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What is recognition?

Skills recognition means that the skills and knowledge you already have through informal learning may count towards a nationally recognised qualification or statement of attainment. You might also hear skills recognition called Recognition of Prior Learning or RPL.

To have your skills recognised you need to get a formal assessment. You can't get an assessment at this site; you will need to contact a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). An assessor can then consider your evidence of:

• paid or unpaid work in Australia or overseas
• on-the-job training
• other qualifications from Australia or overseas
• community or voluntary work
• hobbies, sport and leisure activities

If they recognise your skills, you may be able to shorten the length of time for your studies. In some cases, you may get 100 per cent recognition of your qualification, meaning you would not have to study at all.

Registered Training Organisations

Skills recognition applies to qualifications offered by RTOs. RTOs include TAFEs, private training providers, some community colleges and some workplaces. A few universities are also RTOs. Watch out for this logo to guarantee that the training provider you choose is an RTO that offers nationally recognised qualifications.

How it works

Firstly you need to know what qualification you want recognition in and what RTOs offer that qualification. Our self evaluation tool helps you to list your skills, match them to a possible qualification and suggests RTOs that may meet your needs. Someone at the RTO, usually a teacher in the area you want to study, can help you apply for skills recognition, advise you on the evidence you'll need to demonstrate your skills, and assess that against the requirements of the qualification.

Other types of recognition

There are also specific types of skills recognition which suit the different needs of different people, for example:

• Trade recognition
• Recognition of overseas qualifications

Credit Transfer

If you have previously done some formal studies contact your new RTO to check if they can give you credit for it in your new qualification. If your previous study and your new course are both nationally recognised training within Australia, it should be easy to claim credit transfer.