Some people have skills and knowledge that enable them to gain a qualification without completing a standard training program or course.
These skills and knowledge – that would have otherwise been developed through undertaking an accredited course – may have been gained through some other form of study, formal training, self-tuition, work experience or life experience.
A registered training organisation (RTO) can formally recognise a student’s existing level of skill and knowledge in two ways:
Recognition of prior learning
RPL is an assessment process that assesses the individual’s non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards for entry to, and/or partial or total completion of a qualification.
RPL recognises this prior knowledge and experience and measures it against the course in which students are enrolled. A student possessing some of the skills and/or knowledge taught in the course may not need to complete all of its units.
RPL has many benefits:
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students can finish their courses earlier
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study loads and costs are reduced
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the student can take on additional study leading to a second qualification
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by identifying an individual's current competencies, RPL can effectively target training requirements.
The student needs to provide the RTO with evidence of their prior learning if they wish to have their knowledge and skills recognised under RPL.
RTOs should take previous experience and study into account whether it was achieved in Australia or overseas.
Credit transfer
Credit transfer allows students to count relevant, successfully completed studies – achieved at TAFE colleges, accredited private providers, professional organisations or enterprises and universities – towards their current course or qualifications.
Credit transfer works in two ways:
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students receive credit for units or modules they have previously completed and are exempt from retaking them, therefore reducing the study load.
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students are exempt from certain introductory units but are still required to complete the total credit points or hours for the course.
Credit transfer may also be referred to as ‘advanced standing’.
Overseas skills recognition
RTOs can conduct skills assessments in relation to the courses they deliver.
The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition provides advice and assessment for international non-trade qualifications and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations provides international trades assessment services.
