MSL40122Certificate IVCurrentMSL training package

MSL40122 Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques

MSL40122 is the nationally recognised Certificate IV behind agricultural, medical and science technicians work. It has been the current version on the national register since 2022, when it replaced MSL40118. 2,920 people enrolled in 2025, up 29.5% on the year before.

Often searched as Cert 4 in Laboratory Techniques · Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au
Long-term outlook
Positive
Two structural signals up
Register status
Current
Replaced MSL40118 in 2022
Enrolments
Rising
Up 29.5% in a year
Funding status
Verification pending
Checked against official state program lists
The short answer

The independent signals behind the Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques line up. Employment is projected to grow through 2035 and enrolments are rising. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.

Jobs and Skills Australia

Is the work there?

Ten year outlook

Agricultural, medical and science technicians jobs are projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 312 workers in May 2025, 328 by May 2030 (up 5.1%) and 347 by May 2035 (up 11.2%).

312
workers, May 2025
328
workers, May 2030
347
workers, May 2035
Jobs and Skills Australia employment projections · May 2025 to May 2035
Occupation mapping by Get Course, shown with ANZSCO codes so it can be checked.
NCVER Student Outcomes

How graduates do

Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques graduates do worse than is typical at Certificate IV level. In the 2025 NCVER Student Outcomes survey, 84.4% were employed or in further study after training. The typical Certificate IV result is 89.9%, across 71 qualifications. Median income after training was $52,000, against $63,400 typical. 82.3% were satisfied with the training, against 87.8% typical. Income here is the survey median about six months after training. It includes part-time work, so it is not the full-time award rate.

84.4%
employed or in further study after training (2025)
typical 89.9% across 71 Certificate IVs
$52,000
median income after training (2025)
typical $63,400 across 50 Certificate IVs
82.3%
satisfied with the training (2025)
typical 87.8% across 71 Certificate IVs
Level benchmarks are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IVs in the same collection, not official NCVER benchmarks.
NCVER Student Outcomes · 2025 survey
NCVER Total VET Activity

Who is training

Enrolments in the Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques are growing. Across Australia, 2,255 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 2,920, up 29.5% in a year. National data for MSL40122 starts in 2023.

NCVER Total VET Activity · 2025 collection
training.gov.au · Australian Qualifications Framework

What does studying it involve?

The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.

How long it takes
A Certificate IV is typically 0.5 to 2 years of full-time study under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Providers set the exact length and pace.
Delivery
Providers set the delivery mode.
Credit for experience
Recognition of prior learning applies to MSL40122 like any qualification on the national register: an approved provider assesses your evidence against each unit.
training.gov.au national register; Australian Qualifications Framework.
State subsidised training lists

What does it cost, and who funds it?

State funding for MSL40122 is being verified against official program lists.

Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.

Official state subsidised training program lists, verified per state. Full-fee prices will appear here as partner courses are listed.
training.gov.au · unit packaging

What is in the qualification

The Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques is 16 units: 4 core, plus 12 electives chosen from 42 options on the register. Prerequisites apply to Eight of them, marked below.

  • MSL924005Process and interpret data
  • MSL934008Maintain instruments and equipment
  • MSL934009Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes
  • MSL944002Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety
View the 42 elective options
  • BSBLDR413Lead effective workplace relationships
  • FBPFST4004Perform microbiological procedures in the food industry
  • FBPFSY4001Supervise and maintain a food safety plan
  • FBPTEC4009Identify the physical and chemical properties of materials, food and related products
  • HLTPAT006Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens
  • MSL904003Perform standard calibrations
  • MSL914002Prepare practical science classes and demonstrations
  • MSL924006Use laboratory application software
  • MSL934010Maintain and control stocks
  • MSL953005Receive and prepare samples for testing
  • MSL954005Prepare mineral samples for analysis
  • MSL954006Relate anatomical and physiological features to laboratory samples
  • MSL954007Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan
  • MSL973021Conduct field-based acceptance tests for construction materials
  • MSL973022Conduct laboratory-based acceptance tests for construction materials
  • MSL973025Perform basic tests
  • MSL973026Prepare working solutions
  • MSL973027Perform techniques that prevent cross-contamination
  • MSL973028Perform microscopic examination
  • MSL973029Perform histological procedures
  • MSL974016Perform physical and mechanical tests
  • MSL974018Conduct geotechnical site investigations
  • MSL974022Undertake environmental field-based monitoring
  • MSL974023Capture and manage scientific images
  • MSL974026Perform tests to determine the properties of construction materials (has prerequisites)
  • MSL974028Classify soils (has prerequisites)
  • MSL974029Operate an automated mineral analysis system
  • MSL974031Prepare, standardise and use solutions
  • MSL974032Perform chemical tests and procedures
  • MSL974033Perform food tests
  • MSL974034Perform biological procedures
  • MSL974035Prepare tissue or cell cultures (has prerequisites)
  • MSL974036Process body fluid specimens using a point of care testing device
  • MSL974037Triage and allocate tissue specimens
  • MSL974038Use techniques to complete simple tissue specimen transfers
  • MSL975057Perform histological tests (has prerequisites)
  • MSL975062Perform microbiological tests (has prerequisites)
  • MSL975066Apply routine chromatographic techniques (has prerequisites)
  • MSL975069Apply routine spectrometric techniques (has prerequisites)
  • MSL975073Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques (has prerequisites)
  • MSMENV472Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
  • TAEDEL311Provide work skill instruction
training.gov.au national register, MSL40122 release 1
Where to study

Where can I study MSL40122?

No Get Course partner currently lists this qualification. Check the national register for organisations approved to deliver it, and remember that approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. You can browse live courses from our partners and enquire today.

Browse courses
How we calculate these figures

Get Course maps MSL40122 to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 3110) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Outcome benchmarks marked “typical” are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IVs in the same NCVER collection; they are derived figures, not official NCVER benchmarks. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: NCVER Student Outcomes survey 2025 survey; NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; register training.gov.au, synced 18 September 2026; employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; register synced 18 Sept 2026. Page last updated 19 Sept 2026.

About this page. Every number on this page shows its source and date. Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au. Compiled by Get Course from public data sources. It is not provided or endorsed by any training organisation, and nothing here is advice about your individual situation. Statistics describe groups; your result depends on you. If you represent a training organisation and want to correct or add to this page, contact hello@getcourse.com.au.