← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
CPC - Construction, Plumbing and Services
Apprenticeship outcome for wall and floor tiling. Includes waterproofing units required for wet-area work.
Entry requirements
- Signed apprenticeship contract
- White Card
What you will learn
The CPC31320 covers wall and floor tiling across residential and commercial buildings. Core units include preparing substrates, setting out tile layout, cutting tiles with wet saw and nippers, fixing tiles with adhesive, grouting, and waterproofing wet areas to AS 3740. You learn to read floor plans, calculate tile quantities and wastage, lay tiles to falls in showers and balconies, and finish silicone sealant joints. Across the three-year apprenticeship you build the speed and accuracy on layout and cuts that distinguishes a trained tiler.
Skills you build
- Substrate preparation and screeding
- Setting out tile layout for visual symmetry
- Wet-saw and nipper cutting techniques
- Fixing wall and floor tiles in adhesive
- Waterproofing wet areas to AS 3740
- Grouting and silicone sealing
- Working with mosaic, large-format and natural stone tiles
How the course runs
Most apprentices attend TAFE on day release (one day per week) or in one-week blocks each term. Around 480 hours of TAFE contact across the three years is typical. Most learning is hands-on in workshop and on site. The waterproofing units are particularly important as faulty waterproofing is the most common defect on residential projects.
How you will be assessed
- Practical demonstrations in TAFE workshops
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Third-party reports from your supervising tiler
- On-job photo evidence and log book entries
- Waterproofing assessment to AS 3740 standards
Workplace and placement
The apprenticeship is a three-year paid workplace contract under the Australian Apprenticeships framework. You sign a Training Contract with a tiling subcontractor or builder. Apprentice wages are set under the Building and Construction General On-Site Award and rise each year. In Queensland the QBCC requires a separate waterproofing licence for wet area work, so you may need to apply for that licence after qualifying.
Typical employers
- Residential tiling subcontractors
- Bathroom and kitchen renovation specialists
- Commercial tilers on retail, hospitality and pool projects
- New-home builders and project home companies
- Insurance and water-damage repair contractors
- Council aquatic and recreation facility maintenance
Pay after this qualification
$65,000 - $90,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/wall-and-floor-tilers. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You have a methodical eye for layout and symmetry
- You can handle long hours bent over and on your knees
- You can work to fine tolerances on cuts and grout joints
- You can deal with customers in their homes politely
- You can manage tools, materials and your own ute
It is probably not for you if
- You have a back, knee or wrist condition
- You cannot commit to three years of apprentice pay
- You struggle with detailed setting-out maths
- You are impatient with surface prep and waterproofing
After you finish
After completing the apprenticeship you can pursue Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120) toward a builder licence, or the Diploma of Building and Construction (CPC50220) for supervisor work. Add-on certifications include waterproofing (CPCCWP3001) where not already covered, terrazzo and resilient flooring trades, and stonemasonry for natural stone work. Many tilers set up as licensed subcontractors within a year or two of finishing the apprenticeship.