Skills recognition

Recognition of prior learning & current competence, exemptions and credit transfers

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Recognition of Current Competence (RCC) are ways of reducing your course workload by getting credit for relevant skills and knowledge you already have. It does not matter where, how or when you learned these things.

The Institute provides for RPL or RCC applications, exemptions and credit transfers in most courses.

What is recognition of prior learning?
A process through which people can gain entry to, or credit in, recognised courses based on competencies gained. The competencies may have been gained through experience in the workplace, in voluntary work, in social or domestic activities or through informal or formal training.

RPL does not include any additional training at the unit of competency or module level.

The RPL application process identifies what you have already learned from life experience and work experience, and measures these experiences against the learning outcomes of the course you are doing or want to do.

What is recognition of current competence?
RCC applies if a client has previously successfully completed the requirements of a unit of competency or module and is now required to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
RCC does not include any additional training at the unit of competency or module level.

What is a credit transfer?
Credit Transfers are a way of gaining credit for identical modules or units you have.

What is an Exemption?
Exemptions are based on successful completion of equivalent modules or units in another course or at another training organisation.

Why apply for RPL and RCC or exemptions and credit transfers?
The advantages of applying for RPL and RCC are:

• You can establish whether your experience is similar to that required by the course.
• If you have already achieved some of the learning outcomes of the course this could mean a reduced course load and / or finishing your course earlier.
• RPL/RCC recognises that you are entering a course with many life experiences / skills.

How does it work? ….. what happens?
If you think you might be eligible, you should talk to a course co-ordinator about:

• How the process works.
• How your experiences may support your application.

You need to:

• Enrol in the Module/s / Unit/s.
• Pay the Enrolment Fee.
• Fill in the application form provided with this information and attach your evidence portfolio.

Evidence portfolios will be accepted at all times but it is advisable to apply 4 weeks prior to the commencement of a module/unit. Then if the application is unsuccessful, you can choose to either participate in the module or defer.
You are advised to apply for all the units you consider you are eligible for in the one RPL/RCC application, this will minimise your participation in training and fast track your completion.

On the form you record the details of your experiences and match them up with the learning outcomes. (Your course coordinator/learning manager can provide you with a copy of these).

Ask a person who knows of your experiences to help you put together your evidence portfolio. See if you can find any material to support the details you have provided.

Suggested types of evidence are noted on the application form eg. you might find some references from previous employers or some samples of your work.

Make your own copy of the completed form and any supporting evidence then forward the original documents to either Reception & Student Services or the course coordinator.

Evidence checklist
Listed below is a range of evidence that may be used in support of your application for RPL or RCC. This list should be used as a guide only.

Certificate of achievement Reference/letters of support - Work/social Evidence of committee work Demonstration of skill Record of academic results Samples of work (folio) Materials/tools worked with Referee/industry representatives Video Audio cassettes Photos Published works eg operational manuals

Reading lists Relevant work samples etc Letters/memos written at work Speeches written Scrap books Budgets Magazine/newspaper articles about work Rosters/timesheets Duty statements/job specifications Curriculum Vitae Community Industry Awards

Assessment of Evidence Portfolio
The process used to assess RPL or RCC evidence portfolios may involve one or more of the following:

• Participation in exactly the same or modified versions of the assessment the student would be required to complete as part of the full course;
• Assessment based on a portfolio of evidence;
• Direct observation of demonstration of skill or competence;
• Reflective papers, journals or portfolios that relate to past learning to the learning or competency outcomes of the current course or qualification;
• Provision of examples of the student's work drawn from the workplace, social, community or other setting in which the student applies their learning, skill or competence;
• Testimonials of learning, skill or competence; and
• Combinations of any of the above.
  

The course coordinator or assigned assessor will notify you if they are unable to assess your evidence within 10 working days.

Attending an Interview
If additional evidence is required in addition to that submitted in the original evidence portfolio the RPL/RCC Assessor may ask you to attend an interview, which offers you the opportunity to talk through your application. The interview panellists are skilled at helping you think about your past experiences in terms of the recognition you are seeking. They have been trained to properly assess your prior learning and to conduct a fair and relaxed interview. If you do not understand something in the interview, ask the interview panel to explain more clearly. If you have any other concerns, you are welcome to raise them with the panel.

Preparing for your interview
Have another look at the copy of your application and think about the answers you have given so far (there will be an opportunity to add to this information at the interview). Be sure to understand the units/modules well enough to bring all relevant information to the interview.

Ask a person who knows of your experiences to be your support person during the interview. This could be someone from work, a person you do community work with or simply a friend who can offer support during the interview. (Ideally, this person would have already helped you develop your evidence portfolio.)

Additional Evidence
You may be asked to provide extra information. If you are required to submit further evidence following your first interview, you will need to submit it within 20 working days.

A workplace visit may be requested to further demonstrate your competence, covering information that is confidential and therefore can not be included in your RPL Evidence Portfolio.

Getting the results
After your application has been assessed, you will be notified within 3 days of the decision. If your application has been successful, you will not be required to do those modules in your course.