Education and Training Overview
Education and Training programs provide industry-leading knowledge, practical skills, and expert guidance to help you excel in your career.
Individuals considering a career in Hydraulic Engineering are encouraged to complete the Diploma of Hydraulic Services Design - CPC50620 (the Diploma) conducted by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). To be able to participate in the Diploma, you must first have attained a satisfactory level of achievement in the:
To be able to participate in the Diploma, you must first have attained a satisfactory level of achievement in the:
It is noted that the pre-requisite entry requirements for the Diploma of Hydraulic Services Design are as follows:
Therefore, if you hold the older Cert IV (40912 or earlier), you will need to complete the gap training of the CPCPCM4015 Unit outlined above before being able to enrol in the Diploma. Further to this, it is also strongly recommended that you complete the CPDCPCM4013 Produce 2-D Architectural Drawings Using Design Software unit as this will help you immensely in completing the Diploma and the assessments. If you currently hold the CPC40920, you will be eligible to enter the Diploma without further study.
At 31/08/25, TAFE (NSW) is the only RTO in Australia that are offering full delivery of the Diploma of Hydraulic Services to students in Australia and New Zealand. As many of you will be aware from our prior notifications, this course has a substantial waiting list. The waiting list was created while the course material was being re-written, but has grown since 2020, largely due to a lack of available teaching staff. The course is currently being run at St. Leonards and Gymea in NSW through the dedication of some fantastic TAFE staff, but the Waiting List continues to be addressed as quickly as possible.
For interested students, it is noted that if you call the TAFE (NSW) general switchboard, they will likely not know about the Diploma waiting list. The waiting list is being monitored by the St. Leonards Plumbing department. Also, the Diploma is not shown on the TAFE (NSW) website. The reason for the is that for TAFE (NSW) to put a course on their website, their policy states that the page must contain an “Enrol Now” button. However, this would bypass the waiting list, which is not desired. Therefore, the fairest way to manage the situation is for the process to be managed internally by the St. Leonards plumbing department.
The HCAA has had discussions with other RTO's considering the delivery of the Diploma to supplement the work being done at TAFE (NSW). However, the HCAA has not been provided with any detailed information at this stage whether other RTO’s would take up the offering of this course. The HCAA Education team will be sure to pass on any information about alternative study paths as soon as we have it.
Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services
An individual can enter the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services - Hydraulic Services Design pathway with no pre-requisite entry requirements. If a student wishes to enter the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services - Operations pathway, they must hold a Certificate III in Plumbing or be authorised to undertake plumbing work by an Australian regulator/licensing body.
The difference between the 2 x pathways is as follows:
The Course requirements outline the differences between the 2 pathways which is essentially the Elective Units that you are required to complete the Cert IV in Plumbing Services. Detail about Units can be found here.
For a career in Hydraulic design, it is not a requirement that you have completed Year 12 (or equivalent), however it is recommended. In terms of secondary education prior to a Hydraulic career, it is recommended that individuals study subjects including English, Maths, Science, Engineering Science, Technical Drawing or equivalent subjects, as these will help develop skills that you will use as a Hydraulic Consultant.
Further information about the Diploma can be found here on the training.gov.au website
Additional Education Resources
There are many industry-related courses that can help you develop your hydraulic engineering skills. By continuing your education you will be adding to your skill set, thereby increasing your value as a consultant.
Many of the educational programs you undertake will be eligible to have CPD points awarded upon successful completion. Please check with the HCAA CPD Officer prior to undertaking any continual education program.
Below are links to some relevant educational programs. The list is by no means exhaustive, and we welcome any suggestions for listing additional programs:
HCAA Education
It's vital that we continue to encourage and facilitate the education and professional development of industry consultants and newcomers for the Hydraulic industry to thrive.
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