Finishing your Certificate IV in Celebrancy is a milestone, not the finish line. The qualification proves you are trained, but it does not make you a registered marriage celebrant. To legally marry people you must apply to the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department to be registered as a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant: lodge your application, pay the fee, pass the fit and proper person assessment, and then receive your registration. After that you keep your registration active with yearly professional development and an annual charge. Here is the full roadmap.
In this article
- Does finishing the Certificate IV make you registered?
- Step by step: what happens after your celebrancy course
- After the course at a glance
- How long does registration take?
- What does it cost to register and stay registered?
- Your ongoing obligations once registered
- Frequently asked questions
Does finishing the Certificate IV make you a registered celebrant?
No, and this is the single most misunderstood part of becoming a celebrant. Completing the CHC41015 Certificate IV in Celebrancy gives you the nationally recognised qualification, but registration is a separate process run by the Attorney-General’s Department. Until you are registered, you cannot legally solemnise marriages or advertise yourself as an authorised marriage celebrant.
Think of it in two stages: the course makes you qualified, and the Department makes you authorised. You need both before you can stand in front of a couple and sign the paperwork that makes a marriage legal.
Step by step: what happens after your celebrancy course
Here is the path from your last assessment to your first legal wedding.
- Receive your qualification. Once your assessments are marked competent, your training organisation issues your Certificate IV in Celebrancy. You will need this as evidence in your application.
- Prepare your application. Gather your certified identity documents, two referees, and consent for a national police check. You will also answer questions that test your knowledge of marriage law.
- Lodge your application and pay the fee. Apply online to the Attorney-General’s Department and pay the application fee (currently $400, with a limited exemption available for some applicants).
- Pass the fit and proper person assessment. The Registrar assesses whether you are a fit and proper person under section 39C of the Marriage Act 1961, using your police check, referees and the information you provide.
- Receive your registration. If approved, you are entered on the register and given your status as a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant.
- Start building your practice. Now you can legally take bookings, create your brand, connect with venues, and perform ceremonies.
After the course at a glance
| Step | What is involved | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Complete the Certificate IV in Celebrancy | From $1985 |
| Application | Apply to the AGD, ID, referees, police check | $400 application fee |
| Assessment | Fit and proper person check by the Registrar | Included in the fee |
| Staying registered | Annual charge includes 1-2 hours professional development | Around $170 a year, includes CPD |
CHC41015 Certificate IV in Celebrancy
The qualification you need before you can register. Study online and self-paced, start any time.
How long does marriage celebrant registration take?
The Attorney-General’s Department does not guarantee a set turnaround, and processing times vary with demand and how complete your application is. In practice, many new celebrants find it takes from a number of weeks up to a few months from lodging to approval, largely because of the police check and fit and proper assessment. The best thing you can do is apply promptly once you qualify, and submit a complete application so it is not sent back for missing documents.
For more detail, see our guides on how celebrants get registered and how long celebrant registration takes.
What does it cost to register and stay registered?
There are two kinds of cost: getting registered, and staying registered.
- To register: the application fee is currently $400. A limited exemption is available for some applicants.
- To stay registered: there is an annual registration charge, currently around $170 a year, paid to the Australian Government to keep your registration active. Low-income exemptions can apply.
- Professional development: you must complete 1-2 hours of Compulsory Professional Development (CPD) each year..
You can confirm the current figures on the Attorney-General’s Department costs page, as fees are reviewed from time to time.
Your ongoing obligations once registered
Registration is not set and forget. To stay in good standing you must:
- Follow the celebrant Code of Practice in how you work with couples and conduct ceremonies.
- Complete your 1-2 hours CPD each calendar year.
- Pay the annual registration charge on time.
- Keep your contact and business details up to date with the Department.
None of this is onerous, but it is part of being a professional, and it is why couples can trust that a registered celebrant knows the law.
Frequently asked questions
Can I perform a wedding as soon as I finish my celebrancy course?
No. You must first be registered by the Attorney-General’s Department as a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant. The qualification and the registration are two separate steps.
How much does it cost to register as a marriage celebrant?
The application fee is currently $400, with a limited exemption for some applicants. After that, you pay an annual registration charge of around $170..
Do I have to do professional development every year?
Yes. Registered marriage celebrants must complete 1-2 hours of continuing professional development annually through an the AG.
What if I only want to perform funerals or naming ceremonies?
Funeral and other non-legal ceremonies are not government-regulated, so you do not need Attorney-General’s Department registration for them. Your Certificate IV qualification is enough to begin offering those services.
What happens if my application is knocked back?
The Registrar must be satisfied you are a fit and proper person. If there is an issue, you will usually be told why. Submitting a complete, accurate application with your qualification, ID, referees and police check gives you the best chance of a smooth approval.
Thinking about becoming a celebrant?
It starts with the right qualification. Study the Certificate IV in Celebrancy online, at your own pace, with real trainer support, then we will help you understand the registration pathway.
Get started anytime with a deposit of just $200.