10 Careers You Don't Need An ATAR For

When you’re in Year 12, you channel so much of your energy into achieving the best ATAR possible. Your teachers place such a heavy focus on getting good marks that it can be easy to lose sight of what it is you’re actually working towards.

What they often forget to mention is that there’s a heap of careers out there that you don’t actually need an ATAR to pursue. There's nowhere near enough talk of VET courses when you’re at school and yet they can provide all the qualifications you need to start chasing what could be your dream job.

1. Information Technology

IT is continuing to be one of the fastest-growing career choices today with no sign of slowing down. Every business in every industry is IT-dependent for virtually every aspect of their operations so getting qualified in this area is looking pretty good at the moment.

A good place to start with this one is with La Trobe University’s online courses delivered with Didasko. They offer a Bachelor of Applied Cloud Technology (plus other degrees in areas like Business Management and Marketing too).

This course is perfect for anyone considering a career in IT, web or software development or computer science and will get you up to speed with everything you need to know about information systems, machine learning, big data, computer networks and ‘the cloud’. The degree is delivered entirely online, which is brilliant because it means you can study in the way that suits your schedule and lifestyle and you can leave early and still get qualified – you can suss out more details about that over here.

The best bit? No ATAR needed. Instead, you’ll simply need Year 12 completion OR an equivalent qualification or work experience after having left school (one years-worth for IT students).

2. Zookeeper

Are you passionate about animals? Would you happily spend all day working alongside them? If this sounds like you, then perhaps becoming a zookeeper is your calling.

If you’re based in Sydney check out the Taronga Training Institute – they offer a Certificate II in Animal Studies that will set you on the right track to living your dream!

3. Early Childhood Educator

Do your friends tell you that you have a caring, nurturing, and patient soul? If so, you should consider becoming a role model for the next generation with a career in early childhood education.

Affinity Education Group offers traineeships across Australia in which you earn money while earning the qualifications necessary to obtain a Cert III in Children’s Services.

4. Commercial Pilot

Fancy getting paid to fly around the world? Seeing new sights? Who doesn’t!

If this sounds like it’s up your alley, Soar Aviation offers a Diploma of Aviation in Sydney and Melbourne, which will see you complete the training for a Commercial Pilot Licence within two years.

5. Florist

If you love to express yourself creatively, to work with flowers, or think of yourself as a bit of a people person, then perhaps floristry is the career for you. The Flower School in Queensland offers a Certificate III in Floristry, which teaches you all of the necessary skills required to become a successful florist.

6. Filmmaker

If you consider yourself a bit of a raconteur, and think you have the ability to really bring a story to life, then AFTT’s Diploma of Screen and Media probably has your name written all over it. They’ll teach ya everything to do with film - from directing, to writing scripts, to lighting and sound techniques.

7. Personal Trainer

Think you’re a bit of an energizer bunny? Hate the idea of sitting at a desk all day, when you could instead be earning money by promoting (and leading) a healthy and happy lifestyle?

If you’re based in WA, NSW or VIC, Orphic Education’s got a Certificate IV in Fitness which sets you up to be a fully qualified personal trainer.

8. Sustainability

Are you worried that your kids won’t get to see the beautiful world you grew up in?

TAFE NSW offers a Diploma of Sustainable Practice in which you will learn to respond to environmental challenges facing workplaces, whilst gaining the skills necessary to work in sustainability roles within government, business and community industries.

9. Fashion Designer

Reckon you’ve got an eye for fashion? If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own fashion label, or designing clothes, or managing a fashion show, then you should be checking out LCI Melbourne.

They offer a Bachelor of Design Arts (Fashion and Costume Design) which sets you up to make an impact in the world of fashion.

10. Sound Engineer

Ever wanted to produce music, or be a stage technician for your favourite band? Maybe you want to run your own studio.

Well, there’s a Diploma of Audio Engineering and Sound Production on offer at JMC Academy which can set you up to do exactly that. And the best part of it all? You don’t need an ATAR to sign up!

There's a heap of other careers that you could pursue without an ATAR as well – we just chose 10 to show you.

Some other career fields include legal services, nursing, journalism, and engineering, (just to name a few). If you want to know more, head over to the Year13 study section to see what else might interest you!