Heavy vehicle or light vehicle?

Different trades. Light vehicle is spark ignition engines and hydraulic brakes; heavy vehicle is compression ignition and air brakes. AUR31120 has twenty-two core units against twenty, and the systems are genuinely different.

Is this the diesel mechanic qualification?

It is the usual one for heavy commercial vehicles. Compression ignition engine management and heavy vehicle compression ignition engines are both core.

Do I need an apprenticeship?

Not as a register requirement - entry requirements are Nil. In practice this is an apprenticeship trade, and the workshop access it demands makes any other route difficult.

Why so few providers?

Sixty nationally. Heavy vehicle training needs trucks, hoists rated for them, and air brake test equipment. The capital cost limits who can deliver it.

What does it cost and how long does it take?

Both are set by each provider and are not published on the national register. Apprenticeship pathways typically run four years.

AUR31120 Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology

About this qualification

AUR31120 is the truck and heavy plant equivalent of the light vehicle trade. The register describes individuals performing “a broad range of tasks on a variety of heavy commercial vehicles in the automotive service and repair sector”.

Thirty-six units — twenty-two core and fourteen electives. Two more core units than the light vehicle qualification, and the difference is in what heavy vehicles actually are: air braking rather than hydraulic, compression ignition engine management rather than spark ignition.

AURETR122 Diagnose and repair vehicle dynamic control systems sits in the core here and not in the light vehicle qualification — stability and control systems on a loaded truck are their own discipline.

Sixty providers nationally, against 219 for light vehicle. Heavy vehicle workshops and training equipment are a serious capital commitment, and the field reflects that.

Roles it maps to

Roles described on the national register for AUR31120.

Heavy Vehicle Mechanic Diesel Mechanic Truck Technician Plant Mechanic

Where it sits

Where AUR31120 sits in the automotive package.

Certificate IIAUR20520 Automotive Servicing Technology
Certificate IIIAUR30620 Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Certificate III · you are hereAUR31120 Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology

What it covers

22Core units

14Elective units

Thirty-six units in total. One elective must come from Specialist Elective Group A or B; of the remaining thirteen, up to thirteen may come from the specialist groups or the general elective bank.

Twenty-two core units. The first thirteen:

AURAEA002 Follow environmental and sustainability best practice in an automotive workplace
AURASA102 Follow safe working practices in an automotive workplace
AURETR112 Test and repair basic electrical circuits
AURETR122 Diagnose and repair vehicle dynamic control systems
AURETR124 Diagnose and repair compression ignition engine management systems
AURETR125 Test, charge and replace batteries and jump-start vehicles
AURETR129 Diagnose and repair charging systems
AURETR130 Diagnose and repair starting systems
AURHTB101 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle air braking systems
AURHTD102 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle steering systems
AURHTD103 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle suspension systems
AURHTE102 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle compression ignition engines
AURHTQ103 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle drive shafts
AURHTZ101 Diagnose and repair heavy vehicle emission control systems
AURTTA006 Inspect and service hydraulic systems
AURTTA104 Carry out servicing operations
AURTTA118 Develop and carry out diagnostic test strategies
AURTTC103 Diagnose and repair cooling systems
AURTTF102 Inspect and service diesel fuel injection systems
AURTTF105 Diagnose and repair engine forced-induction systems
AURTTK102 Use and maintain tools and equipment in an automotive workplace
AURTTQ001 Inspect and service final drive assemblies

For a full list of elective units, visit training.gov.au →

Frequently asked questions

Heavy vehicle or light vehicle?: Different trades. Light vehicle is spark ignition engines and hydraulic brakes; heavy vehicle is compression ignition and air brakes. AUR31120 has twenty-two core units against twenty, and the systems are genuinely different.
Is this the diesel mechanic qualification?: It is the usual one for heavy commercial vehicles. Compression ignition engine management and heavy vehicle compression ignition engines are both core.
Do I need an apprenticeship?: Not as a register requirement — entry requirements are Nil. In practice this is an apprenticeship trade, and the workshop access it demands makes any other route difficult.
Why so few providers?: Sixty nationally. Heavy vehicle training needs trucks, hoists rated for them, and air brake test equipment. The capital cost limits who can deliver it.
What does it cost and how long does it take?: Both are set by each provider and are not published on the national register. Apprenticeship pathways typically run four years.

Other registered providers

Filtered by where each provider is based, not where they can deliver.

NSW

TAFE NSWRTO 90003

Deliver and assess · NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, TAS, NT, ACT
QLD

TAFE QueenslandRTO 0275

Deliver and assess · National
WA

South Metropolitan TAFERTO 52787

Deliver and assess · WA
QLD

AshtrailRTO 6139

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

Intech Institute of Technology Pty LtdRTO 30100

Deliver and assess · National
TAS

Reach Community CollegeRTO 40747

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

Axial TrainingRTO 2437

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

PM2RTO 41304

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

Australian Skills GroupRTO 32519

Deliver and assess · NSW, QLD, VIC, WA, TAS, NT, ACT
VIC

Murray Mallee Training CompanyRTO 3974

Deliver and assess · National
VIC

Skillinvest LimitedRTO 4192

Deliver and assess · National
VIC

Education Training & Employment AustraliaRTO 5089

Deliver and assess · National
Find more providers

12 of 53 providers shown — search the register for the rest
training.gov.au →

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Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology

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