The costs involved in becoming a registered training organisation (RTO) range from registration and renewal fees, compliance and infrastructure costs to the purchase of Training Packages.

Registration fees

Any organisation applying to become an RTO, or renewing registration must pay an application fee to the relevant state or territory registration authority.

The fee varies between the states and territories, from $500 to over $1500, which includes the cost of the initial appraisal and compliance audit. Annual fees are also payable upon registration in some states and territories and can range from $350 to over $1000.

Fees also apply for extension to scope of registration and approval to provide courses to overseas students.

Accreditation fees

RTOs that develop new courses or qualifications must have these accredited to be formally recognised as national qualifications. The accreditation process attracts a fee that varies according to the qualification, ranging from $500 for a short course to $4000 for a degree or diploma.

Comprehensive information on fee structures is available from each state and territory registering authority. Follow the links on the right.

Workshop fees

State and territory registration authorities conduct information sessions to help organisations that have decided to become an RTO gain a better understanding of the:

• registration process and registration standards
• Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)
• role of evidence in the submission process.

Workshops are held throughout the year in all states and territories. The price of attending varies between the states and territories. Individual workshops can cost up to $200.

Training Packages

RTOs base their training courses on nationally endorsed resources called Training Packages. A Training Package describes:

• the skills and knowledge used in a particular industry
• how the skills and knowledge will be assessed.

The identified skills and knowledge are known as units of competency. Units of competency are grouped into various qualifications, as defined by the Training Package.

Prices can range from under $100 to over $1000 depending on the contents of the Training Package, the industry and the components the selected.

Industry skills councils (ISCs), formerly known as ITABs, develop Training Packages and sell them as complete packages or as individual components. They are also available for download from the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website.

Delivering in other states and territories

Once registered, no additional fees are charged for an RTO to deliver training and assessment services in other states and territories, providing:

• the services are within its scope of registration
• it complies with any particular legislative/regulatory requirements
• the relevant registering authority has been notified appropriately.