RPL for Certificate III in Production Horticulture

Certificate III in Production Horticulture takes 15 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 AHC30624 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 15 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 AHC30624. 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 AHC30624 involves →

The 15 units you complete, chosen from these 64

You do not do all 64. Certificate III in Production Horticulture is 3 core units, which everyone does, plus 12 chosen from the 61 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: 1 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• AHCBIO303 — Apply biosecurity measures
• AHCWHS302 — Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
• AHCWRK318 — Comply with industry quality assurance requirements

Electives — you choose from these

• 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
• 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
• AHCDRG305 — Install drainage systems
• AHCDRG306 — Measure drainage system performance
• AHCDRG307 — Troubleshoot drainage systems
• AHCHYD303 — Implement a maintenance program for hydroponic systems
• AHCHYD304 — Install hydroponic systems
• AHCIRG337 — Measure irrigation delivery system performance
• AHCIRG338 — Troubleshoot irrigation systems
• AHCIRG345 — Install pressurised irrigation systems
• AHCIRG346 — Operate pressurised irrigation systems
• AHCIRG347 — Maintain pressurised irrigation systems
• AHCMOM202 — Operate tractors
• AHCMOM301 — Coordinate machinery and equipment maintenance and repair
• AHCMOM302 — Perform machinery maintenance
• AHCMOM304 — Operate machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM305 — Operate specialised machinery and equipment
• AHCMOM311 — Operate precision control technology
• AHCMOM315 — Operate chemical application machinery and equipment
• AHCNSY308 — Maintain nursery plants
• AHCNSY309 — Receive and dispatch nursery products
• AHCNSY310 — Install and maintain plant displays
• AHCNSY311 — Promote sales of plants
• AHCNSY312 — Prepare specialised plants
• AHCNSY313 — Implement a propagation plan
• AHCNSY314 — Operate fertigation equipment
• AHCPCM305 — Implement a plant nutrition program
• AHCPCM306 — Provide information on plants and their culture
• AHCPCM405 — Implement an integrated pest management program
• AHCPGD209 — Prune shrubs and small trees
• AHCPHT302 — Prepare raw materials and compost feedstock
• AHCPHT312 — Implement a crop regulation program
• AHCPHT313 — Implement a post-harvest program
• AHCPHT314 — Harvest horticultural crops mechanically
• AHCPHT315 — Establish horticultural crops
• AHCPHT316 — Supervise mushroom substrate preparation
• AHCPHT317 — Coordinate horticultural crop harvesting
• AHCPHT318 — Prepare value added compost-based products
• AHCPMG301 — Control weeds
• AHCPMG302 — Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
• AHCPMG313 — Prepare, monitor and maintain biological agents for weeds
• AHCPMG401 — Implement the pest monitoring and evaluation plan
• AHCSOL305 — Prepare growing media
• AHCWAT302 — Monitor and operate water treatment processes
• AHCWRK212 — Work effectively in industry
• AHCWRK314 — Monitor weather conditions
• AHCWRK315 — Respond to emergencies
• AHCWRK317 — Coordinate work site activities
• AHCWRK319 — Handle bulk materials in a storage area
• AHCWRK320 — Apply environmentally sustainable work practices
• FBPVIT2012 — Identify and treat nursery plant disorders
• FBPVIT3001 — Coordinate vineyard operations
• FBPVIT3003 — Operate spreading and seeding equipment
• FBPVIT3004 — Monitor and maintain nursery plants
• FBPVIT3008 — Operate a mechanical harvester

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 Agriculture (AHC30122, 16 units)
• 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 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 AHC30624 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.