2025 Standards for RTOs

The 2025 Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) came into effect on 1 July 2025.

The 2025 Standards for RTOs are enabled by the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and represent all Governments’ shared ambition to lift quality across the VET sector, through enabling a more flexible, robust and quality-driven approach to regulation. These Standards provide a clearer and more direct link between the requirements RTOs are expected to meet and the outcomes they are expected to deliver.

There are three components of the 2025 Standards for RTOs:

Outcome Standards (legislation): Outcome focused requirements that support the delivery of nationally consistent and high-quality training that leads to quality outcomes for students, industry, employers and the Australian community.
Compliance requirements (legislation): Administrative requirements (including the Fit and Proper Person Requirements and NRT Logo Conditions of Use Policy) that support integrity in the VET sector.
Credential Policy (TGA): An enforceable policy that operates alongside the Standards and outlines the credentials required for delivering training and assessments and undertaking validation of assessment.

Guidance for providers

A range of resources are available to help providers meet the requirements of the 2025 Standards for RTOs.

These resources support providers to:

understand the intent behind the Standards so that they are consistently applied
understand what good practice looks like, and known risks to quality outcomes that should be avoided or mitigated
reflect on their own operations to ensure a focus on quality outcomes, continuous improvement and ongoing compliance with the Standards.

Policy guidance

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is the custodian of the legislation enacting the 2025 Standards for RTOs. DEWR’s policy guidance describes the policy intent of the Outcome Standards to support a consistent understanding and application of these among training providers.

Practice Guides

ASQA, in consultation with key stakeholders has developed Practice Guides for the 2025 Standards for RTOs. These are grouped by focus area or topic and include guidance on:

key concepts (with defined terms in bold)
example activities for achieving compliance with each Standard
risks to mitigate or avoid
self-assurance questions

Transitioning to the 2025 Standards for RTOs

Providers are required to demonstrate compliance against the Standards in effect at the time a decision is made. If providers are subject to regulatory activity (such as a performance assessment (audit)) against the Standards for RTOs 2015 and it continues after 1 July 2025, providers may be required to submit additional evidence against the revised Standards.

ASQA will communicate with providers directly if they are required to submit additional evidence.

Assessment Pilot Program

ASQA undertook a Pilot to ensure effective implementation and regulation of the revised Standards.

Read more about the outcomes of the Pilot Program.