Step 1 – Initial Application (information on your skills and experience)

Complete the initial application form carefully and as clearly as possible so that the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) can assess it properly. Be precise and provide enough detail to ensure the assessor can determine if you have the necessary skills and experience to continue with the Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) assessment process.

The RTO will provide feedback to you should the assessor believe you do not have the necessary skills and qualifications to proceed to steps 2 and 3 of the process.

Should the RTO accept your application form, this does not automatically mean you will achieve competency as you are still required to pass steps 2 and 3 of the process.

Step 2 – Competency Profile (documentary evidence)

Complete the attached form and provide as much information on your previous experience in your occupation as you can. This is your opportunity to provide proof of your variety of experience in the industry. Here you can supply examples of your work history, which could include:

• References/letters from previous employers/supervisors/suppliers/customers
• CV/Resume or work history
• Photographs/DVD’s/Videos of work undertaken
• Certificates/results of assessment
• Indentures/trade papers
• Certificates/results of assessment – interstate/overseas
• Certificates/results of assessment – universities
• Results/statement of attendance/certificates – vendor training courses
• Results/statement of attendance/ certificates – in house courses, workshops, seminars
• Results/statements of attendance/ certificates – club courses e.g. first aid, officials etc
• Photographs/DVD’s/Videos of work undertaken
• Work diaries/ task sheets /job sheets/ log books
• Training records
• Competencies held record
• Membership of relevant professional associations
• Hobbies/interests/special skills outside work
• Industry awards
• Inductions
• Any other documentation that may demonstrate industry experience

There may be instances where you may have little, or no documentary evidence of your industry experience. This is not a barrier to gaining recognition. This will just require you to rely on the questioning during the Competency Conversation step, referee validation and possibly a practical demonstration of your skills in the RPL process to validate your skills and industry experience.

You will also need to provide evidence of at least four years work history and contact details of at least one work referee who can confirm your skills in the industry.

The assessor will review all the documentation you have provided to ensure that your trade training qualifications and/or work experience evidence is satisfactory to meet the requirements. This competency profile will be used to demonstrate that you:

• Have the skills to do particular jobs
• Have the knowledge and understanding of why the job is done in a particular way
• Understand the regulations relating to your work
• Can manage more than one task at a time
• Can deal with everyday problems to do with your work
• Can work with other team members.

The RTO will review the information and begin to match up your skills to the units of competency in the qualification.

If your evidence meets all the requirements you will proceed to the competency conversation with our assessor.

If your evidence does not meet all the requirements, the RTO will;

1. suspend your application and advise you of the additional information / evidence you will need to provide to enable your application to proceed to the next step
2. suspend your application and advise you of the additional training you will need to complete before your application can proceed to the next step
3. reject your application as the assessor does not believe you have the necessary industry skills or knowledge to proceed.

Step 3 – Technical Interview

As part of the RPL process, a Competency Conversation between you and the RTO will be conducted.

The questions you will be asked are designed to enable the assessor to gain further evidence of your past and current experience and will focus on the skills required to fulfil the requirements of the qualification. Technical Interviews typically run for between 1 and 2 hours.

The vast majority of Technical Interviews will be conducted by recorded real time video conferencing – our IT department will contact you to run a trial connection prior to the assessment day. You will need access to a Personal Computer (PC), a broadband connection, a webcam and a set of headphones.

Practical Assessment (may be required at the assessors discretion)

It should be noted that if the assessor is uncomfortable with your Technical Interview, the assessor may require a practical skills test to be conducted at your workplace or another suitable venue. Appropriate permission must be sought before entering or recording from within a workplace. It will be your responsibility to provide a live video stream using a webcam enabled computer and broadband connection in to the working area for the assessor to see. If this is not possible, you will be required to travel to Australia to complete the practical demonstration of your skills.

It should be noted that if you are required to participate in a practical assessment, this is a further opportunity for you to demonstrate competence in your trade. It is expected the practical assessment will comprise only those competencies you were unable to demonstrate knowledge/experience in after the Competency Profile and the Technical Interview steps.

Interested? Register first to start the process.