When training products change

Registered training providers can only deliver training products, including qualifications, units of competency and accredited courses, if those products are on their scope of registration.

When training products are updated, training providers need to ensure they:

• transition to the newest version of a training product, and
• manage student enrolments to meet the requirements of the Standards for RTOs.

Why training products change

Training products are designed to provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to meet current workplace and industry needs. When workplace or industry requirements changes, training products need to be updated to reflect the current requirements.

How training products change

When a training product update is released, the training product can be:

• Superseded – the training product has been superseded (replaced) by a superseding (current) training product which is either:
  • Equivalent - the superseded (replaced) and superseding (current) training product have equivalent workplace outcomes.
  • Not equivalent: the superseded (replaced) and superseding (current) training product workplace outcomes are not equivalent.
• Newly created - the training product has been newly developed and does not replace any previous training products.
• Deleted - the training product has been deleted and there is no replacement.
   

Major training product changes

A major training product change is a significant update that results in the training product being issued a new code. Review How to transition to ensure you transition within the transition period.

Examples of major changes include:

• Release of a new unit of competency or qualification.
• Revising, adding or removing a core unit of competency, including any changes to pre-requisite requirements.
• Removing units of competency from the electives of a qualification.
• Changes to qualification packaging rules including changing the total number of units required to complete a qualification, creating a new specialisation or changing or removing an existing specialisation.
   

Minor training product changes

A minor training product change is an update that doesn’t require a change to the training product code, however the changes could still impact your delivery.

Review your assessment strategy and training and assessment materials to ensure you are meeting the current requirements. Review How to transition to ensure you transition within the transition period.

Examples of minor changes include:

• Correcting errors and updating outdated references.
• Providing clarification to the text of the training product without changing the requirements.
• Adding an existing unit of competency to the electives within a qualification.
• Updating elective units of competency in a qualification that do not form part of a specialisation.
• Adding, updating or removing groups of electives where this does not change the number of units required to be completed.

How to check for updates on the national register

The national register, training.gov.au is updated when a training product changes. You can use the Nationally recognised training search function to find the current version:

1. Go to training.gov.au
2. Click on Nationally recognised training.
3. Type the name of the training product in the search bar and click Search.
   Nationally recognised training products include training packages, qualifications, skill set, units of competency and accredited courses.
4. Select the Current version of the training product.
5. The Summary tab details the release date and any mapping to superseded training products (equivalent or not equivalent).

Mapping information

The mapping information on the national register shows the history of product changes, comments, and equivalence status. Below are two examples:

1. Equivalent
   Mapping for a training product where the superseding product is equivalent - CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (release 2)

2. Not equivalent
   Mapping for a training product where the superseding product is not equivalent - AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction (release 2)

Accredited courses

Accredited courses generally have a 5 year accreditation period and when the accreditation period ends, the course is no longer current. The course owner may choose to develop a replacement course, however this will have a different national course code and may have a different course name. Below is an example from the national register.

1. Superseded accredited course: 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Language
   Status: Non-current
   Currency period state: 01/Jul/2016
   Currency period end: 30/Jun/2021
   
   Mapping
   The new version of this course is 10949NAT Certificate II in Applied Language
    
2. Current accredited course: 10949NAT Certificate II in Applied Language
   Status: Current
   Currency period start: 01/Jul/2021
   Currency period end: 30/Jun/2026
   
   Mapping
   The previous version of this course is 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Language

Keeping track of training product updates

All updates to training products are published on the National Training Register: training.gov.au

• You can monitor work in progress on the Training packages under review section of the National Training Register home page.
• You can register to receive notifications about training package updates at training.gov.au
  • Sign in or register for an account.
  • Go to Notifications and use the Quick search to search for nationally recognised training that is on your scope of registration.
  • Tick the box next to the relevant training product(s) and click ‘Save’.
  • Repeat the process to add all training product(s) that are on your scope of registration.