Page Text: Are you eligible for Smart and Skilled training?
15 years old or over?
no longer at school?
living or working in NSW?
an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen?
If you answered ‘Yes' to all four questions, then you're eligible to enrol in a government-subsidised course with an approved Smart and Skilled training provider.
To use the Eligibility Checker:
Go to the Course Finder and click the 'Estimate your fee' button. You can then check your eligibility and get an estimate of the fee for your course.
Types of courses you're eligible for
Smart and skilled offers a wide variety of vocational qualifications from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma, many of which can be undertaken as an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Foundation Skills courses are also available to help students who want to improve their reading, writing and numeracy.
Previous qualifications do not affect eligibility, but may affect the student fee.
Other eligibility conditions
Your eligibility is not affected if you have already completed a vocational education and training (VET) course, including a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship undertaken as part of your high school education.
There are also some exceptions to the eligibility conditions described above, such as for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live in specific, defined areas outside the NSW border.
Home schooled students
Home schooled students who are registered by the NSW Education Standards Authority are eligible for Smart and Skilled.
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Apprentices and trainees
NSW apprentices and some new-entrant trainees may be eligible for a government subsidy for the training that supports their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Under the NSW Government fee-free apprenticeship initiative, NSW apprentices that commence their training on or after 1 July 2018 may be eligible for fee-free training. For more refer to the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy . For eligible apprentices there will be no requirement to pay the fee.
Under the NSW Government fee-free traineeship initiative, NSW new entrant trainees that commence their training on or after 1 January 2020 may be eligible for fee free training. For more information, refer to the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy . For eligible trainees there will be no requirement to pay the fee.
More questions about eligibility?
For more detailed information about your eligibility for Smart and Skilled training, check out the answers to the questions people often ask. View questions about your eligibility under Smart and Skilled training.
Other training options
If you're not eligible for Smart and Skilled training, or if your preferred course is not on the NSW Skills List, there are other training options, including fee-for-service training. View what are your options if you're not eligible for Smart and Skilled training?
Important information
You'll need to confirm with your preferred training provider that they have places available in your chosen Smart and Skilled course at the time you wish to do it.
Page last updated: 29 March 2021
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