Only registered providers can deliver nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET). These providers are called Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
We regulate most RTOs.
ESOS providers are RTOs that deliver courses to overseas students. Some ESOS providers also deliver English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
We regulate ESOS providers that deliver VET courses.
On this page, learn more about RTOs, including:
- how they operate
- the different types of providers
- how we regulate providers
- how to register as a provider.
Registered training organisations
Registered training organisations (RTOs) deliver nationally recognised training in the Vocational Education and Training sector. To deliver this training, they need to be approved by ASQA.
RTOs are the only organisations in the Australian VET system authorised to:
- deliver and assess nationally recognised training
- issue nationally recognised qualifications and statements of attainment
- apply for government funding to provide VET services.
More than 5 million students study VET each year. VET is the main way Australians upskill or reskill.
There are about 4000 RTOs in Australia, most of them are regulated by ASQA.
The national register includes a list of all RTOs.
ESOS providers
An Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) provider is a training provider that offers courses to overseas students.
'Overseas students' means people who hold a student visa to study in Australia, issued by the Australian Government.
You need to gain ESOS registration before you can deliver training to overseas students, except for exempt courses.
CRICOS
CRICOS stands for the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.
This register lists all ESOS providers approved to train overseas students, the courses they offer and the approved locations for those courses.
- View CRICOS register.
How ESOS providers are regulated
ASQA regulates all ESOS providers that deliver VET courses.
To deliver VET courses, you must also be a registered training organisation (RTO) with the courses on your scope of registration.
ASQA regulates some ESOS providers that deliver English language courses (ELICOS).
We do not regulate ELICOS courses that are delivered by an ESOS provider operating as a school, a higher education provider or as part of a pathway program for entry into a higher education institution.
Exempt courses
RTOs can offer select supplementary VET skill set courses to overseas students without becoming ESOS providers or adding the courses to their ESOS registration.
The exemption allows overseas students to study supplementary courses simultaneously with the primary course related to their visa.
These types of courses are generally skill sets needed to work in certain industries in Australia.
- Learn more about exempt and supplementary courses.
Vocational Education and Training
VET provides students with relevant workplace specific skills and knowledge for a wide range of skilled work and occupations.
VET accredited courses and qualifications help students to:
- get qualified for a new career
- return or enter the workforce
- upskill current qualifications
- enter university.
Only organisations that are registered as an RTO and listed on the National Training Register can advertise, offer and deliver VET.
VET courses and qualifications
VET course qualifications include:
- Certificate I, II, III and IV
- Diploma
- Advanced Diploma
- Vocational Degree
- Vocational Graduate Certificate and Diploma.
If you are a student looking for a particular course, visit Your Career
VET providers
There are a range of VET providers, these include:
- technical and further education (TAFE) or similar public institutes
- private providers
- enterprise RTOs that deliver training to their staff
- some schools and universities
- professional or industry associations
- not for profit community based adult education providers.
Delivering VET to overseas students
Training providers must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to teach overseas students who are in Australia on a student visa.
These are known as Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) providers.
Providers must be registered on both CRICOS and the national register to deliver VET courses to overseas students.
Providers who only teach English Language courses to overseas students (ELICOS) require ESOS registration only.
How RTOs are regulated
ASQA is the regulator for all providers delivering training in:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
ASQA also regulates providers in Victoria and Western Australia if they offer:
- any course (in-class or online) within ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA and TAS
- courses to overseas students in Australia on a student visa.
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