+ Is this an accredited course?

Yes! 100%

Being a private RTO we have high standards of accreditation that we must adhere to – and we are proud to say after our last round of accreditation we totally aced it.

+ I’m tossing up between CCP and TAFE. What’s the difference in qualification?

On paper? None. Zilch. Nada. Zip. It’s an identical qualification. In practice? A tonne.

• We are 100% dedicated to teaching ONLY the Certificate IV and Diploma in Photography and Digital Imaging. We are focused on photography, meaning you are getting specialised education. Plain and simple.
• We are the only provider in South Australia and Adelaide providing the Certificate IV - so if you want to learn the fundamentals of photography, then come and join our community!
• We offer more electives so you can guide your education towards what you actually want to learn and practice.
• We offer business training as a part of our Diploma (We are the only school in South Australia who does this)
• We are a lot less expensive than our competitors – but cheaper doesn’t mean lesser quality. We just have a close-knit team who knows how to bring the magic for much less.
• We offer flexible study options, and we can work around you and your lifestyle. You can change between part time, online, full time or taking a break on a term-by-term basis – no questions asked, no need to fill in any forms. Just do what you have to do.
• We offer deferrals meaning if life doesn’t go as planned – you can drop your course and pick it up where you left off.

+ Do I need to do an entire Certificate or Diploma? Can I take accredited courses just for fun or personal development?

You can take any of our 9 week accredited courses that are a part of our Certificate and Diploma without needing to take on the entire qualification. We are cool like that.

Maybe you already know your camera but want to take on a digital imaging course to supplement your skills, Maybe you are a professional who wants to increase their lighting skills – learn what you want, when you want and as much as you want. We don’t judge. If you don’t want to receive a grade for it- you don’t have to either.

+ Am I too young/old to study?

The first thing you need to know about the CCP is there is no real age bracket that we allow to study here. Our youngest student was 11, our oldest has been well into their 80’s. Because of the way our courses are structured, no one will ever feel like the “Mature age student” and you will always fit in with the CCP community.

+ When can I start?

The CCP divides our year up into four terms following the education department calendar. You can start a Certificate or Diploma at the beginning of any of those terms, as we offer rolling admissions, so there’s no need to wait! Check our term dates here: https://www.ccp.sa.edu.au/schedule

+ What is early bird enrolment?

We give you $40 off each class you enrol in, if you enrol and pay in full for your subject before the school holidays begin. It’s the thankyou we give for enrolling early – which helps us open new classes if a class books out. That kind of stuff can’t be done last minute so we rely on early enrolments to help us get what you want. This does not apply to any classes paid for on a payment plan.

+ Part time vs full time study.

Part time study is one to two classes per term. Full time study is classes per term.

Because of our flexible learning you can easily transition between part time, full time or online study. You won’t even need fill in any paperwork or talk to us about it. Just do the thing!

+ What does flexible study mean?

Each term you can choose what classes you want to take and how many. Or you can even choose to take a term off. Meaning if you go traveling, get sick or decide you need a break – don’t worry. There is always time. You have up to three years to complete your Certificate and an additional three years to complete a Diploma.

We also recognize that life happens – so if you get to week 5 of your class and know you won’t be able to complete it for whatever reason, you can choose to defer your studies and enrol in that same class at any time over the next 12 months.

+ How long does a Certificate IV or Diploma Take?

It depends on how long you WANT it to take. Full time study is considered three classes per term. Part time is considered one to two. If you go all out and study full time, the Certificate takes just over 9 months and the Diploma will be another 9 months after that. If you decide to go part time you have a maximum of 3 years to complete your award.

Basically – so long as you finish your qualification within 3 years, it’s all good.

+ How much does a Certificate and Diploma with the CCP cost?

Okay – because of our flexible study this can be a smidge complicated, because instead of paying one lump sum fee all up, you only pay for the term you are studying - but here’s how it’s calculated.

To complete a Certificate, you need to take Introduction to Photography (currently $815 or $775 if you catch our early bird enrolment discount) and 8 of our accredited classes (each cost $955 or $915 if you catch our early bird enrolment discount)

Basically $955 x 8, plus $855 = $8,495 in 2023.

OR if you catch every single early bird enrolment deadline: $8,135 if you take on full time study and finish in 2023

To complete a Diploma you must have completed the Certificate IV first and 9 of our accredited classes (each cost $955 or $915 if you catch our early bird enrolment discount)

Basically $915 x 9 = $8,595

OR if you catch every single early bird enrolment deadline: $8,235 if you take on full time study and finish in 2023

There are some unavoidable yearly fee increases (see below) but we make sure you will know about it well in advance. No surprises.

+ Why is it so expensive?

To keep delivering the highest level of education we can possibly provide you, we often struggle to find the balance between the rising costs of our overheads to keep the doors open and your hip pocket. Anyone in business knows how frustrating that can be!

So where does your money go? Let’s be open about it –

• First and foremost accreditation - to keep compliant and to make sure you are getting the best of the best photographic education we are always updating and re-jigging our courses. That costs staffing, equipment as well as our annual registration fee and course administration.
• Next we don’t just hire any old lecturers. We hire real life working photographers. There is no point hiring people who haven’t walked the walk.
• Next cost is our building and maintaining our space and gear. When you enrol at the CCP our entire playground becomes yours to make your best work in.
• We have four giant sized lighting studios, one with a beautiful daylight studio space. Lighting gear, all of the light modifiers you could possibly ask for and South Australia’s largest remaining darkrooms.
• The bigger bonus? - unlike other institutions our space is not just available to you whilst you study. We offer alumni cheap studio hire rates so you can keep using the space and gear you know well throughout your career. Meaning what you pay now – will keep giving to you and other students throughout your entire career. Not just while you study.
• Typical utility costs and space costs – that’s a given!
• Public Liability Insurance and other insurances – any good business needs to have it!
• In 2021 we upgraded to a new, state of the art digital suite that is unlike any in Australia. It’s yours to use whilst you study here and in the future if need be.
• Keeping our admin staff clothed and fed – that’s pretty obvious. No one wants to see a naked, hungry admin person.
• All of that… and surprisingly we are still the least expensive accredited program in SA.

+ How are you the Cheapest?

It’s no secret that a Certificate and Diploma with us is less expensive than other institutions in South Australia.

Firstly, we are plain and simply a photography related school. Meaning we don’t have to dish out cash or filter the money through to other parts of our institution to help prop up courses that might be making less money. Everything we spend, it’s on you and your course. We keep our overheads as low as possible, our quality of education high and our staff are multitalented. It’s as simple as that.

We also rent out our space to professionals and graduates to buffer expenses. Meaning that their ongoing community support assists you financially. (Thanks peeps!)

Also unlike a university-based system – undergrad fees don’t have to support the postgrads. So you are just paying for yourself – and all the cash we generate from your course fees go straight back into making this place the best it can be. It’s all about you.

+ Are there ever price increases?

Sadly – yes.

Each year we often must raise costs (urgh – it drives us nuts that prices increase, but we have to cover rising costs)

The average annual inflation for education is often 5-6% - however we think that’s a bit rich.

Instead we manage to keep price rises to around 3% for our students – All of you can thank Aaron for his expert budgeting skills for that one.

What does any of that mean? The maximum amount the entire cost of our Certificate IV and Diploma will ever be raised by is about $360 per year – or $30 per class you take. So in 2023 you can expect prices to rise and we want to make sure you know about it well in advance so there are no surprises.

+ Are you covered by VET Fee Help?

A Certificate or Diploma with the CCP is not covered by VET FEE-HELP. The reason for this is that often the terms and conditions for VET fee Help change over time, and we would hate to offer up fully covered course fees and then have to pull the rug out from under you at the last minute.

Instead we do some of the most flexible fee by instalment options out there. Our finance department (actually we don’t have a department… it’s just Aaron) are here to help, so call us any time between business hours to talk your options through. We get times can be tough - so don’t let being broke get in the way of your dreams.

+ How does Fee by Instalment work?

Just select it on our website and away you go. You will be signed up for a "subscription" plan that will charge you five equal fortnightly payments. The payments will be charged at exactly the same time each fortnight, so please ensure you have available funds at these times. You may like to time your initial enrolment with this in mind - for example enrolling on pay day, so that every fortnight there will definitely be funds available.

If you need extra flexibility please contact us and we will be happy to accommodate with an individual plan tailored to your needs.

+ CRICOS and International Students

We are not CRICOS registered, which means that international students are not able to obtain a student visa by enrolling at CCP. The CCP can only allow students who reside in Australia or already hold a visa allowing you to work and study in Australia to enrol at the CCP.

+ Further Questions?

If you still have further questions please contact the CCP on 08 8354 8039 or email us on [email protected] – a friendly conversation can clear up any questions that might only apply to you.