← Certificate IV qualifications
Certificate IV in Business
BSB - Business Services
Broad business qualification covering operations, customer service and basic finance. Specialisation streams in records, leadership, sustainability or operations.
Entry requirements
- Year 12 or mature-age entry
What you will learn
The BSB40120 covers core business administration competencies for office team leader and small business owner roles. Core units include leading effective workplace relationships, demonstrating leadership in the workplace, applying business risk management, managing meetings, and writing business documents. Specialisation streams let you focus on business operations, leadership, records and information management, sustainability, or procurement. Most students complete electives in human resources, marketing or finance to suit their target role. You also study workplace communication, customer service standards and productivity software (Office 365, Google Workspace).
Skills you build
- Writing business reports, briefs and proposals
- Chairing meetings and producing minutes
- Leading small teams and resolving conflict
- Project planning and resource management
- Customer service and complaint resolution
- Workplace risk identification and mitigation
- Time management and productivity software (Office 365)
How the course runs
Most students study online over 6 to 12 months on a self-paced model, or full-time on campus over 6 months. Around 400 to 600 hours of formal training, with theory and practical case-study work split roughly 50/50. Many students study while working in administration or junior team-leader roles. No mandatory work placement.
How you will be assessed
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Workplace case studies and project reports
- Business document writing tasks
- Meeting roleplays and chairing demonstrations
- Workplace portfolios of evidence
Workplace and placement
No mandatory work placement. Most students study while working in office administration, junior coordinator or team leader roles. Many employers fund the qualification as part of staff development. Wages are set under the Clerks - Private Sector Award or relevant industry award. Some apprenticeship and traineeship pathways pay reduced wages under the Australian Apprenticeships framework.
Typical employers
- Small and medium business administration roles
- Government department customer service centres
- Real estate agencies (with separate state licensing)
- Healthcare and aged care administration teams
- Construction company office administration
- Retail head office and franchise support teams
Pay after this qualification
$55,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/general-clerks. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You are organised and document things clearly
- You can balance many small tasks across a day
- You can build relationships with colleagues and customers
- You can use spreadsheets and word processors confidently
- You can take initiative when given autonomy
It is probably not for you if
- You struggle with administrative attention to detail
- You do not enjoy meetings and email communication
- You cannot handle multiple priorities at once
- You are not comfortable using office software
After you finish
After Cert IV you can progress to the Diploma of Business (BSB50120) for office manager and team leader roles, or the Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420) for frontline management. Bachelor of Business programs at RMIT, Swinburne, Charles Sturt, Edith Cowan and Federation University offer credit for the Cert IV. Many graduates use the qualification as a stepping stone into small business ownership or industry-specific roles in HR, marketing or finance.