What skills do you need for painting and decorating? Do you need qualifications what courses are available?

Total
0
Shares

Have you been thinking about exploring a new change in your career? Or perhaps you are almost finished with school and considering your options as to what to do next with your life? Whatever the case, if you are interested in becoming a painter and decorator in Australia, then this is the article for you. 

What skills do you need for painting and decorating? Do you need qualifications? And what courses are available? Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

What duties will a painter and decorator be required to perform? 

If you are interested in becoming a painter and decorator, here are some of the duties that you will be expected to perform: 

  • Read blueprints and instructions in order to determine job requirements (including style preferences and material type/quantity)
  • Preparing the target surfaces for painting (e.g., washing them, scraping, filling holes & cracks, and removing old paint/wallpaper)
  • Applying various decorative finishes to paint jobs (e.g., lettering, glazing, and stencilling) 
  • Being able to review each job to ensure that nothing has been missed and that the finish is to an exceptional standard.

What skills do you need for painting and decorating?

What skills do you need for painting and decorating? Fortunately, most of what you will need to know will be gained on the job. However, there are a number of qualities that can give you a significant advantage when starting from scratch. Here are some of the skills and qualities that will come in handy: 

  • If you wish to start your own business or work independently, a full, clean driving license is recommended (some companies may require this as standard)  
  • A reasonable level of fitness helps when working on your feet
  • Being creative and having a good eye for style
  • An interest in interior design and decoration
  • Patience and a steady hand 
  • The ability to work at heights comfortably and carefully
  • Using hand tools 
  • Neat personal presentation and good hygiene 
  • Punctuality, self-discipline, and drive 
  • You must be thorough and have a good eye for attention to detail (being a perfectionist doesn’t hurt) 
  • Be flexible and open to change 
  • You must take criticism well and be able to work under pressure 
  • Have excellent customer service skills / be able to communicate well with others 
  • General knowledge and understanding of public safety and security 
  • If you wish to start your own business you will need business management skills 
  • The ability to carry out basic tasks on a computer and a smartphone.

Do you need qualifications to be a painter and decorator?

Do you need qualifications to be a painter and decorator? The short answer is yes – but don’t worry, you won’t need straight A’s to gain access to the relevant courses. Here’s what you need to get started as a painter and decorator in Australia: 

  1. First, you must complete Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30611) at a registered TAFE institution, training organisation, or as part of an apprenticeship (which certain Painting & Decorating companies may offer you). Not all of these courses will be the same and may vary in length depending on which institution you choose. 
  2. Following that, you will need to complete a construction induction painting course in order to receive your White Card. This is an absolute requirement for anyone who will be working on a construction site in Australia. 
  3. Be certain to research the requirements depending on which state you live in as the rules do vary. If you wish to contract, sub-contract, or advertise for work as an independent painter, then you must be clued up on the legal side of things for your convenience. 

What courses are available to become a painter and decorator?

What courses are available to become a painter and decorator? The standard requirement course, as listed above, is Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30611). There are many variations of this course and you can gain access to it in a wide variety of educational institutions across the country. Again, you may even be able to gain access to this course whilst on an apprenticeship with a professional commercial painting company, so be certain to explore your options if you would rather dive straight in and start learning on the job. 

There are also some more advanced courses available depending on which aspects of painting and decorating you would like to specialise in. 

In general, these are the types of skills that you can expect to gain when taking a painter and decorator course in Australia: 

  • Develop your skills in colour matching 
  • Learn how to apply wallpaper 
  • How to apply various special coatings and finishes 
  • Learn the different preparation techniques 
  • Gain a thorough understanding of timber coatings and finishes 
  • Gain your occupational Health & Safety certificate 
  • Being able to read and interpret plans, including a number of other internal and external applications (ideal for pricing up jobs and working in the commercial/industrial sector) 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the skills required to become a painter and decorator can typically be picked up once qualifying and while working on the job. However, there are a number of qualities that can give you a significant advantage when starting fresh. 

You will need a CPC30611 painting and decorating qualification if you wish to pursue this career and will find that the course is available at a wide variety of educational institutions across the country. 

Depending on where in Australia you live, you should brush up on the state requirements for becoming a painter and decorator – for example, the requirements to be qualified to work for a company like Platinum 3 Painting in Brisbane may be different from that in the West Coast. 

We hope that this article has been helpful to you and that you feel inspired by a change of pace. A career in painting and decorating is a rewarding path to take and if you love a challenging job that will keep you active and compensate you well, then this could just be the career for you. 

Good luck! 

You May Also Like