 — Load and unload horses
• ACMEQU218 — Perform horse riding skills at walk, trot and canter
• ACMEQU305 — Implement a horse health program
• ACMEQU306 — Provide routine care for horses
• ACMEQU309 — Carry out basic hoof care procedures
• ACMGEN311 — Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing
• ACMGEN312 — Provide nutritional requirements for animals
• AHCAGB302 — Keep production records for a primary production business
• AHCAIS304 — Artificially inseminate livestock
• AHCBAC309 — Undertake preparation of land for agricultural crop production
• AHCBAC311 — Conserve forage
• AHCBAC312 — Test and grade grains and seeds on receival
• AHCBAC313 — Establish pastures and crops for livestock production
• AHCBAC314 — Prepare to receive grains and seeds
• AHCBAC315 — Establish agricultural crops
• AHCBAC316 — Maintain agricultural crops
• AHCBAC317 — Undertake agricultural crop harvesting activities
• AHCBAC318 — Maintain pastures and crops for livestock production
• AHCBER302 — Work effectively in a biosecurity emergency response
• AHCBER305 — Carry out emergency disease or pest control procedures on infected premises
• AHCBER306 — Carry out movement and security procedures
• AHCBIO301 — Identify and report signs of unusual disease or pest
• AHCBIO303 — Apply biosecurity measures
• AHCBUS302 — Use portable technology in the workplace
• AHCCHM304 — Transport and store chemicals
• AHCCHM307 — Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
• AHCCHM308 — Use application equipment to apply fumigant in confined spaces
• AHCCHM309 — Fumigate soil
• AHCCHM310 — Conduct manual fumigation of vertebrate and invertebrate pests
• AHCCOM304 — Operate compost processing plant, machinery and equipment
• AHCDRG305 — Install drainage systems
• AHCHYD303 — Implement a maintenance program for hydroponic systems
• AHCHYD304 — Install hydroponic systems
• AHCINF305 — Implement property improvement, construction and repair
• AHCINF306 — Plan and construct an electric fence
• AHCINF307 — Plan and construct conventional fencing
• AHCINF308 — Install and terminate extra low voltage wiring systems
• AHCIRG336 — Operate and maintain gravity fed irrigation systems
• AHCIRG338 — Troubleshoot irrigation systems
• AHCIRG346 — Operate pressurised irrigation systems
• AHCLSK235 — Ride educated horses to carry out basic stock work
• AHCLSK236 — Handle horses safely for stock work
• AHCLSK237 — Brand livestock
• AHCLSK330 — Implement procedures for calving
• AHCLSK338 — Conduct dropped ovary technique procedures for spaying cattle
• AHCLSK340 — Mate and monitor reproduction of alpacas
• AHCLSK341 — Coordinate artificial insemination and fertility management of livestock
• AHCLSK342 — Prepare animals for parturition
• AHCLSK343 — Prepare for and implement natural mating of livestock
• AHCLSK344 — Administer treatments to livestock
• AHCLSK345 — Carry out feedlot operations
• AHCLSK346 — Carry out post-mortem examination of livestock
• AHCLSK347 — Maintain livestock water supplies
• AHCLSK348 — Coordinate and monitor production performance
• AHCLSK349 — Euthanase livestock
• AHCLSK350 — Identify and draft livestock
• AHCLSK351 — Implement animal health control programs
• AHCLSK352 — Implement feeding plans for intensive livestock production
• AHCLSK353 — Implement feeding plans for livestock
• AHCLSK354 — Monitor livestock production growing environments
• AHCLSK355 — Prepare and present livestock for competition
• AHCLSK356 — Exhibit livestock
• AHCLSK357 — Rear newborn and young livestock
• AHCLSK358 — Slaughter livestock
• AHCLSK359 — Coordinate and monitor livestock transport
• AHCLSK360 — Service and repair bores and windmills
• AHCLSK361 — Transport farm produce or bulk materials
• AHCLSK362 — Maintain and monitor feed stocks
• AHCLSK363 — Care for and train working dogs
• AHCLSK364 — Castrate livestock
• AHCLSK365 — Mix and mill standard stockfeed
• AHCLSK366 — Collect, store and administer colostrum
• AHCLSK367 — Remove and facilitate reuse of effluent and manure from an intensive production system
• AHCLSK368 — Comply with industry animal welfare requirements
• AHCLSK369 — Monitor animals in intensive production systems
• AHCLSK370 — Monitor pen condition and ration suitability
• AHCLSK371 — Plan, prepare and conduct mulesing procedures
• AHCLSK372 — Train, care for and ride horses for stock work
• AHCLSK373 — Carry out post-shearing procedures
• AHCMOM201 — Operate two wheel motorbikes
• AHCMOM202 — Operate tractors
• AHCMOM206 — Conduct grader operations
• AHCMOM207 — Conduct front-end loader operations
• AHCMOM213 — Operate and maintain chainsaws
• AHCMOM216 — Operate side by side utility vehicles
• AHCMOM217 — Operate quad bikes
• AHCMOM301 — Coordinate machinery and equipment maintenance and repair
• AHCMOM302 — Perform machinery maintenance
• AHCMOM303 — Operate a telehandler
• AHCMOM304 — Operate machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM305 — Operate specialised machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM306 — Ground spread fertiliser and soil ameliorant
• AHCMOM307 — Operate a cane harvester
• AHCMOM308 — Operate broadacre and row crop harvest machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM309 — Operate broadacre sowing machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM310 — Operate land-forming machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM311 — Operate precision control technology
• AHCMOM312 — Operate row crop planting and seeding machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM313 — Operate mobile irrigation machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM314 — Transport machinery
• AHCMOM315 — Operate chemical application machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM316 — Refuel machinery or vehicle
• AHCMOM317 — Operate tractors with attachments
• AHCPCM303 — Identify plant specimens
• AHCPCM305 — Implement a plant nutrition program
• AHCPCM306 — Provide information on plants and their culture
• AHCPER330 — Coordinate community projects
• AHCPER334 — Read and interpret property maps and plans
• AHCPGD404 — Plan a plant establishment program
• AHCPHT312 — Implement a crop regulation program
• AHCPHT313 — Implement a post-harvest program
• AHCPHT314 — Harvest horticultural crops mechanically
• AHCPHT315 — Establish horticultural crops
• AHCPHT317 — Coordinate horticultural crop harvesting
• AHCPMG301 — Control weeds
• AHCPMG302 — Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
• AHCPMG308 — Implement pest management strategies
• AHCPMG312 — Apply poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapes
• AHCPRK311 — Care for health and welfare of pigs
• AHCPRK312 — Care for weaner pigs
• AHCSDT308 — Perform tests for quality on seeds
• AHCSDT309 — Prepare a working sample
• AHCSDT310 — Identify seeds
• AHCSDT412 — Perform advanced tests on seeds
• AHCSDT413 — Handle and store seed subject to quarantine regulations
• AHCSDT414 — Maintain a quarantine approved laboratory
• AHCSHG308 — Prepare livestock for shearing
• AHCSHG309 — Prepare combs and cutters for machine shearing
• AHCSOL406 — Sample soils and interpret results
• AHCSPO309 — Process planting seed
• AHCSPO310 — Treat planting seed
• AHCSPO311 — Handle, package and store commercial quantities of seed
• AHCSPO312 — Sample seed before and after processing
• AHCWAT303 — Access, extract and monitor water for irrigation
• AHCWOL309 — Prepare wool based on its characteristics for classing
• AHCWOL316 — Prepare facilities for shearing and crutching
• AHCWOL317 — Press wool for a clip
• AHCWOL318 — Perform shed duties
• AHCWRK212 — Work effectively in industry
• AHCWRK213 — Participate in workplace communications
• AHCWRK313 — Collect samples for a rural production or horticulture monitoring program
• AHCWRK314 — Monitor weather conditions
• AHCWRK315 — Respond to emergencies
• AHCWRK317 — Coordinate work site activities
• AHCWRK318 — Comply with industry quality assurance requirements
• AHCWRK319 — Handle bulk materials in a storage area
• AHCWRK321 — Provide on-job training support
• AHCWRK322 — Conduct site inspections
• AHCWRK323 — Operate in isolated and remote situations
• AUMGTW003 — Perform manual metal arc welding
• AUMGTW005 — Perform gas metal arc welding
• AVIY0026 — Conduct aerial application operations using remote pilot aircraft systems
• AVIY0027 — Operate multi-rotor remote pilot aircraft systems
• AVIY0052 — Control remote pilot aircraft systems on the ground
• AVIZ0005 — Apply situational awareness in remote pilot aircraft systems operations
• BSBFIN302 — Maintain financial records
• BSBINS201 — Process and maintain workplace information
• BSBOPS305 — Process customer complaints
• BSBTEC201 — Use business software applications
• BSBTEC202 — Use digital technologies to communicate in a work environment
• BSBTEC301 — Design and produce business documents
• BSBXCM301 — Engage in workplace communication
• CPPFES2005 — Demonstrate first attack firefighting equipment
• FBPFSY3002 — Participate in a HACCP team
• FBPFSY3003 — Monitor the implementation of food safety and quality programs
• FWPCOT3325 — Operate four wheel drive vehicle on unsealed roads
• FWPCOT3329 — Perform complex four wheel drive operations
• HLTAID011 — Provide First Aid
• HLTAID013 — Provide First Aid in remote or isolated site
• PUAFIR204 — Respond to wildfire
• PUAFIR210 — Prevent injury
• PUATEA001 — Work in a team
• RIIHAN309F — Conduct telescopic materials handler operations
• RIIMPO318F — Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations
• RIIMPO319E — Conduct backhoe/loader operations
• RIISAM203E — Use hand and power tools
• RIISAM205E — Cut, weld and bend materials
• RIIWHS202E — Enter and work in confined spaces
• RIIWHS204E — Work safely at heights
• TLIB0012 — Maintain and use hand tools
• TLID0001 — Load and unload vehicles carrying special loads
• TLID0002 — Care for livestock in transit
• TLID3035 — Operate a boom type elevating work platform
• TLIE0002 — Process workplace documentation
• TLIE0008 — Calculate mass, area and quantify dimensions
• TLIE3004 — Prepare workplace documents
• TLIF2010 — Apply fatigue management strategies
• TLIH0005 — Interpret road maps and navigate pre-determined routes
• TLIH0006 — Plan and navigate routes
• TLILIC0003 — Licence to operate a forklift truck
• TLILIC2014 — Licence to drive a light rigid vehicle
• TLILIC2015 — Licence to drive a medium rigid vehicle
• TLILIC2016 — Licence to drive a heavy rigid vehicle

Each unit breaks down further into elements and performance criteria — the specific things you have to be able to show. The guide works through them one unit at a time and asks about jobs you have actually done, rather than making you read the register yourself.

Related qualifications

Same training package, and a common second choice for people who find this one is not quite their trade:

• Certificate III in Dairy Production (AHC30224, 17 units)
• Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30722, 17 units)
• Certificate III in Pork Production (AHC30422, 16 units)
• Certificate III in Poultry Production (AHC30522, 16 units)
• Certificate III in Production Horticulture (AHC30624, 15 units)
• Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest Management (AHC30324, 14 units)

More RPL in agriculture, horticulture and conservation

Every qualification in this industry, which of them have a guide ready, and what assessors here accept as evidence: RPL in agriculture, horticulture and conservation.

When you are ready, see what AHC30122 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.