National code: ICP20120

Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts

OverviewAbout this course

Develop a strong foundation to launch your career in printing as you work with a variety of media – like paper, graphic media, 2D and 3D prototypes. Be challenged to use your creativity to exceed clients’ expectations and provide professional advice.

OutcomesWhat you'll gain

Learning outcomes

Through a mixture of theory and practical course work, learn to:

Operate offset, digital and finishing machinery
Mix colours
Inspect quality against specified standards in a production environment
Follow sustainable work practices
Plan and present work to clients

Course outcomes

Gain practical experience and develop specialist skills that give you an advantage in the job market.

Experience to develop a visual concept from design to finished product
Experience analysing client briefs, collaborating and completing work to meet expectations
Time management skills to resolve competing deadlines
Skills to use simulated printing rooms
Strong pathways to continue your studies and enhance your career opportunities

SuitabilityIs this course right for you?

Entry requirements

Some courses require evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. You can enrol today.
This course is offered as a traineeship. Enquire today to check the eligibility requirements.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:

An interest in graphic image reproduction, printing and creative industries
A creative mindset
A collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team
The drive and the capacity to practise your skills outside of class hours

TAFE NSW is committed to meeting the learning needs of every community. Meeting these needs can mean there are additional entry requirements at different campus locations. Check your preferred location for further requirements. If you need help preparing for study, contact us to find out how we can support you.

PathwaysFuture career and study options

Career pathways

Our graduates go onto roles like: Assistant machinist (printing), Carton and corrugating machinist, Desktop publishing assistant, Print finishing operator, Pre-press worker, Carton and corrugating machine operator, Mail house operator, Printing operator, Ink mixer, Sack/bag maker, Screen printing assistant, Digital print operator and Print offsider

Study pathways

Take your study further with other courses offered at TAFE NSW:

Previous study0 Courses

Begin here to gain experience and confidence in this study area.

The Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts does not have any pre-requisite courses.

Further study0 Courses

Advance your skills to take your career to the next level

The Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts does not have any post-graduate courses.

Related study0 Courses

Strengthen your expertise and gain specialist skills to expand your employability.

The Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts does not have any related courses.

Your experience counts

At TAFE NSW, we recognise your previous study and work experience. You can apply for recognition of prior learning or a credit transfer with any of our courses. If you're successful you'll get your qualification faster.

UnitsUnits taught in this course

Courses are made up of a combination of both core and specialty units. In the Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts qualification, you’ll need to successfully complete 12 Units of competency, including 2 core and 10 speciality units.

Please note, not all specialty units are offered at every TAFE NSW location. It is highly recommended that you check with your preferred campus for information about the specialty units offered at that location.

Core units are central to the job outcomes of a particular industry or occupation. These are the units industry has agreed are essential to be capable and qualified at a particular study level.

Prepare and maintain the work areaICPSUP2030
Inspect quality against required standards in a production environmentICPSUP2160

TAFE NSW offers packaged specialty units

Specialty units are packaged by TAFE NSW to customise your qualification and ensure you are ready to meet the demands of industry.

Deliver a service to customersBSBCUS201
Set up single-faced webICPCBF2140
Set up double-faced webICPCBF2160
Produce basic folded and glued cartonsICPCBF2180
Produce basic converted or finished productICPCBF220
Set up and produce basic guillotined productICPCBF2210
Set up machine for basic flat-bed die cutting or embossingICPCBF2250
Produce basic flat-bed die cut or embossed productICPCBF2260
Set up machine for basic rotary die cutting or embossingICPCBF2270
Produce basic rotary die cut or embossed productICPCBF228
Set up machine for basic flat-bed cuttingICPCBF2310
Produce basic flat-bed cut productICPCBF2320
Set up machine for basic foldingICPCBF2410
Produce basic folded productICPCBF2420
Set up machine for basic collating or inserting (sheet/section)ICPCBF2430
Produce basic collated or inserted (sheet/section) productICPCBF2440
Set up and produce hand-collated or inserted productICPCBF2450
Set up machine for basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fasteningICPCBF2610
Produce basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fastened productICPCBF2620
Set up and produce hand-fastened productICPCBF2630
Set up machine for basic laminatingICPCBF2810
Produce basic laminated productICPCBF2820
Clean sack and bag machinesICPCBF297
Run and monitor sack and bag machinesICPCBF2980
Run and monitor in-line bottom making machine for sack or bag manufactureICPCBF301
Produce single-faced webICPCBF3050
Produce double-faced webICPCBF3070
Set up machine for complex sequenced or multiple foldingICPCBF3410
Access and use the internetICPDMT2630
Create and test interactive storage devicesICPDMT2960
Capture digital imagesICPDMT3210
Edit digital imagesICPDMT3220
Mount and proof flexographic plates for basic printingICPPRN2110
Produce basic flexographic printed productICPPRN2140
Produce basic gravure printed productICPPRN2220
Produce basic lithographic printed productICPPRN2320
Produce basic pad printed productICPPRN2420
Set up for foil stampingICPPRN2610
Produce foil stamped productICPPRN262
Set up for basic coatingICPPRN271
Produce basic coated productICPPRN272
Produce and manage basic digital printICPPRN2820
Use digital media consumablesICPPRN2830
Use colour management systemsICPPRN284
Use digital workflowICPPRN2850
Finish a digital productICPPRN2860
Use digital processesICPPRN2870
Produce basic relief printed productICPPRN2880
Set up for basic flexographic printingICPPRN3130
Set up for basic pad printingICPPRN3410
Set up and produce basic digital printICPPRN3840
Develop basic design conceptsICPPRP2110
Select and apply typeICPPRP2210
Produce pages using a page layout applicationICPPRP224
Produce graphics using graphics applicationsICPPRP2250
Electronically combine and assemble data for page layoutsICPPRP2320
Output imagesICPPRP2520
Proof imagesICPPRP2600
Produce offset lithographic platesICPPRP2670
Produce flexographic photopolymer platesICPPRP2680
Design basic cartonICPPRP281
Produce PDF files for online and screen displayICPPRP2840
Scan images for reproductionICPPRP2860
Transfer digital filesICPPRP2970
Produce typographic imagesICPPRP3210
Digitise images for reproductionICPPRP3220
Operate databases for digital printingICPPRP3850
Prepare screenICPSCP2150
Prepare substrateICPSCP2210
Manually prepare direct emulsion stencilICPSCP2330
Manually prepare and produce screen printsICPSCP2700
Manually produce basic screen printsICPSCP2710
Semi-automatically produce basic screen printsICPSCP2730
Automatically produce basic screen printsICPSCP2750
Finish screen print productsICPSCP2810
Prepare film for basic screen printingICPSCP2820
Reclaim screen manuallyICPSCP3110
Prepare film for complex screen printingICPSCP3830
Prepare, load and unload reels and cores on and off machineICPSUP2010
Prepare, load and unload product on and off machineICPSUP2020
Prepare machine for operation (basic)ICPSUP2070
Operate and monitor machines (basic)ICPSUP2080
Prepare inks and additivesICPSUP2110
Pack and dispatch productICPSUP2210
Lift and shift loads mechanicallyICPSUP2360
Undertake warehouse materials processingICPSUP2410
Reconcile process outputsICPSUP2430
Perform basic industry calculationsICPSUP2630
Enter data into electronic systemsICPSUP2800
Use computer systems in the printing and graphic arts sectorsICPSUP2810
Undertake basic machine maintenanceICPSUP2820
Dispose of wasteICPSUP3230
Undertake inventory proceduresICPSUP3420
Apply quick changeover proceduresICPSUP3570

... 24

TAFE NSW servicesFacilities and support

TAFE NSW provides support services across all campus locations and online. Whatever your needs or circumstances, we have the people, resources, counselling and facilities to support you in focusing on your studies.

TAFE NSW Disability Support Service
TAFE NSW Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support
TAFE NSW Aboriginal Support; Learner support (ABE)
TAFE NSW Careers, Counselling and Pathways Service
TAFE NSW Libraries

Scholarship programs – be supported as you explore your talents and fulfil your potential
Read&Write literacy and study support software is available free for all TAFE NSW students to use while studying on campus and at home
LinkedIn Learning – an online resource which offers innovative courses and tutorials to improve your personal and professional skills
Student associations – get social with our student community

OverviewAbout this course

OutcomesWhat you'll gain

Learning outcomes

Course outcomes

SuitabilityIs this course right for you?

Entry requirements

Completion requirements

Entry recommendations

PathwaysFuture career and study options

Career pathways

Study pathways

Your experience counts

UnitsUnits taught in this course

Prepare and maintain the work areaICPSUP2030

Inspect quality against required standards in a production environmentICPSUP2160

TAFE NSW offers packaged specialty units

Deliver a service to customersBSBCUS201

Set up single-faced webICPCBF2140

Set up double-faced webICPCBF2160

Produce basic folded and glued cartonsICPCBF2180

Produce basic converted or finished productICPCBF220

Set up and produce basic guillotined productICPCBF2210

Set up machine for basic flat-bed die cutting or embossingICPCBF2250

Produce basic flat-bed die cut or embossed productICPCBF2260

Set up machine for basic rotary die cutting or embossingICPCBF2270

Produce basic rotary die cut or embossed productICPCBF228

Set up machine for basic flat-bed cuttingICPCBF2310

Produce basic flat-bed cut productICPCBF2320

Set up machine for basic foldingICPCBF2410

Produce basic folded productICPCBF2420

Set up machine for basic collating or inserting (sheet/section)ICPCBF2430

Produce basic collated or inserted (sheet/section) productICPCBF2440

Set up and produce hand-collated or inserted productICPCBF2450

Set up machine for basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fasteningICPCBF2610

Produce basic adhesive, mechanical or thermal fastened productICPCBF2620

Set up and produce hand-fastened productICPCBF2630

Set up machine for basic laminatingICPCBF2810

Produce basic laminated productICPCBF2820

Clean sack and bag machinesICPCBF297

Run and monitor sack and bag machinesICPCBF2980

Run and monitor in-line bottom making machine for sack or bag manufactureICPCBF301

Produce single-faced webICPCBF3050

Produce double-faced webICPCBF3070

Set up machine for complex sequenced or multiple foldingICPCBF3410

Access and use the internetICPDMT2630

Create and test interactive storage devicesICPDMT2960

Capture digital imagesICPDMT3210

Edit digital imagesICPDMT3220

Mount and proof flexographic plates for basic printingICPPRN2110

Produce basic flexographic printed productICPPRN2140

Produce basic gravure printed productICPPRN2220

Produce basic lithographic printed productICPPRN2320

Produce basic pad printed productICPPRN2420

Set up for foil stampingICPPRN2610

Produce foil stamped productICPPRN262

Set up for basic coatingICPPRN271

Produce basic coated productICPPRN272

Produce and manage basic digital printICPPRN2820

Use digital media consumablesICPPRN2830

Use colour management systemsICPPRN284

Use digital workflowICPPRN2850

Finish a digital productICPPRN2860

Use digital processesICPPRN2870

Produce basic relief printed productICPPRN2880

Set up for basic flexographic printingICPPRN3130

Set up for basic pad printingICPPRN3410

Set up and produce basic digital printICPPRN3840

Develop basic design conceptsICPPRP2110

Select and apply typeICPPRP2210

Produce pages using a page layout applicationICPPRP224

Produce graphics using graphics applicationsICPPRP2250

Electronically combine and assemble data for page layoutsICPPRP2320

Output imagesICPPRP2520

Proof imagesICPPRP2600

Produce offset lithographic platesICPPRP2670

Produce flexographic photopolymer platesICPPRP2680

Design basic cartonICPPRP281

Produce PDF files for online and screen displayICPPRP2840

Scan images for reproductionICPPRP2860

Transfer digital filesICPPRP2970