Recognition of Prior Learning
Are you already skilled?
Surprise yourself by recognising skills from all areas of your life including social, sport, volunteer, family and other endeavours. You may just know more than you give yourself credit for.
Candidates are able to apply for:
The RPL assessment process includes the initial provision of information, support and counselling, formal application, assessment, post-assessment guidance and certification for course students. All Candidates are offered RPL prior to enrolment through both the enrolment application and website information. The special needs of RPL applicants are recognised, and all necessary and reasonable adjustments will be made (taking into account such areas as LLN) during the RPL assessment process where appropriate.
The key objectives of our RPL assessment process is to:
As stated in the AD1 College Staff Code of Conduct, Staff are required to make known to all Candidates the availability of Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer - which is recognition of qualifications obtained through other Registered Training Organisations, and assist Candidates in any application for each.
How is prior learning recognised?
Every training course contains a set of learning outcomes and associated performance criteria that must be achieved before a Learner will be deemed competent in assessor training. Broadly speaking, the process involves matching what Learners already know and can do with the learning outcomes of the unit of competence.
This recognition process enables participants to focus on developing skills and knowledge in new areas, rather than having to re-learn what they already know and can do.
Who can apply?
All Candidates can apply if they think their prior learning and experience means they can provide evidence to show that they are already competent in the learning outcomes of the training course.
Benefits of RPL/ Credit Transfer:
How do you show evidence of competencies gained via prior learning?
There are many ways that you can show evidence of the competencies you hold. Exemption can only be granted on current evidence, that is, work that has been completed within the last two years. Following are a few examples of the ways evidence can be provided. You will need to include a variety of these in your application form.
Education and training (RPL)
Work related experience
Life experiences
Please remember, the above mentioned are only examples. You should provide all the documentation that you can which clearly show evidence of the competencies you hold.
Guidelines for credit transfer:
All NVR qualifications and statements of attainment issued by other registered training organisations will be fully recognised and Credit Transfer is available to all Learners enrolling in any of our courses on our scope of registration.
Recognition of prior learning procedure
If you consider that you have already acquired the learning outcomes of a training course that is offered by the AD1 College, you may formally apply to have these skills recognised.
The Assessment can only be carried out through you providing evidence of the relevant competencies that you believe you hold. This is achieved through completing the application form and forwarding this along with the required fees (Refer to the Fee Schedule for current recognition fees).
The following sequential process has been established as the procedure to be followed by an applicant who wishes to obtain credit of prior learning or current competencies.
Step 1 – Request
Candidates who consider applying for recognition will contact AD1 College, who will provide the information package and advice to the applicant.
Step 2 – Complete application and send to AD1 College
Candidates will utilise the information contained within the relevant RPL information kit to conduct a self-assessment against the selected training course learning outcomes.
Step 3 – Assessment
On receipt of the application, the Head Trainer will determine the completeness and relevance of the documentation. The applicant will be advised of:
In the event of partial completion of the learning outcomes, the Head Trainer should outline which performance criteria still needs to be achieved, and preferably what evidence is still required. Options may include:
Step 4 – Notification
AD1 College will notify the applicant of the decision within two weeks of receiving the completed application.
Step 5 – Appeal
The Candidate has the right to appeal the Head Trainer’s decision, if they believe the decision is unfair, unjust or if the Head Trainer has misinterpreted the evidence.
In the case of an appeal, a new assessor will be assigned to review all material available and make a decision with one or two possible outcomes:
Once again, the Review Assessor will notify the applicant of the decision within two weeks of receiving the appeal. The decision of the RPL Review Assessor will be final. If you are unhappy with the decision, you may contact the Industry Skills Council for an independent opinion.
Surprise yourself by recognising skills from all areas of your life including social, sport, volunteer, family and other endeavours. You may just know more than you give yourself credit for.
Candidates are able to apply for:
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL); and
- Recognition of Qualifications issued by other RTO’s (Credit Transfer and National Recognition)
The RPL assessment process includes the initial provision of information, support and counselling, formal application, assessment, post-assessment guidance and certification for course students. All Candidates are offered RPL prior to enrolment through both the enrolment application and website information. The special needs of RPL applicants are recognised, and all necessary and reasonable adjustments will be made (taking into account such areas as LLN) during the RPL assessment process where appropriate.
The key objectives of our RPL assessment process is to:
- Minimise duplication of learning, training or skill acquisition;
- Allow the completion of studies in the shortest possible time;
- Provide clear RPL outcomes and access to further learning/training and career development;
- Provide quality advice and support to potential and current applicants;
- Conduct the RPL process only in respect to courses that we are registered to assess;
- Ensure that only fully qualified consultants are involved in the RPL process;
- Document the RPL process;
- Recognise competencies and modules gained through an RPL process conducted at another registered training organisation via the requirements of mutual recognition;
- Ensure that the RPL processes are monitored, evaluated and updated where appropriate;
- Advise all RPL applicants of their right of appeal through the formal process; and
- Ensure fees and charges are fair and competitive with the industry standard.
As stated in the AD1 College Staff Code of Conduct, Staff are required to make known to all Candidates the availability of Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer - which is recognition of qualifications obtained through other Registered Training Organisations, and assist Candidates in any application for each.
How is prior learning recognised?
Every training course contains a set of learning outcomes and associated performance criteria that must be achieved before a Learner will be deemed competent in assessor training. Broadly speaking, the process involves matching what Learners already know and can do with the learning outcomes of the unit of competence.
This recognition process enables participants to focus on developing skills and knowledge in new areas, rather than having to re-learn what they already know and can do.
Who can apply?
All Candidates can apply if they think their prior learning and experience means they can provide evidence to show that they are already competent in the learning outcomes of the training course.
Benefits of RPL/ Credit Transfer:
- Conforms to the requirements for equity in adult education programs;
- Avoids the problem of participants having to unnecessarily repeat learning experiences;
- Encourages the development of various assessment procedures;
- Assesses the Candidate's current competence in comparison to the stated standards of competence required; and
- The process can clarify what relevant skills the participant does and does not possess so that the learning program can be tailored accordingly.
How do you show evidence of competencies gained via prior learning?
There are many ways that you can show evidence of the competencies you hold. Exemption can only be granted on current evidence, that is, work that has been completed within the last two years. Following are a few examples of the ways evidence can be provided. You will need to include a variety of these in your application form.
Education and training (RPL)
- Formal, accredited and informal training
- Copies of certificates, qualifications achieved from other courses, school or tertiary results
- Statements outlining courses and or study that you have undertaken and the learning outcomes/competencies achieved from these
Work related experience
- Positions held in the workforce
- Resume of work experience which may include reports from work colleagues
- Copies of any statements, references or articles about your employment or community involvement
- Relevant samples of work
Life experiences
- Industry involvement
- Relevant work or other experiences
- Evidence of home/self directed study which may include a list of recent readings, synopsis of seminars attended, reports of own research/analysis undertaken
Please remember, the above mentioned are only examples. You should provide all the documentation that you can which clearly show evidence of the competencies you hold.
Guidelines for credit transfer:
- Credit transfer is directly related to competencies gained.
- Credit transfer procedures require documentation of competencies achieved so that they can be matched with the outcomes of a training course.
- It is recommended that credit transfer should only apply to units of competence of work that are up-to-date. Therefore units of competence of work completed more than two years previously should not be eligible for credit transfer.
All NVR qualifications and statements of attainment issued by other registered training organisations will be fully recognised and Credit Transfer is available to all Learners enrolling in any of our courses on our scope of registration.
Recognition of prior learning procedure
If you consider that you have already acquired the learning outcomes of a training course that is offered by the AD1 College, you may formally apply to have these skills recognised.
The Assessment can only be carried out through you providing evidence of the relevant competencies that you believe you hold. This is achieved through completing the application form and forwarding this along with the required fees (Refer to the Fee Schedule for current recognition fees).
The following sequential process has been established as the procedure to be followed by an applicant who wishes to obtain credit of prior learning or current competencies.
Step 1 – Request
Candidates who consider applying for recognition will contact AD1 College, who will provide the information package and advice to the applicant.
Step 2 – Complete application and send to AD1 College
Candidates will utilise the information contained within the relevant RPL information kit to conduct a self-assessment against the selected training course learning outcomes.
- Applicants will need to consider if and how they have achieved each learning outcome and if they can satisfy the performance criteria by submitting valid, sufficient, authentic and current evidence.
- Applicants will need to gather all relevant supporting documentation and complete the application form with honest, clear, complete and concise information.
- The completed application form with certified copies of supporting documentation will then be forwarded to the Head Trainer who will assess the application.
Step 3 – Assessment
On receipt of the application, the Head Trainer will determine the completeness and relevance of the documentation. The applicant will be advised of:
- Acceptance of the application; or
- Deficiencies that must be rectified or addressed before the application can proceed.
- Validity (is the evidence relevant?)
- Sufficiency (is there enough evidence?)
- Authenticity (is the evidence a true reflection of the Candidate?)
- Currency (is the evidence recent – obtained within 2 years?)
In the event of partial completion of the learning outcomes, the Head Trainer should outline which performance criteria still needs to be achieved, and preferably what evidence is still required. Options may include:
- Supply further supporting documentation;
- Complete the assessment activity portfolio;
- Complete individual unit of competence of the appropriate training course
Step 4 – Notification
AD1 College will notify the applicant of the decision within two weeks of receiving the completed application.
Step 5 – Appeal
The Candidate has the right to appeal the Head Trainer’s decision, if they believe the decision is unfair, unjust or if the Head Trainer has misinterpreted the evidence.
In the case of an appeal, a new assessor will be assigned to review all material available and make a decision with one or two possible outcomes:
- Grant recognition
- Deny recognition
Once again, the Review Assessor will notify the applicant of the decision within two weeks of receiving the appeal. The decision of the RPL Review Assessor will be final. If you are unhappy with the decision, you may contact the Industry Skills Council for an independent opinion.