Recognition of skills and experience
At SkillsTech Australia, we don't expect you to repeat learning you've already attained through work/life experience or prior study. Our Skills Recognition Program will:
- give you credit for the skills and experience you already have
- fast-track your study
- reduce the cost of learning.
Download the Skills recognition guide [PDF 910kb], contact the Skills Recognition Team or read on for more information.
Skills Recognition Program - overview
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Benefits of RPL
The RPL process and costs
Employability skills
Preparing for RPL
What will I get at the end of a successful assessment?
What will I get if I am not successful in the assessment?
National recognition
Credit Transfer
Skills Recognition Program - overview
There are several ways your existing skills, experience, knowledge and qualifications can be formally acknowledged including:
- Credit Transfer (including national recognition) - recognises your 'formal' studies, e.g. school, university or TAFE.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - recognises your 'informal' learning e.g. gained through work and life experiences.
By formally recognising previous work/life experience and study, you may already have successfully completed a number of the 'units of competency' that make up the training program you plan to enrol in. A 'unit of competency' specifies knowledge and skills that apply to the standard of performance expected in the workplace.
This enables you to fast-track your study, reduce your learning costs and take advantage of the benefits of formal qualifications faster.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL is an assessment process that matches the skills and knowledge you've gained through previous 'informal' learning (education/training) or through work/life experience, to Australian industry standards for your nominated trade.
Informal learning happens outside the classroom, college or university. It can range from:
- short courses delivered within your enterprise, company or community group
- special training programs delivered within your enterprise by a vendor or manufacturer, for example to instruct in the use of machinery
- seminars, workshops or training events held outside your enterprise.
Assessment happens in a variety of ways. We need evidence from you that shows us how you meet industry standards for your trade. Evidence can be drawn from different sources: documentary evidence, verbal questioning, referee validation and practical skills demonstrations.
Suitable types of evidence:
- your position description
- letters from employers or clients in related industries or government agencies that describe the specific duties/tasks you can do or have done
- referee testimonials ('third party' reports) that list the specific skills your referee has observed you regularly performing on the job, on a consistent basis, since commencing employment with the referee's organisation
- photographs of work/installations you have done. Photos must be of good quality and taken with a digital camera rather than with a mobile phone camera.
- completion certificates or inspection certificates from local authorities for work you have completed
- copies of certificates of attendance of any professional development or vendor/manufacturer inhouse training
- proof of membership of Workplace Health and Safety Committee, or employment as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer
- current First Aid certificate/CPR certificate
- workplace forms that you have completed (as long as they don't show client details)
- safe work method statement or JSA
- job cards signed by you
- log books
- material safety data sheet (MSDS)
- documented quality procedures in place in your workplace.
Having little or no documentary evidence of your industry experience is not a barrier. It simply means that your assessor will rely more on questioning, referee validation and practical demonstration of your skills to obtain the evidence.
Benefits of RPL
RPL can save you time and money and provide you with a full or partial qualification, or provide a pathway to higher qualifications.
It can also be used to identify the gap training you may need to complete a whole qualification. Once you've completed your RPL assessment, your assessor may determine you need further training - known as gap training - to achieve successful completion of a whole qualification.
RPL can also benefit you in ways such as:
- gaining eligibility for occupational licences, tickets or permits
- reducing study load
- re-entry into the workforce
- job promotion or improvement
- changing careers
- moving on from redundancy or unemployment
- entry to further education or training courses.
The RPL process and costs
How long will it take to process my application?
The length of time for the whole RPL process varies between individuals, but usually takes about 12 weeks from the date received.
How much does it cost?
The cost of RPL assessment varies between individuals. Please contact the SkillsTech Australia Recognition Services Team for an estimate.
While every RPL assessment is unique to the skills and knowledge of the applicant, the general RPL process is as follows:
Step 1: Contact us. Before enrolling in your chosen program, contact us to receive an RPL Application Package.
Step 2: Submit your application. Complete the RPL application form and the Self Assessment Questionnaire requirements. The Self Assessment Questionnaire will help you to decide whether your prior experience and/or study meet the Australian standards for your nominated occupation. The self assessment will also help you to decide which units of competency you want to enrol into for your RPL assessment.
Step 3: Pre-assessment consultation. SkillsTech Australia will contact you to arrange an interview with one of our Skills Assessors for an initial pre-assessment consultation.
Step 4: Enrolment. After the pre-assessment consultation, the Assessor will recommend the units of competency to enrol into. We will then be able to advise you of the enrolment fees that are payable and can advise you of your payment options and eligibility for scholarship funding. Please note that fees for RPL assessment are structured to minimise cost to the individual. The cost will vary between qualifications and depends upon the electives in your qualification and how many units of competency you wish to enrol in.
Step 5: Assessment interview. At your assessment, our Skills Assessor will ask you questions to gain further evidence of your skills and knowledge. If required, a practical skills test may be required. At this stage, the assessor will also contact any referees you have listed, to verify your competence.
Step 6: Feedback. Following the assessment, our Assessor will give you feedback on the results - the units you were successful in attaining through the RPL process - and the gap training you may need in order to fulfil the requirements of a whole qualification.
Employability Skills
Employability Skills are sets of skills that are quite different to the technical or 'doing' skills in your occupation. It is not only technical skills that matter to your industry but the other attributes that you acquire throughout your career and life.
Employability skills contribute to harmonious and productive working relationships and result in the effective execution of tasks. They encompass the following:
- communication
- team work
- problem-solving
- initiative and enterprise
- planning and organising
- self-management
- learning
- technology.
Employability Skills are embedded in your RPL assessment. Go to the Employability Skills Summaries website for more information.
Preparing for RPL
Assessment happens in a variety of ways. Being prepared can save you valuable time and make the RPL process stress-free.
Below are some handy tips:
- Be prepared to talk about your job roles and your work history. Bring a resume or work history or jot down a few points about where you have worked, either paid or unpaid, and what you did there.
- Bring your position description and any performance appraisals you have from the industry and facilities you have worked in.
- Consider the possibilities for workplace contact. Are you in a workplace that is supporting your goals to get qualified? Would you feel comfortable to have the assessor contact your workplace or previous workplaces so your skills can be validated?
- Think about who can confirm your skill level. Think about current or recent supervisors who have seen you work in the past 18 months and will be able to confirm your skills. The assessor will need to contact them. You may also have community contacts or even clients themselves who can vouch for your skills level.
- Collect any certificates from in-house and/or vendor training or formal training you have done in the past.
What will I get at the end of a successful assessment?
You will receive a Statement of Attainment for each unit of competency you successfully achieve. If you achieve the requirements of the whole qualification, you will be issued with a Certificate.
Please note: SkillsTech Australia does not issue trade licences. Achievement of a Certificate may grant you eligibility to apply for a trade licence. Check with the licensing body in your trade in your State or Territory for licence eligibility requirements.
Go to the Licence Recognition website for information about licences and licensing authorities, or to find out about mutual recognition for occupational licences granted in other states or territories.
What will I get if I am not successful in the assessment?
We will discuss your ongoing training needs, according to your goals. This may involve training in the 'gaps' you need to achieve your whole qualification.
Gap Training
Our assessor may find that you have all of the skills and knowledge required to be granted the whole qualification. On the other hand, the assessor may find that you need to do training in one or more units to achieve the whole qualification. If, however, our assessor finds that that you need to undertake training in a large number of units, options for training will be discussed with you. These options may include enrolling into night time or part time day classes, flexible learning, or an adult apprenticeship.
Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer is the process that recognises any 'formal' study you have completed that is relevant to your training program.
Formal study is organised learning and assessment that is undertaken in educational institutions (e.g. schools, universities and TAFE institutes and professional organisations recognised for educational and training purposes by national or state governments).
The end result of this formal learning is the award of a qualification, degree, certificate, Statement of Attainment or Result of Assessment.
To gain recognition through credit transfer, our skills assessor will compare your previously completed formal studies with the competencies outcomes of the training program you intend to study.
SkillsTech Australia will recognise qualifications or statements of attainment issued by another registered training organisation that are the same as the competencies in the program you are enrolled in.
To receive credit for previous study, you will need to be enrolled in the program and provide certified copies of your qualifications, statement of attainment or statement of results. All TAFE Queensland institutes use the same student administration system so you don't need to provide your results from study done at another TAFE Queensland institute.
If you have completed study at university, we will ask for an academic transcript that shows the content of the study you have previously completed so we can evaluate the equivalence with your proposed training program.
Certified copies of your certificate, award or qualification must be provided. We may also ask for an academic transcript that shows the content of the study you have previously completed so we can evaluate the equivalence with your proposed training program.
You cannot receive credit transfer for your whole program of study - at least one competency from your proposed training program must be achieved through normal enrolment or RPL.
You cannot receive credit transfer for your whole program of study - at least one competency from your proposed training program must be achieved through normal enrolment or RPL.
Assessment for your previous formal study for credit transfer is free. To apply for credit transfer, contact the SkillsTech Australia Recognition Team.
Other languages