Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

WHAT IS RPL?

RPL stands for recognition of prior learning. In its current use, it compares and maps the recognition of a learner’s prior learning, skills, and experience against the requirements of nationally recognised units of competency.

Previously the process now known as RPL was known as the recognition process and included:

Recognition of prior learning	Recognition of prior learning refers to prior learning, be it formal or informal. This may include learning that is equivalent to a unit of competency but is not that unit of competency itself.
Recognition of current competency	Recognition of current competency previously referred to an individual’s skills and experience.
Credit/direct credit	Credit/direct credit meant that you already held the unit of competency in question and had achieved it with another training provider, another course, and possibly within another course. Given that the unit of competency may be familiar to both courses, it could be credited, as it was already held and did not need to be redone.

Although these elements are now covered under RPL, the evidence requirements remain unchanged. RPL can only be granted where the applicant has Valid, Sufficient, Current, and Authentic evidence that they meet the unit of competency requirements for which they are applying.

Many individuals do not understand the nature of units of competency and are often mistaken about what evidence does or does not constitute RPL. In a nutshell, an RPL applicant needs to provide proof that meets the components of a unit of competency.

The elements
The performance criteria
Performance and knowledge evidence
Assessment conditions

If the learner cannot apply evidence that meets all these things, then RPL cannot be granted for that unit.

NOTE: The RPL kit must be fully completed for any RPL claim to be considered.

RTOs are required to report specific data as a condition of registration, and we cannot process the RPL claim if you do not supply this information.

RPL EVIDENCE

RTOs must undertake all assessments, including RPL, in line with:

The principles of assessment
The rules of evidence

When assessing RPL evidence, the following applies:

Table 1.8-2: Rules of evidence

Validity	The assessor is assured that the learner has the skills, knowledge and attributes as described in the module or unit of competency and associated assessment requirements.
Sufficiency	The assessor is assured that the quality, quantity and relevance of the assessment evidence enables a judgement to be made of a learner’s competency.
Authenticity	The assessor is assured that the evidence presented for assessment is the learner’s own work.
Currency	The assessor is assured that the assessment evidence demonstrates current competency. This requires the assessment evidence to be from the present or the very recent past.

RPL evidence needs to address all of the requirements of the unit of competency, and some basic guidelines on evidence are:

VALIDITY	Saying something is simply not enough! Documents like resumes are merely saying something in writing (statements) that must be backed up by supporting evidence. Anyone can put what they want in a resume, so you need to provide evidence that supports what you claim in your resume. For example, certifications, samples of your work, job descriptions, testimonials, that support what you say in your resume.
HARD EVIDENCE	If it isn’t in writing, or it can’t be seen, then it doesn’t count! All evidence needs to be documented, and may include testimonies, reference letters, samples of your work, job descriptions, etc, as long as they are recorded and validated. You simply typing in a statement that you have the experience, knowledge, skills, et cetera, is not enough. You need to supply real evidence.
CURRENCY	Everything needs to be current (up to date) Just because you hold a qualification it doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. Things change and the applicant needs to demonstrate how they have maintained currency. You may need to demonstrate that you have been actively involved in industry or gaining experience, undertaken additional training, or provide evidence which shows you have kept up-to-date.
Overseas, non-accredited, and university qualifications	These may not be measurable against Australian Qualifications The trap here is that these qualifications may have different terminology, components, learning outcomes, or elements that we are simply unable to accurately map against the units in a VET course. If we can’t map it, we can’t award it. If you are seeking to use overseas qualifications as evidence, then it is wise to provide anything which will describe what you did, what was covered, and how you did it.
YOUR OWN WORK	Your evidence needs to demonstrate your own work, experience, knowledge and ability against unit requirements, what your company or another organisation counts may not be enough or correct. As an example, if an association or private organisation issues and accreditation or qualification, it may not count or be usable in RPL if it cannot be mapped to the units.