Recognition of prior learning

Under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, your RTO must offer recognition of prior learning (RPL) to individual learners—unless the requirements of the training package or licensing requirements prevent this.

Offering RPL ensures the learner has the opportunity to participate in assessment that is flexible and fair. Where units, and assessments, have been clustered:

• In developing the assessment tools, your RTO should have a mechanism for ensuring all requirements of each unit of competency are addressed—for example, a mapping process. An RTO could use this mechanism to identify which components of an assessment have been addressed by awarding RPL for a unit, and which tasks are still required to be completed.
• It is possible the units have been clustered because of their similarities. A student may be able to demonstrate competency by RPL for all units in the cluster.

For further information, refer to Clauses 1.8 - 1.12 of the Users' Guide.

Yes, a superseded unit of competency can be used as part of an RPL process toward the award of a current unit of competency.

However, currency is a particular risk with recognition of prior learning. Your RTO may be presented with evidence gathered over a number of years, including evidence of competency from a superseded unit of competency. This does not mean the superseded unit is not valid; however, you must ensure there is sufficient evidence of the person’s competence at the time you make the assessment decision.

For example, if a learner is applying for recognition of prior learning for the unit BSBWHS301A Maintain workplace safety and provides evidence of previously completing the unit BSBCMN311B Maintain workplace safety, your RTO should:

• Consider all of the requirements of the unit BSBWHS301A and compare them to the skills awarded in BSBCMN311B (refer to the mapping information provided within the BSB07 Training Package for guidance).
• Identify any additional forms of evidence the student could provide to demonstrate competence.
• Ensure the total evidence provided by the learner shows she or he has current skills and knowledge in all requirements of BSBWHS301A.
• Retain all evidence collected during the process.

RTOs must develop and implement strategies for training and assessment that consider the characteristics, skill and experiences of each individual learner. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 require RTOs to offer RPL to learners. RPL is an assessment-only process that assesses the competency of an individual—competency which may have been acquired through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning. This assessment seeks to determine the extent to which an individual meets the requirements specified in training packages or VET accredited courses.