Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers (TPEW) Program
Fast track your carpentry career
Build on your existing skills to obtain your CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry.
Enrolments close 31 August 2026 · Limited places available
No Apprenticeship
A pathway for experienced workers who want to obtain their CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry.
Fee-free
This training is fee-free and fully subsidised by the NSW Government.
Targeted Training
Only train where needed.
Who This Is For
- NSW workers with carpentry experience
- Experienced workers without formal qualifications
- Experienced workers looking to obtain their Certificate III in Carpentry without doing a traditional apprenticeship
About Skills Assessments
A Skills Assessment is often appropriate if you have been working in your industry for significant time without obtaining an official qualification. Instead of having to restart your career as an apprentice or trainee, you can have your experience assessed in a formal environment and if you can prove proficiency in units of competency for the chosen qualification, you can be awarded Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you fall short in proficiency of other units, you may be eligible for gap training with a CTI Trainer and Assessor, to obtain competency in the relevant unit(s).
Before approaching a Skills Assessment pathway, it's important to know that the Skills Assessment process remains rigorous and evidence-based and isn't just a ‘quick’ or ‘easy’ way of getting a qualification.
Although self-paced in most cases, a Skills Assessment will take significant time to complete (possibly 6-9 months, but not limited to this duration), and you may be required to provide considerable attention and resources to the process. Each step of the process is detailed below.
If you choose to pursue a Skills Assessment with CTI, we are available to provide clarity and support across every step, so you can achieve your best outcome on the pathway.
How It Works
Application for Funding
Check your eligibility and submit your funding application.
Evidence Portfolio
Provide your reference, photos, videos, and supporting evidence online.
Portfolio Assessment
Your evidence is reviewed by our assessors and then discussed with you to confirm your skills and experience.
Gap Training
For any units not competent, gap training will take place at one of our facilities.
Stage Details
Checking if you're eligible
Before you can start your Skills Assessment pathway on the TPEW program, you need to apply for eligibility. You can complete a quick, obligation-free eligibility check below to see if you are appropriate for this specific program.
Applying for the program
If you are deemed eligible and you wish to submit an application, you will be presented with a brief self-assessment module where you outline your current experience in a variety of topic clusters related to the carpentry trade.
Once this self-assessment is completed, you'll be provided with suggestions of which assessment pathway you should take for each unit (you can change these if you choose). From here, you'll need to choose the elective units you wish to complete, within the guidelines of the program.
You will also need to upload identification, work history, referees, previous qualifications to support your appropriateness for the program. These specifics are requirements of the NSW Government.
Once submitted, CTI will compile and send the application to the Department for funding approval. If funding is approved, CTI will provide you access to our online platform, and we can get your Skills Assessment started!
Compile your work history
Compiling your work history to our online platform consists of two parts: physical evidence and explanatory evidence.
Physical evidence
You will need to upload large amounts of photographic and video footage of past work you've done, demonstration of your skills, etc., that you feel can prove to your CTI Assessor that you have the expected industry skills needed for each unit.
Explanatory evidence
You will need to explain, in substantial detail, specifics of your work history and the physical evidence you've uploaded, how you did the jobs, what your role included, and the trade knowledge and understanding you have gained during those jobs. Questions will start broad and will become very specific until we can verify your understanding of each unit and its requirements. You will be guided by an Assistant throughout this process that will be able to pinpoint any areas in which you haven't yet shown evidence.
Your Assistant will suggest when you're covered everything you need to cover for a specific unit, and you will have the opportunity to submit at this time.
Assessor overview
A CTI Assessor will check all your submitted evidence and compile competency conversation topics and questions. They will also call your referees to confirm the details of your evidence.
Competency conversation with Assessor
At a time that suits both you and your CTI Assessor, a competency conversation will take place. This may either be in person, by phone call or by remote meeting. This may take several hours, potentially broken up into multiple sessions. This is where the CTI Assessor will discuss your experience and ask additional questions about the evidence you've provided. Questions will be asked to cover anything you may not have completely or thoroughly explained, and to ensure none of the information you submitted was falsely manufactured (for example, through means of submitting other people's work, or using AI generated imagery and/or responses as evidence).
Compiling more evidence (if necessary)
Your Assessor may also advise that more physical evidence is required to support your submission. If you don't have access to any more physical evidence but they still feel you may have the skills and knowledge to achieve RPL for a particular unit, you will need to visit one of CTI's facilities to demonstrate your skills in front of your Assessor. This will need to be booked at a mutually agreed upon time and will require you to travel to the most appropriate CTI facility.
Receiving RPL
At this point, your Assessor will make the determination on which units can be awarded an 'RPL' outcome. Any units that can't be awarded RPL can be attempted through gap training.
Gap training
Gap training requires you to complete an online theory component and practical training and assessment at a CTI facility. The timeframe in which this is completed will be dependent on both CTI's and your schedule, and how many units need gap training. Because gap training requires you to travel to a CTI facility, inability to travel means you won't be able to complete these units.
If you can't complete gap training for an elective unit, you will be given the opportunity to change the elective if such a change still complies with the rules of the qualification for which you are attempting a Skills Assessment.
Completion of the program
If all training and assessment is successful, the final stages of paperwork will be processed and you will be issued your certificate. To acquire a trade licence, you will still need to obtain a Certificate of Proficiency, but the CTI team will assist you in taking the correct steps towards this.
34 units make up your Cert III
CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry is built from 27 core units (everyone does these) plus 5 Primary and 2 Secondary electives you choose from those available.
Why Choose CTI
Supporting the construction industry since 2000.
Nationally recognised training provider RTO 31449.
Helping workers across NSW and QLD build skills and gain qualifications.
Three generations committed to practical, industry-based training.
Building Your Future, Together
Avoiding Training Scams
Be cautious of providers offering instant qualifications with little or no assessment.
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31449), CTI follows nationally recognised assessment and training standards.
Learn more about choosing a legitimate training provider:
Check If You're Eligible
What trade do you work in?
Select the trade that best matches your experience
Frequently Asked Questions
The TPEW program training is fee-free and fully subsidised by the NSW Government as part of the Housing Policy Construction Workforce Package. There is no cost to eligible participants for the RPL assessment or any gap training required.
No. This is not an apprenticeship and there is no time-based training requirement. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) assesses the skills and knowledge you already have from your work experience. If there are any gaps, we provide targeted training to fill them.
The online application takes around 30-45 minutes, and you can save and come back anytime. Once submitted, the review and approval process takes a few weeks. The RPL assessment itself is flexible and works around your schedule.
You will need a resume highlighting your trade experience, a reference letter from an employer or supervisor on company letterhead, and a Third Party Report if you are self-employed or a sole trader. We provide templates for all of these.
Overseas-trained workers may be eligible on a case-by-case basis, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria including at least 12 months of work experience in Australia. Get in touch with us and we can discuss your situation.
We are currently offering RPL for CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry under the TPEW program. Additional trades including Concreting, Wall and Ceiling Lining, and Wall and Floor Tiling are pending approval.
With your Certificate III, you can apply for a Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) through NSW Fair Trading, which is required for a trade licence in NSW. We will provide guidance on the next steps after you complete your qualification.
Yes. When you begin the application, we send you a unique link via email and SMS. You can use that link to come back and pick up where you left off at any time.