Requesting Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
To make an effective RPL claim, you must understand the qualification requirements, gather sufficient and relevant evidence, organise this evidence into a portfolio, and map your claims directly to the required competencies. Ensure your evidence is valid, authentic, current, and sufficient for the assessor to make an informed decision.
As a leading RTO in both Melbourne and Newcastle, 1SDO Training is experienced in guiding students through this process. We can help you navigate the requirements for your chosen qualification.
Details of all qualifications and units of competency are available at training.gov.au
Must we offer RPL? Yes. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) state that we must offer recognition of prior learning (RPL) to all individual students on request, unless the specific training package or licensing requirements prevent it.
1. Understand the Qualification Requirements
Research the qualification: Thoroughly review the specific qualification and the units of competency you are applying for.
Map your skills to criteria: Understand the competencies assessors are looking for. Your application must clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet these specific standards.
When mapping your skills, ensure you meet the requirements of all the following areas of the Unit of Competency:
- Performance Criteria
- Performance Evidence
- Knowledge Evidence
2. Gather Your Evidence
Collect a range of evidence: Compile both formal evidence (like diplomas, certificates, transcripts) and informal evidence (such as job descriptions, performance appraisals, work samples, project reports, or portfolios).
Include third-party verification: Obtain letters of recommendation or testimonials from supervisors or colleagues to provide third-party validation of your skills.
Ensure evidence is current: The skills and experience you present should be up-to-date. As a general guide, evidence older than two years may need to be supported by more recent demonstrations of competence.
3. Organise Your Evidence
Create a well-organised portfolio: Compile your evidence into a logical, easy-to-follow portfolio.
Categorise and label clearly: Organise your documents by the specific competency or learning outcome they address.
Include a table of contents: List all submitted documents with brief descriptions, making it easier for the assessor to review.
4. Present Your Claims Effectively
Align statements with criteria: In your application or personal statement, use explicit language and terms that match the assessment criteria.
Be specific and provide examples: Describe your work tasks and responsibilities with specific examples that directly reflect the competencies being assessed.
Ensure clarity and conciseness: Present your application in a way that is both comprehensive and concise to help assessors evaluate your evidence effectively.
5. Be Mindful of the Rules of Evidence
Your evidence portfolio will be assessed against the following rules:
- Valid: Does the evidence clearly relate to the required unit and meet the necessary standard?
- Authentic: Is the evidence genuinely your own work and can it be verified?
- Sufficient: Is there enough evidence for the assessor to make a confident determination of your competency?
- Current: Does the evidence show your skills and knowledge are up-to-date?
6. Is it easier to just do the course?
The RPL process can be time consuming and in a lot of cases with short courses, the time taken to prepare your RPL portfolio will be longer than the time taken to just do the course.
Although this seems strange, when you consider the cost of your time, it often makes more sense to do the course, particularly if your evidence is older or you are not actively working in the area of the course.
7. Applying for RPL with 1SDO
You must first enrol before you can claim RPL.
When enrolling you can choose to select if you want to submit an RPL application as part of your enrolment process.
Once you have enrolled, completed the LLND testing and paid for your course, you will then have the option of uploading all of your portfolio evidence.
Your RPL assessor will evaluate your documents and verify your evidence, this can take up to 2 weeks. (If you have overseas qualification or experience or we have difficulty validating your evidence this may take longer.)
The outcome may be a full credit for the unit or you may need to complete some further gap training before being deemed competent.
The RPL process can seem complex, but our team is here to help.
Ready to start? You can begin your enrolment or speak to our team for guidance.
Why Choose 1SDO Training for Your RPL?
At 1SDO, we are dedicated to high-quality, personalised training and assessment. We understand that the RPL process can be daunting, and our expert trainers are here to guide you. They will help you understand the competency requirements, identify the best evidence from your experience, and assist you in mapping your skills to the qualification.
We take pride in delivering ASQA Nationally accredited training courses from our locations in Cheltenham, Melbourne, and Sandgate in the Newcastle region. This is supported by our average student rating of 4.9/5.0 across all feedback. We understand that every learner is unique, and we are committed to providing personalised support to help you achieve your goals.
Our trainers are fully qualified, approachable, and possess a diverse range of industry experience. They are passionate about adult education and will help you feel confident in your RPL application or in applying any new skills you learn to real-world situations.