New version of TAE training package and transition extension information

You can see a full history of Version 5 changes in the Version Modification History table in the TAE Version 5 Companion Volume Implementation Guide, which can be downloaded from VETNet.

TAE Version 5.0 includes new versions of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and a variety of skill sets.

The newly released TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment supersedes and is equivalent to TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

The newly released TAE50122 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training merges two previous TAE Diploma qualifications - TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development. The new Diploma qualification offers three specialisation pathways (Advanced Training and Assessment, Design and Development and VET Leadership), which are outlined in the packaging rules. The new Diploma has been deemed not equivalent to either of the previous two Diplomas.

For more information please see the TAE Version 5 Case for Endorsement, which can be downloaded via this page on our website, and/or view the training products by visiting https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/TAE.

Applicants must provide evidence that all resources are available to deliver the training products for which they have applied. The resources used must comply with all specific requirements of the TAE Training Package. You must review and contextualise commercially developed or licencing mandated assessment tools, this will assist in ensuring confidence in the quality of assessment as well as providing you the assurance that your assessment is valid, reliable, flexible and fair. ASQA has updated the Guide to Assessment Tools.

Note: Applicants must provide all resources—whether developed in-house or commercially purchased—for any of the requested units of competency as outlined in item 3 of ASQA’s evidence requirements.

All RTOs must meet additional evidence requirements when applying to add any of the following Training and Education (TAE) Training Package products to their registration:

• TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
• TAE50122 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
• TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set*
• TAESS00032 Advanced Assessment Skill Set*

* ASQA does not register RTOs for skill sets. RTOs must register for individual units explicitly if they don’t have implicit unit registration courtesy of qualifications on scope.

RTOs must meet and provide the additional evidence requirements when applying to add a unit from the TAE training package to your scope of registration.

Item 2 of ASQA’s evidence requirements requires you to provide evidence relating to the training and assessment strategies for each TAE Training Package products applied for.

This evidence must identify:

• where training and/or assessment is—or will be—provided by a third-party, and
• how your RTO ensures training and assessment provided by the third-party meets the requirements of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015

After two years of RTO registration, you may apply to add TAE Training Package products to your RTO’s scope of registration.

When applying for the TAE Training Package products for the first time you must provide evidence that trainers and assessors are employed or contracted by the organisation to deliver the training products applied for, and these trainers and assessors have the skills and qualifications required by the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 to provide training and assessment to students undertaking this qualification.

For more information, see ASQA’s dedicated page here: Change RTO scope | TAE Training Package evidence

After two years of RTO registration, you may apply to add TAE Training Package products to your RTO’s scope of registration.

RTOs can apply to add the TAE Training Package products to their scope of registration when they have not issued AQF qualifications or statements of attainments in the last six months.

However, the change to scope application must include an explanation of the reason why the RTO is unable to supply the details of the issuance of any AQF qualifications or statements of attainment in the last six months and the application must still include all the remaining evidence outlined on ASQA’s website.

For more information, see ASQA’s dedicated page here: Change RTO scope | TAE Training Package evidence

Chapter 5 of our Spotlight On – Assessment validation, was specifically dedicated to TAE product validation.

Clause 1.25 and Schedule 2 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations outline these additional requirements.

Note: units of competency or other skill sets in the Training and Education package are not subject to the requirements of Clause 1.25. Only the whole AQF qualification/s or the Assessor Skills Set listed in Schedule 2 of the Standards for RTOs.

See more here: ASQA | Spotlight On assessment validation, Chapter 5

An extended transition period has been granted for the following qualifications:

• TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
• TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
• TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development

These qualifications will remain on ASQA-registered RTOs scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period on 9 December 2024, unless the RTO chooses to withdraw it from scope prior.

The newly released TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment supersedes and is equivalent to TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. You have a transition period to manage changes to new training products. The transition period gives you time to:

     i.    add the new training product to your scope, if needed
     ii.    complete training and assessment in the superseded product
     iii.    issue AQF certification for the superseded product
     iv.    transfer ongoing students to the new training product
     v.    withdraw students who are not ongoing.’

While students can continue to be enrolled into the superseded qualification during this time, an RTO must have strategies to either complete the student before the transition end date or to transfer them to the new qualification.

Please ensure you meet the requirements for the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, Clauses 1.26 to 1.27—Manage transition from superseded training products. For more information on how to transition, please visit ASQA’s website:

https://www.asqa.gov.au/rto/change-scope-registration/when-training-products-change
https://www.asqa.gov.au/rto/change-scope-registration/when-training-products-change/how-transition

After two years of RTO registration, you may apply to add TAE Training Package products to your RTO’s scope of registration. For more information see ASQA’s dedicated page here: Change RTO scope | TAE Training Package evidence

Yes. If the superseded TAE skill set was on your scope of registration, you may deliver superseded skills sets to 9 December 2023, the end of the TAE Skill Set transition period. 

*Note, the TAE qualifications transition period is two years and is different to the skill set transition period of one year.

**Also note, on TGA, when viewing a provider’s scope you need to tick the box “Include implicit scope” under Skill Sets. Then it shows all skill sets the RTO can deliver.

As the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are currently written, there is no requirement for your current Trainers and Assessors to complete additional training. 

As per the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, you must ensure that you meet the requirements for Clauses 1.13 to 1.16—Employ skilled trainers and assessors. RTO’s training and assessment is delivered only by persons who have:

     a.    vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed

     b.    current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided

     c.    current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning that informs their training and assessment.

Currently as per Schedule 1 there is no change to the Trainer and assessor requirements from 1 July 2019 in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. Your trainers and assessors must hold:

• TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or its successor or
• TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment plus the following units:
  • TAELLN411 (or its successor) or TAELLN401A, and
  • TAEASS502 (or its successor) or TAEASS502A or TAEASS502B or
• a diploma or higher-level qualification in adult education.

The Education IRC identified that the TAE Training and Education Training Package could better support the range and diversity of career pathways into the VET industry through the use of ‘stackable’ skill sets. Feedback had been provided that the TAE training package did not appropriately recognise the experience of learners with prior teaching experience in other education sectors. The Education IRC therefore introduced TAE skill sets that align with the requirements under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. 

The intention of the proposed approach was to ensure that the TAE skill sets align in a ‘stackable’ format, allowing for incremental completion of the new TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Your students may wish to complete the qualification using this approach.

The review of the TAE Training and Education Training Package resulted in creation of 6 skill sets to help support recognition of skills and build pathways of specialisation in TAE occupations. The intention of this approach was to ensure that the TAE skill sets align in a ‘stackable’ format, allowing for incremental completion of the new Certificate IV, therefore fostering greater pathways into and opportunities within the sector.

The new skills sets are:

• TAESS00022 Young Learner Delivery Skill Set
• TAESS00024 VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set
• TAESS00025 Learning Support Skill Set
• TAESS00027 Training Design Skill Set
• TAESS00029 Volunteer Trainer Delivery Skill Set
• TAESS00030 Volunteer Trainer Delivery and Assessment Contribution Skill Set

For more information you can see TAE Version 5 Companion Volume Implementation Guide, which can be downloaded from VETNet.

a)    I previously held a Certificate IV qualification or skill set that allowed me to practice as a trainer and/or assessor in line with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. Do I now need to complete the new qualification/skill set(s), or complete additional training to continue to practice as a trainer and/or assessor?

The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (the Standards) specify the credentials required to deliver training and/or assessment in a registered training organisation (RTO) in Australia. The Standards identify certain qualifications or skill sets or their successors as required.

The new TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and skill sets that relate to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 have been deemed equivalent and successors to their previous versions. The new TAE50122 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training is not equivalent (due to the merging of qualifications) but has been deemed a successor to both previous Diplomas (TAE50116 and TAE50216). As the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are currently written, there is no requirement for holders of previous qualifications or skill sets specified as an accepted credential in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 to complete additional training to continue to meet the same requirements outlined in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.

Please note that the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are currently being reviewed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Please visit https://www.skillsreform.gov.au/reforms/quality-reforms/ for more information.

b)    If I currently hold the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (commonly referred to as the ‘TAE 16’) or the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment plus two of the additionally required units from the TAE 16 (commonly referred to as the ‘TAE10 + 2’), do I need to upgrade?

No. As the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are currently written, there is no requirement to complete additional training to continue to meet the requirements outlined in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.

c)    If I currently hold the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment only and do not have the two additional ‘TAE16’ units; what are my options to meet the requirements for a trainer and assessor in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015?

According to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 as currently written, you could either:

     i)  complete two additional units of competency from the options specified in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (to make the ‘TAE 10 + 2’);

     ii) complete the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment within the teach-out/transition period; or

     iii) complete the new TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Credit transfer and/or recognition of prior learning (RPL) options may be available for each of the above 3 options, so please speak to your training provider.

d.    If I currently teach TAE40116 Cert IV in Training and Assessment for an RTO and hold TAE40116 Cert IV in Training and Assessment plus TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development, what will I need to do (and by when) to be able to teach the new TAE40122 Cert IV in Training and Assessment? 

You will not need to do anything as the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 require that, to deliver any AQF qualification or skill set from the Training and Education Training Package, your RTO must ensure all trainers and assessors hold the training and assessment qualification at least to the level being delivered. 

To deliver any of the training and assessment credentials which are specified in Item 1 or Item 2 of Schedule 1 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, or any assessor skill set from the Training and Education Training Package, your RTO must ensure all trainers and assessors delivering the training and assessment:

• hold the training and assessment credential specified in Item 7 of Schedule 1; or
• work under the supervision of a trainer that meets the requirement set out in a) above.

As the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are currently written, Item 7 of Schedule 1 lists the Training and assessment credential as:- 

• TAE50111 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training

or

• TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or its successor

or

• TAE50211 Diploma of Training Design and Development

or

• TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development or its successor

or

• A higher-level qualification in adult education.

Qualifications are developed by industry and ensure students receive the work outcomes that align to the most current industry practice. The new TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment has been developed so students develop the variety and depth of skills and knowledge needed for the modern VET teaching environment. We encourage all students to learn from the most current qualifications so they're skilled and job ready. However, you may choose to enrol in the TAE40116 instead. This might be if you are unable to find an RTO suitable to your needs who is approved and ready to deliver the TAE40122, or if you are confident you will complete all of your studies before 9 December 2024.

We recommend using the My Skills website to search for training organisations that deliver your course. My Skills is Australia's directory of training and training organisations and provides current, independent, and trustworthy information to help consumers make choices about their training options.  To find other training providers search on the My Skills website and training.gov.au. 

Credit Transfer:

ASQA has clarified its position on credit transfer:

When a student presents a superseded equivalent unit of competency for credit transfer for the purpose of reducing the amount of learning required to achieve a qualification or skill set, as the training package has determined the unit of competency to be superseded equivalent, a provider can grant credit for that unit without needing to map unit outcomes.

Although not required, providers may take a best practice approach and conduct mapping analysis, especially for those units that have been superseded twice or more despite still being deemed equivalent, to assure themselves the assessment of competence is still relevant.

Further information can be viewed on our website: ASQA clarifies position on credit transfers

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) process makes a judgement of competency based on pre-existing evidence of a learner’s competence, which may have been gained through their previous study or career, rather than evidence generated by assessment activities directed by the provider. 

RPL assessment may be based on evidence collected through formal, non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which a person has achieved the required learning and/or competency outcomes to be awarded a unit of credit; this is often matched with ‘gap’ training, to meet the full competency requirements of a unit or course.

Formal learning, as the term relates to RPL, may mean units of credit which are related, but not equivalent to, the credit being sought, or credits which are no longer current.

Non-formal learning refers to learning which is structured and focused, but which is delivered outside the Australian Qualifications Framework; for example seminars, continuous professional development activities, and non-accredited training (such as a mandated licensing course).

Informal learning refers to learning which is gained without syllabus or curriculum without any formal or non-formal direction – in the vocational sector this often relates to skills acquired through the workplace, which have not been directed by an instructor or structured to lead to a recognised outcome.

RTOs must ensure when assessing RPL the rule of currency, which requires assessment evidence be recent enough that the assessor can be assured the learner can demonstrate current competency. When considering currency, providers need to decide how valid the evidence is given the time that has passed since it was generated as it may have been gathered over a number of years. This does not mean evidence that is not recent is not valid; however providers must ensure there is sufficient evidence of the person’s competence at the time of making the assessment decision, as well as determine if ‘gap’ training is required i.e complete individual units of competencies, to ensure the person meets all the necessary skills and knowledge outlined in the training package.

As per the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, you may apply to an RTO for recognition of prior learning. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) process makes a judgement of competency based on pre-existing evidence of a learner’s competence, which may have been gained through their previous study or career, rather than evidence generated by assessment activities directed by the provider. 

RPL assessment may be based on evidence collected through formal, non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which a person has achieved the required learning and/or competency outcomes to be awarded a unit of credit; this is often matched with ‘gap’ training, to meet the full competency requirements of a unit or course.

Formal learning, as the term relates to RPL, may mean units of credit which are related, but not equivalent to, the credit being sought, or credits which are no longer current.

Non-formal learning refers to learning, which is structured and focused, but which is delivered outside the Australian Qualifications Framework; for example seminars, continuous professional development activities, and non-accredited training (such as a mandated licensing course).

Informal learning refers to learning which is gained without syllabus or curriculum without any formal or non-formal direction – in the vocational sector this often relates to skills acquired through the workplace, which have not been directed by an instructor or structured to lead to a recognised outcome.

On completion of the RPL process and as per Clause 1.2 and for the purposes of Clause 1.1, the RTO will be able to determine the amount of training you may be provided with regard to:

     a.    your existing skills, knowledge and the experience

     b.    what mode of delivery is suitable?

     c.    if the full qualification is not to be being delivered, the number of units and/or modules to be delivered as a proportion of the full qualification.