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Home Insiders & Advisers Field Officer Briefs Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining PMA
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Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining PMA

Overview

Commencements

Availability & Duration

Australian School-based Apprenticeships

Overview

These qualifications cover process plant operator and technicians areas of work in the streams of Chemical, Hydrocarbons - Extraction and Transmission, and Refining (including oil, aluminium smelting and alumina refining and the surface coatings sectors).

‘Manufacturing’ and Resources and Infrastructure’ are associated industries.

Quick facts

The training units of competent structure and packing rules are detailed in Training Package documents.

The information provided here includes the most recent changes from the PMA (release 1.0) Training Package.

The Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining Training Package PMA (release 1.0) includes 5 qualifications.

Registered Training Organisations can access the full details of this Training Package from the training.gov.au website.

Career information

Qualification and job outcome information is also presented in a Job Pathway Chart.

For specific industry information click here.

More detail of how training works can be accessed here: for employers; for potential employees.

Use the My Skills site to search for Registered Training Organisations registered to deliver courses. Each State and Territory separately approves Registered Training Organisations to deliver apprenticeships and traineeships in their jurisdiction.

Major Occupations Training
Process Plant Operator (Hydrocarbons Extraction)
Process Plant Operator (LNG Plant)
Plant Operator (CSG Plant)
Process Plant Operator (Emergency Support)
Process Plant Operator (Chemical)
Process Plant Technician

Qualifications Summary

PMA20116 - Certificate II in Process Plant Operations

This is a technical qualification for operators in the hydrocarbons, petrochemical, chemical, metal/ore processing and related process manufacturing industry sectors. It is intended for competent operators who operate production equipment or undertake similar roles directly producing products. 

Process Plant Operator (Hydrocarbons Extraction)
Chemical Process Plant Operator
Process Plant Operator (Hydrocarbons Transmission)
Process Plant Operator (CSG Sector)

PMA30116 - Certificate III in Process Plant Operations

This is a technical qualification for advanced operators and operations technicians who use production equipment to directly produce product. At this level, operators/technicians would undertake more advanced operations, typically of integrated plant units in accordance with the operating procedures, and would apply their knowledge to anticipate problems. 

Plant Operator (CSG Plant)
Process Plant Operator (Chemical)
Process Plant Operator (Emergency Support)
Process Plant Operator (Hydrocarbons Extraction)
Process Plant Operator (Hydrocarbons Transmission)
Process Plant Operator (LNG Plant)
Process Plant Technician

PMA40116 - Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology

This qualification is for plant technicians and operations technicians who will typically be involved in solving complex problems which require theoretical knowledge, combined with an understanding of the production process and equipment across the plant. 

Chemical Plant Technician
Plant Technician (Emergency Response)
LPG Plant Technician
Oil Refinery Plant Technician
Hydrocarbons Plant Technician

PMA50116 - Diploma of Process Plant Technology

A qualification that delivers advanced technical training.

Chemical Plant Technician
Process Plant Project Coordinator

Note: Employers should be aware that this information is provided as a guide only to the content and use of the Training Package. Employers should seek advice from an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network) provider or Registered Training Organisation for more detail.

Commencements
  NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT
PMA20116 - Certificate II in Process Plant Operations
Annual Commencements 0 0 0 5 0 5 0 0
PMA30116 - Certificate III in Process Plant Operations
Annual Commencements 5 5 80 90 0 0 0 5
PMA40116 - Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology
Annual Commencements 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0

Commencement data source: National Apprentices and Trainees collection, VOCSTATS, extracted 17/09/2020, rounded estimates for Apr 2019 to Mar 2020. Qualifications with no recorded commencements may not appear. This data is for general information purposes only.

Availability and Duration
  NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT
PMA20116 - Certificate II in Process Plant Operations
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

 12 mths 12 mths 18 mths 24 mths 18 mths
Part Time
Classification T T T * T
PMA30116 - Certificate III in Process Plant Operations
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

 24 mths 24 mths 24 mths 24 mths 36 mths 36 mths
Part Time
Classification T T T T T * T
PMA30116 - Certificate III in Process Plant Operations, Process Plant Technician
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

 24 mths 24 mths 24 mths 48 mths 36 mths 36 mths
Part Time
Classification T T T A T * T
PMA40116 - Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

 36 mths 36 mths 36 mths 36 mths 36 mths
Part Time
Classification T T T T * T
PMA50116 - Diploma of Process Plant Technology
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

 24 mths 12 mths 24 mths 24 mths
Part Time
Classification T T * T T

Legend: = Yes, = No, A = identified by the State or Territory as an Apprenticeship, T = identified by the State or Territory as a Traineeship, * = An approved qualification in Tasmania is available as an Apprenticeship/Traineeship.

Availability of Australian Apprenticeships and Nominal Duration (in months)
A Qualification registered by a State or Territory as available as an Australian Apprenticeship may not be eligible for public funding support, check with the relevant State or Territory Training Authority.

Nominal durations listed are for full time occuptations, stated in months. In some cases nominal durations provided may not include the completion of pre-requisites. This data is sourced from State and Territory Training Authorities and is provided for information only and must be confirmed with these authorities.

Australian School-based Apprenticeships
  NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT
PMA20116 - Certificate II in Process Plant Operations
Availability
PMA30116 - Certificate III in Process Plant Operations
Availability
PMA40116 - Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology
Availability

Legend: = Yes, = No

This information generally reflects availability of ASbAs that may contribute to study scores. In some cases ASbAs allow an individual to start training in a qualification that can be completed after they leave secondary school. Australian Apprenticeships may also be undertaken as part-time employment. Please note that applicable industrial arrangements must allow for ASbAs. Visit the relevant State or Territory website for more detailed information (click on the State or Territory link provided).

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