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What is VET?


Vocational Education and Training (VET) partners with industry and government to provide people with workplace skills and technical knowledge to help them advance their career now and in the future.

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Introduction to VET

Vocational Education and Training (VET) partners with industry and government to provide people with workplace skills and technical knowledge to help them advance their career, now and in the future. In a rapidly changing employment environment, the speed, value and skills VET provides helps people take a faster, more cost-effective route to completing a qualification and entering the workforce. As a result, VET graduates enter employment with confidence and first-hand experience. VET is offered by a variety of training providers both publicly (TAFE) and privately operated.

VET Facts

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    Fact 1

    79.8% of VET graduates who undertook their training as part of an apprenticeship or traineeship were employed after training1.

    1.National Centre for Vocational Education Research, VET Student Outcomes 2018

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    Fact 2

    In NSW, VET is a pathway to around 500 occupations. Over 770 VET qualifications are subsidised, with more than 120 fee-free apprenticeship courses.

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    Fact 3

    VET courses generally take less time to complete than a general bachelor degree (three years) or typical professional degree (four years or more). VET courses vary in length and are much more dynamic. Certificates I–IV range from six months to two years. Diploma courses typically take one or two years. Advanced diplomas usually take between 18 months to two years, a graduate certificate typically takes six months to one year and a graduate diploma usually takes between one and two years.