Become a CRICOS provider
ASQA's functions include recommending the registration of registered training organisations (RTOs) as CRICOS/ESOS providers.
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) providers are providers of nationally recognised training to overseas students who have Australian student visas. Only CRICOS providers can enrol overseas students or issue Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) qualifications and statements of attainment to these students.
To become registered to deliver to overseas students, an organisation needs to have:
- been approved as a registered training organisation (RTO), or
- been approved as a higher education provider, or
- met the National ELICOS Standards, or
- met the Foundation Program Standards.
In addition, to become registered to deliver to overseas students, an organisation needs to have the qualifications/courses it wishes to deliver to overseas students on its scope of registration.
Providers can lodge an application for CRICOS approval at the same time as an application for RTO registration.
The terms ‘CRICOS provider’ and ‘ESOS provider’ are often used interchangeably when referring to providers who are approved to deliver to overseas students in Australia.
The CRICOS website, www.cricos.deewr.gov.au, is a searchable database managed by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) legislative framework.
CRICOS provides details of those Australian education institutions approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education and training services to overseas students and details of the courses that they deliver.
The database can be searched by course or provider name/number.
The courses that a CRICOS provider is approved to deliver must be registered on the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS), which is managed by DIISRTE.
PRISMS is used to generate electronic Confirmations of Enrolment (CoEs) for student visa purposes and to provide reports to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) on student compliance with the conditions of their visas.
CRICOS providers are issued with access to PRISMS following the approval of their registration.
CRICOS providers use PRISMS to notify DIAC of each student’s enrolment details so that a study visa can be issued. It is also a mechanism for informing DIAC of any student’s breach of the terms of their visa.
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the associated legislation form the legal framework for the provision of education services to overseas students.
The legislative framework includes:
The ESOS legislative framework sets out clear roles and responsibilities for education providers wanting to teach overseas students. It provides a nationally consistent approach to the registration of education providers so that the quality of the training, and the care of students, remains high.
The Australian Education International (AEI) website—http://www.aei.gov.au—is a comprehensive source of information and has links to the legislation as well as a series of explanatory guides on related matters. AEI have published a list of frequently asked questions addressing changes to the designated authority arrangements under the ESOS legislative framework.
Organisations wishing to deliver AQF award VET courses qualifications to international students studying in Australia must be registered as an RTO. Applications for initial RTO registration and initial CRICOS registration may be submitted concurrently to ASQA by eligible organisation. Organisations wishing to deliver ELICOS and Foundation Programs to international students in Australia must submit an 'Application for initial CRICOS registration' to ASQA.
The period of CRICOS registration is for up to five years, and is based on a provider’s risk rating and its period of RTO registration.
As a designated authority under the ESOS Act, ASQA recommends providers for approval to the decision maker under that Act.