Credit for existing skills (RPL)
Get credit for your skills with Skills First
At Metropolitan South TAFE we recognise that some of the most important lessons are not learnt in a classroom, but through life and work. No matter how, when or where your learning occurred, we can recognise your skills and knowledge to provide you with the full or part qualification you are seeking.
Skills First (also known as Recognition of Prior Learning) allows you to have your skills and knowledge assessed to see if they meet today's standards. If your current skills are up to industry standard, you may be eligible for a full or part qualification!
Skills First saves you time and money. It can help you qualify more quickly by matching your current skills to a certificate or diploma qualification and identifying what gap training, if any, you may need to complete your qualification.
Five steps to a qualification
Fees
Tips and hints
Making your application
Skills First assessment
Your results
Reviewing or appealing results
5 steps to a qualification
-
Contact MSIT on 1300 657 613 or complete the Application for Recognition of Prior Learning form [PDF 60kb] to register your interest.
-
Talk to your Skills First mentor about how best to match your existing skills to a qualification.
-
Develop your skills evaluation program with your Skills First mentor and establish the cost.
-
Plan with your Skills First mentor to complete further training to cover any identified skill gaps needed to achieve a full qualification or upgrade to a higher qualification.
-
Apply to have your industry-relevant skills formally recognised and receive your qualification.
Fees
There are no learning material costs for RPL. Fees for Skills First assessment are structured to minimise the cost to you and are no higher than students would normally be required to pay. Fees vary depending on the complexity of assessing your skills and are tailored for your individual needs.
Tips and hints to help you gain recognition for your skills
To have your skills formally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, assessors must make sure your skills match the industry standards. Your skills and experience from the past two years are the most important in the assessment.
Assessment can happen in a variety of ways. Being prepared can save you time and trouble. Here are some tips and hints to prepare you for the process:
-
Be prepared:
-
Ensure you are able to talk about your current job role, responsibilities and work history.
-
Bring a resumé about where you have worked, either paid or unpaid, and what you did there.
-
Bring your position description and any performance appraisals from the last two years.
-
Collect any certificates from in-house training or formal training you have undertaken.
-
Consider what other documents you may have to help demonstrate your skills such as letters from employers, records of your professional development sessions or acknowledgements from employers or clients.
-
-
Consider the possibilities:
-
Ensure you feel comfortable having the assessor contact your workplace so your skills can be validated.
-
Think about who can confirm your skill level. This could be current or recent supervisors, but you may also have other people who can vouch for your skill level. The assessor will need to contact them.
-
Ask the assessor about obtaining a copy of the snapshots of units of competency for the qualification you have chosen. These snapshots will help you decide whether your skills could be recognised against these units of competency. You can get full details of any unit from your assessor or from the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website.
-
Making an application
Once you are satisfied that you have enough evidence to achieve the competency, you will need to complete the Application for recognition of prior learning form [PDF 60kb].
The faculty administrative officer will contact you to advise you about process and arrange an appointment with the nominated recognition of prior learning assessor.
Please bring your application form and any supporting documentation with you when meeting with the recognition of prior learning assessor. The assessor will assist you in selecting the units you may qualify for, provide advice about the assessment process and help with completing the application form.
Skills First assessment
After your application is received and you have enrolled, the assessor will contact you to make an appointment for your initial interview.
At the interview you will be asked questions about the skills and knowledge gained from your previous work experience, training, education, hobbies and interests. You may also be required to participate in a practical demonstration and/or third party check (current supervisors' verification).
If you do not understand any questions during the assessment, simply ask the assessor to explain.
Your results
You will receive a written notice of the outcome on a result of assessment.
-
If your application is successful, you will receive a 'J' = competent.
- If unsuccessful, you will receive 'M' = not competent, and written feedback from the assessor/assessment panel.
-
If you withdraw your application before assessment is completed, you will receive either an 'AP' or 'AW' depending upon how far your application has proceeded.
If your application is not successful, you will be given written feedback and post assessment guidance that will inform you of the other options available. For example, you can access gap training that is timetabled to allow acceleration to a qualification following RPL.
Reviewing or appealing your results
If seeking an appeal against an unsatisfactory outcome you will have the following options available:
-
Review
You may make an informal approach to the assessor/panel to reconsider their decision and ask to be re-assessed. -
Appeal
If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the review, you have a further right to appeal the decision to the Academic Appeals Committee as outlined in the student guide. The outcome of the appeal is final and associated costs apply.
Other languages