← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
MEM - Manufacturing and Engineering
Apprenticeship outcome for boilermaker and welder trades. Covers structural and pressure-vessel work.
Entry requirements
- Signed apprenticeship contract
What you will learn
The MEM30322 covers metal fabrication and welding across structural, pressure-vessel and mechanical work. Core units include reading engineering drawings, cutting and forming steel plate and sections, welding by MMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (flux core) and GTAW (TIG) processes, oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting and CNC operation. You learn to weld to AS/NZS 1554 structural welding code and to AS 3992 pressure vessel code. Across the four-year apprenticeship you build the welding test certificates and quality eye that distinguishes a competent boilermaker from a labourer with a welder.
Skills you build
- Reading engineering drawings and weld symbols
- MMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW welding processes
- Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting techniques
- Setting out and forming steel plate and sections
- Welding to AS/NZS 1554 structural code
- Welding to AS 3992 pressure vessel code
- Operating overhead cranes and rigging loads safely
How the course runs
Most apprentices attend TAFE in one to two week blocks each term, with the remainder on-job in fabrication workshops. Total formal TAFE contact is around 600 hours over the four years, with theory and practical split roughly 30/70. Many TAFEs run welding ticket testing in-house, letting you build certificates as you complete units.
How you will be assessed
- Practical welding demonstrations in TAFE booths
- Welding coupon tests to AS/NZS 1554 quality standards
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Third-party reports from your supervising tradesperson
- On-job evidence log book and project portfolio
Workplace and placement
The apprenticeship is a four-year paid workplace contract under the Australian Apprenticeships framework. You sign a Training Contract with a fabrication workshop, structural steel contractor or maintenance team. Apprentice wages are set under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries Award and rise each year. Resources sector employers often pay above-award rates with site allowances.
Typical employers
- Structural steel fabricators
- Mining and resources maintenance contractors
- Shipbuilders and naval contractors (Adelaide, Henderson)
- Defence shipyards and equipment manufacturers
- Agricultural and earthmoving equipment dealers
- Civil construction welding contractors
Pay after this qualification
$70,000 - $110,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/structural-steel-and-welding-trades-workers. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You take pride in clean, strong welds
- You can handle heat, sparks and smoke for long days
- You can read and visualise engineering drawings
- You can manage your own welding helmet and PPE
- You are happy in dusty, noisy workshops
It is probably not for you if
- You cannot commit to four years of apprentice pay
- You have asthma or react to welding fumes
- You struggle with patience on long welding seams
- You have a back, neck or shoulder condition
After you finish
After completing the apprenticeship you can pursue Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119) for technician roles, or specialist welding certifications including AS/NZS 2980 welder qualification testing for high-pressure piping, ASME IX coded welding, and NACE coatings inspector for offshore work. The Diploma of Engineering - Technical (MEM50219) and Bachelor of Engineering Technology programs at Swinburne, Deakin and RMIT offer significant credit toward technician and engineering roles.