South Australia TAFE offers multiple certificate and diploma programs in environmentally focused areas, including environmental technology and environmental management. Tailored to specific occupations, each offering provides practical training for environmentally focused careers. The Certificate IV in Environmental Technology provides the groundwork for environmental jobs with a field research focus. The Diploma of Environmental Management offers the technical training for the Certificate IV in Environmental Technology as well as substantial management training.
Students accepted to either the Certificate IV in Environmental Technology or the Diploma of Environmental Management programs must have fulfilled South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) requirements, completed a TAFE certificate III course of study or passed an entrance exam. Students who either do not meet SACE requirements or have not successfully completed a TAFE certificate III must complete the entrance exam which assesses literacy and math skills.
The Certificate IV in Environmental Technology program provides full-time students with 18 months of training in disciplines such as environmental quality, wetlands and waste management. People pursuing this course of study may apply their skills toward careers in environmental science or policy. Class offerings vary between fieldwork (such as water quality assessment), research (such as statistical analysis) and environmental planning (such as policy development and implementation).
The Diploma of Environmental Management provides full-time students with 24 months of training. Students completing this course of study receive both the Certificate IV in Environmental Technology and the Diploma of Environmental Management. The program's design promotes managerial-level environmental careers and augments its scientific and technical instruction with strategic instruction (such as auditing and program development). Additionally, Diploma of Environmental management students may apply some of their TAFE coursework toward university degrees.
Under an agreement between South Australia TAFE and the University of Adelaide, recipients of the Diploma of Environmental Management may apply up to 18 units - combined elective and minor courses - earned in their TAFE program toward the Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management. Up to 24 units of the TAFE diploma may apply to a Bachelor of Arts. Both degree programs last at least three years beyond the completion of the TAFE program.