Recognition of Prior Learning

You've already done the work

Your skills are assessed against a nationally recognised qualification. If the evidence covers the units, you don't repeat the training.

The short answer

RPL assesses skills you already hold — from work, informal training or overseas study — against the units of competency in a nationally recognised qualification. Where your evidence demonstrates competence the unit is recognised; where it doesn't, you complete gap training for that unit only.

Skilled worker inspecting reinforcement on a building site

Fifteen years of experience, finally on paper

The qualification is identical to one earned by studying.

The process

Five stages

01

Skills conversation

What you've done, for how long, and what you can get documents for.

02

Evidence mapping

Your experience mapped against the units in the qualification.

03

Evidence assembly

You gather; we tell you what counts. The longest step.

04

Assessment

A qualified assessor at the partner RTO assesses against each unit.

05

Gap training

Only for units your evidence doesn't cover.

Two people reviewing and signing evidence documents together

Start collecting before you apply

Former supervisors change employers and payroll systems get decommissioned. The evidence that's easiest to get today is often impossible in six months.

  • Payslips, contracts and position descriptions
  • Supervisor declarations about specific tasks
  • Photographs, work samples, logs and reports
  • Existing certificates, licences and tickets
Ask for the evidence checklist
For employers

RPL across a team

It converts unrecognised internal capability into something you can put in a tender or an audit response.

Meets contract conditions

Where a proportion of staff must be credentialled.

Unblocks promotion

For proven internal candidates without the certificate.

Improves retention

People stay where their experience is formally valued.

Employer solutions →
Common questions

RPL FAQs

What evidence is required for RPL?

Employment evidence such as payslips and position descriptions, supervisor declarations about specific tasks you performed, direct evidence of your work like samples or photographs, and any existing certificates or licences.

How long does RPL take?

Assessment is rarely the slow part — gathering evidence is. We give you a realistic range once we've seen what you hold.

What if my evidence doesn't cover everything?

Normal, and not a failure. You complete gap training for the remaining units rather than the whole qualification.

Is it the same as a qualification earned by studying?

Yes — same qualification, same issuing RTO, same units of competency. Only the evidence differs.

Adult learners working together in a training room

Find out whether your experience is enough

Send a short summary of your work history.