Training and Assessment

Nationally Recognised (Accredited) Training

A vocational education and training (VET) accredited course has been assessed by ASQA as compliant with the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 and the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

Accreditation is formal confirmation that the course:

is nationally recognised and meets quality assurance requirements
meets an established industry, enterprise, educational, legislative or community need
provides appropriate competency outcomes and a satisfactory basis for assessment
is aligned appropriately to the AQF where it leads to a VET qualification.

Each VET accredited course receives a national code and appears on the national register, training.gov.au.

Who can provide Accredited Training?

An RTO is a training provider registered by ASQA (or a state regulator) to deliver VET services.

RTOs provide quality training and qualifications that are nationally recognised.

There are currently around 5000 RTOs in Australia. The national register, training.gov.au, maintains a complete list of RTOs.

RTO's delivering Nationally Accredited Courses MUST comply with the Standards for Registered Training Organisation (RTO) 2015

What are The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO) 2015?

Standard 1. The RTO’s training and assessment strategies and practices are responsive to industry and learner needs and meet the requirements of training packages and VET accredited courses

Standard 2. The operations of the RTO are quality assured.

Standard 3. The RTO issues, maintains and accepts AQF certification documentation in accordance with these Standards and provides access to learner records.

Standard 4. Accurate and accessible information about an RTO, its services and performance is available to inform prospective and current learners and clients.

Standard 5. Each learner is properly informed and protected.

Standard 6. Complaints and appeals are recorded, acknowledged and dealt with fairly, efficiently and effectively.

Standard 7. The RTO has effective governance and administration arrangements in place.

Standard 8. The RTO cooperates with the VET Regulator and is legally compliant at all times.

Users Guide to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO) 2015

What is an Approved Program of Study?

For Nursing and other health professionals wanting to gain registration with a National Board under AHPRA, this is what we want to know. By searching Approved Program of Study on AHPRAs website we can identify is this Qualification can be provided by the RTO of if this RTO is active, inactive and how many times they have been made "inactive", the inactive date and the end date.

On the Job Training?

Induction and Orientation training is usually performed on the job to familiarise employees of policies, procedures and emergency protocols, there may be some SOP that do not require official training however, some do. If there is legal requirements or Nationally Accredited Training required for the operation of machinery, equipment or other tasks to be performed by the employee, this can be performed on the job through an Accredited training provider and the assessment can be performed in the workplace. Upon completing the training provider MUST provide the employee/employer with the Nationally Accredited Statement of Attainment identifying the units of competency, qualification, ticket or license.

Non-Accredited Training

What is Non-Accredited Training?

A Non-Accredited course has no national recognition but may hold some value in your state or territory, this type of training may or may not also be called CPD and be endorsed by some professional associations or bodies with CPD point allocated. Some Non-Accredited courses are often useful post Accredited training to increase scope and skillset and this will help to improve employability or add to your CV. To avoid wasting time and money, research the Non-Accredited course to identify if this will hold any value for you, research the training provider, is it endorsed or recognised, student feedback and is there an Accredited course available. .

Who can provide Non-Accredited Training?

Just about anyone can provide Non-Accredited training, however, depending on the type of training provided will depend on the value of the skills and/or knowledge gained, so why do Non-Accredited training?

There may not be an Accredited curse available.
You may want to test out if this is something you want to do before spending large amounts of money and time on Accredited Training
You may just want or need a refresher
This may help you with entry into an Accredited course

What is CPD endorsed Non-Accredited Training?

Non-Accredited training can be endorsed by peak bodies, professional associations or recognised by the industry or multiple industries and does not have to be provided by an RTO to be endorsed. An endorsement is usually stated on the website with the endorser's logo and allocated amount of CPD hours, the more endorsers the more recognised this CPD training is, it is illegal to claim endorsement and Nationally Accredited Training if the training is not.

Workplace (on the job) Training

What is Workplace (on the job) Training?

Induction and Orientation training is usually performed on the job to familiarise employees of policies, procedures and emergency protocols, there may be some SOP that do not require official training however, some do. If there is legal requirements or Nationally Accredited Training required for the operation of machinery, equipment or other tasks to be performed by the employee, this can be performed on the job through an Accredited training provider and the assessment can be performed in the workplace. Upon completing the training provider MUST provide the employee/employer with the Nationally Accredited Statement of Attainment identifying the units of competency, qualification, ticket or license.