Nationally Recognised RPL Pathway
Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
CPC31220
You have spent years mastering the art of installing linings and finishing surfaces to a professional standard. Your drywall and plastering expertise can be formally recognised through our guided assessment process, turning your trade experience into a national qualification. Start your journey today with a free skills review to see how your on-the-job expertise aligns with the standard.
About This Qualification
This qualification provides a trade outcome in wall and ceiling lining for residential and commercial construction work. The qualification has core unit of competency requirements that cover common skills for the construction industry, as well as the specialist field of work wall and ceiling liner. Wall and ceiling liners apply and fix linings for non-structural walls and ceilings. Occupational titles may include: Wall and ceiling linerDrywallerPlasterer. State and territory jurisdictions may have different licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements. This qualification is suitable for an Australian apprenticeship pathway. Completion of the general construction induction training program, specified in the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Construction Work, is required by anyone carrying out construction work. Achievement of CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry meets this requirement.
Qualification Code
CPC31220
Training Package
CPC — Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
AQF Level
Certificate III
Total Units
29 (22 core + 7 elective)
Entry Requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
National Register
View on training.gov.au →RPL It Status: Available
Important: RPL It Australia is a student support service. All assessment and qualification issuance is conducted by our partner Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). RPL It does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.
Career Outcomes
According to training.gov.au, this qualification supports the following roles:
| Role | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Plasterer | Applying decorative and protective coverings to the interiors and exteriors of residential and commercial buildings. |
| Wall and Ceiling Liner | Installing and finishing plasterboard, fibre cement sheeting, and suspended ceiling systems in construction projects. |
| Drywaller | Specialising in the installation and finishing of drywall systems and non-structural partitions. |
Licensing
STATE SPECIFIC⚠️ Important
In most Australian states and territories, wall and ceiling lining is a licensed trade. Successful completion of this qualification through an RTO is a primary requirement for a trade licence, though the qualification alone does not grant the right to work.
Delivering Registered Training Organisations
All assessment and qualification issuance for this qualification is carried out by one of the following partner RTOs, each of which holds CPC31220 on their scope of registration with ASQA:
Which RTO will deliver my qualification? The delivering RTO will be confirmed during your skills review and prior to enrolment. Your qualification will be issued directly by the delivering RTO and is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Fees
Final pricing will be confirmed before enrolment.
You will receive a detailed, personalised quote — including the total fee, payment terms, interest-free payment plan options, and the name of the delivering RTO — before you are asked to enrol or make any payment.
Refund policy:If RPL It is unable to process your application, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid to RPL It. Once your portfolio has been submitted to the RTO for assessment, the RTO's refund policy applies. Details will be provided before enrolment.
Indicative Timeframes
✓ What we control
- • Guiding you through evidence gathering
- • Submitting a complete portfolio to the RTO
- • Following up on your behalf
⏳ What we don't control
- • The RTO's assessment workload
- • The assessor's evaluation timeline
- • The qualification issuance process
Based on our experience, the majority of RPL candidates receive their qualification within 4–6 weeks of their complete evidence portfolio being submitted to the RTO. Individual timeframes vary based on qualification complexity, evidence completeness, and RTO capacity.
Roles & Responsibilities
| RPL It Australia | Delivering RTO | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Student support service | Registered Training Organisation |
| Initial skills review | ✅ | |
| Evidence gathering guidance | ✅ | |
| Formal assessment | ✅ Qualified assessors | |
| Assessment judgement | ✅ Made by the RTO | |
| Gap training | Available if required (delivered by RTO) | |
| Qualification issuance | ✅ Issued by the RTO | |
| Complaints & appeals | Own complaints process | ✅ RTO process applies to assessments |
RPL It Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 55 689 826 917) is not an RTO and does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.
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Could RPL Be Right for You?
Experience can be evidence.
RPL is the process that helps you demonstrate it.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a formal assessment process that evaluates the skills, knowledge, and experience you've gained through your career to determine whether you meet the requirements of a nationally recognised qualification. It isn't a shortcut — it applies the same assessment standards as any other pathway.
RPL typically involves:
A review of your work experience against the qualification requirements
Compilation of an evidence portfolio demonstrating your competency
Assessment by a qualified assessor from a Registered Training Organisation
If gaps are identified, targeted training to build on your existing expertise
ℹ️ Important Pathway Advice
RPL isn't the right pathway for everyone. If you don't have substantial, relevant, and current industry experience, a traditional study pathway may serve you better.
Our approach:
“We'd rather guide you to the right pathway than enrol you in the wrong one.”
What Kind of Experience Counts?
If RPL becomes available for this qualification, the types of experience and evidence that would typically be relevant include:
Work History & Roles
- ✓A detailed resume reflecting your wall and ceiling lining experience
- ✓Position descriptions outlining your technical responsibilities
- ✓Reference letters from licensed builders or site supervisors
Technical Installation
- ✓Photographs of fixed plasterboard wall and ceiling sheets
- ✓Evidence of constructing bulkheads and assembling partitions
- ✓Documentation of fixing battens and fibre cement board
Finishing & Detailing
- ✓Records of mixing plastering compounds and manual joint finishing
- ✓Evidence of cutting and fixing paper-faced cornices
- ✓Work samples demonstrating levels of finish standards
Specialised Systems
- ✓Documentation of installing suspended ceiling systems
- ✓Evidence of fixing wet area and fire-rated lining systems
- ✓Records of working safely at heights on construction sites
This is general guidance based on training.gov.au. Specific requirements will be confirmed by the delivering RTO's assessor when RPL becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this qualification and RPL.
How do I get started with RPL for this qualification?▾
Is an RPL qualification the same as one from full-time study?▾
How long does the process typically take?▾
Will this qualification help me get my trade license?▾
What kind of evidence will I need to provide?▾
Can I use experience from both residential and commercial projects?▾
Is an RPL qualification the same as one obtained through full-time study?▾
Who assesses my evidence?▾
What if gaps are identified in my skills?▾
What if I don’t have enough experience for RPL?▾
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Can I do this from outside Australia?▾
Related Qualifications
Other qualifications in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package.
Advanced Diploma
Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
CPC60121
Advanced Diploma
Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management)
CPC60220
Certificate I
Certificate I in Construction
CPC10126
Certificate II
Certificate II in Construction
CPC20120
Certificate II
Certificate II in Construction Pathways
CPC20220
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