Your Guide to Finding Training
Choosing a course
There are many training organisations in Australia, offering a wide range of courses.
If you are completing a course to gain employment in a particular industry, training that is nationally-recognised is very important.
The first issue to consider is whether a course has any formal recognition. If a course has formal recognition it means it has been approved by government, and it will be recognised by government, training organisations and industry.
There are three main types of course offered by training organisations:
- Courses based on an industry training package
- Accredited courses
- Courses without formal recognition
Courses based on an industry training package
Training packages are sets of nationally-endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills. They set a national industry standard for skills, and are used as the basis for most of the programs delivered in the vocational education and training system, including Australian Apprenticeships, training courses, VET in schools programs, recognition of existing skills, and occupational licensing.
Courses based on training packages are generally the best option because these are recognised across Australia. These courses can be done through a number of different training organisations around Australia, and offer you the best chance of employment.
Courses based on a training package will normally lead to either:
- A Statement of Attainment: a formal statement that proves that you are competent in one or more skills, but do not meet the full requirements for a qualification. Short courses often lead to Statements of Attainment. Statements of Attainment can also be used as credit toward completion of a full qualification in the future.
- A Qualification such as a Certificate or Diploma: These are usually longer courses, and are designed to give you the skills to work in a particular occupation, or at a particular occupational level.
Both Qualifications and Statements of Attainment are nationally-recognised and verify that the student is competent in the skills listed.
Training package qualifications and statements of attainment can only be issued by registered training organisations (RTOs).
To become an RTO, training providers need to go through a government registration process which includes some checks on the quality of their facilities, staff, financial management and services - this also gives you additional protection.
Accredited courses
'Accredited courses' are courses that have been developed by a specific training provider and submitted for approval by a state/territory training authority.
Generally, courses are accredited only where a training package does not exist to meet a specific need. Accredited courses are normally phased out once a relevant training package becomes available.
If there is no training package to cover the skills you need an accredited course is your next best option.
Courses without formal recognition
Some courses hold no formal recognition at all. In these cases, the student may receive a certificate from the training provider, but this certificate carries no formal status within the industry or the vocational education and training system.
These courses may be useful, but should be treated with caution if you are undertaking training in order to seek work in a particular industry. People completing these courses may find that they need to repeat their training under a formally-recognised program before they can obtain employment. This usually involves paying fees again to a different organisation.
Checking on courses
Some courses are clearly promoted as being based on a training package, but others are not. To find out whether a course is based on a training package, you can contact the training provider and ask.
Obtain any written course information you can from the training provider. You could contact them to request an information pack, and/or check their website. Check this information to see if it makes it clear that the course will lead to a nationally-recognised Qualification or Statement of Attainment.
Make sure that the organisation is a registered training organisation for the relevant qualifications or units of competency.
Training options
There are many ways that you or your staff can gain the training for nationally recognised qualifications including:
- Australian Apprenticeships
- Training courses
- Recognition of experience and prior learning
Australian Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeships cover both traineeships and apprenticeships. They are a way of combining paid work in the industry with training to lead to a nationally recognised qualification.
An Australian Apprenticeship usually involves a longer time commitment than a standard training course - Australian Apprenticeships can last from one year to four years, depending on the qualification.
An Australian Apprenticeship will be the right option if:
- You want to gain practical experience
- You would like to earn money while you do your training
- You are willing and able to make the commitment to complete the Australian Apprenticeship
- The qualification you want to do is available to complete through an Australian Apprenticeship
- You are having trouble getting a job without experience
- You cannot afford to pay commercial course fees
Read more about Australian Apprenticeships
Training courses
Some of the nationally-recognised qualifications may be available as part of a full-time or part-time course.
These courses are offered by many TAFEs, private training organisations, industry associations, community organisations and secondary schools (as part of VET in schools programs).
There will be course fees and these can vary depending upon the training organisation. It is important that any course includes a significant component of structured, practical experience, to develop and apply practical workplace skills. This can be done through paid employment or structured work placement in the industry, or through the use of a properly set up industry training facility.
A training course may be the right option if:
- You cannot find an Australian Apprenticeship position, or your chosen qualification is not offered as an Australian Apprenticeship
- You can only complete your training part-time because of existing work or family commitments
- You are in a remote area and can only complete your training through online learning or distance education
- You want to 'fast track' your training.
If you decide to complete a training course, you will need to find a registered training organisation to enrol in your chosen course.
Recognition of experience and prior learning
Where you or your employees already have skills in relevant areas, you can apply for recognition of skills against the training package. This is usually known as recognition of current competency (RCC) or recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Depending upon the range of skills can be demonstrated, this can lead the award of Statements of Attainment for individual units of competency, or a full qualification. In some cases, no further training will be required.
Recognition is a good option if you:
- Have employment experience and skills developed through work, but don't have a formal qualification proving that you have these skills.
- Have evidence of your skills and experience.
Read more about Recognition of Prior Learning
How to find a registered training organisation
Training for nationally-recognised qualifications and units can only be delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs).
An RTO is a training provider that has been through a registration process managed by its state/territory government to make sure that it meets basic quality requirements to deliver the training. RTOs can include TAFE, private training providers and some industry associations, companies and community organisations.
Search for a registered training organisations
The National Training Information Service (NTIS), the database on vocational education and training in Australia. NTIS is the official national register of information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations (RTOs).
How to choose a registered training organisation
Depending upon the course and where you wish to do the training, you may have a choice of many different registered training organisations. In that case, you may want to 'shop around' to find the one that best meets your needs.
Different RTOs will each have different arrangements around how they offer the training. Different RTOs will offer specific services, some will simply run courses according to a predetermined timetable, while others will be able to assist employers with tailored training and specialised services.
The way that training is delivered may also vary, and may include e-learning, face-to-face facilitation in your workplace or at the RTO's premises, and a range of other methods.
Fees, charges and services will also vary, and some may require enrolment at different times of the year, while others may offer 'rolling enrolments'.
What to ask
- How long the course takes to complete
- How much does it cost
- Where is the course is run
- Dates and times when the course is run
- Whether they offer distance/online learning
- How to apply or enrol
Other considerations
Will the training suit your personal needs?
Registered training organisations may offer courses full-time and/or part-time. If you have other work or family commitments, you may choose to complete the course on a part-time basis, or perhaps through online or distance education.
If you plan to attend face-to-face training it needs to be held in a convenient place, at a time that you can attend. Find an RTO with the timetable and location that suits you.
If you can't attend training face-to-face, some training organisations may offer the course online or through distance education. These methods of learning can be more difficult to complete because you don't have the interaction with other students and trainers.
Find out how the RTO supports students learning in this way. Do they offer phone or email support, online help or discussion forums. Make sure that you feel you will have enough support and help to complete the training successfully.
How will the course help you to develop practical skills?
The national qualifications are designed to help you to develop real skills that you can apply in the workplace, so no course should be based entirely on theoretical learning. Find out how the course will make sure you develop practical, hands-on skills.
Some RTOs may help you to find a work placement as part of the course so that you can practise your skills in the industry.
Others may run a 'model workplace,' such as a store, salon or restaurant, within their training organisation, so that you can get practice there.
Some courses may require that you are already working in the industry so that you can apply your skills in the workplace.
How will assessment be conducted?
Assessment under training packages is designed to ensure that an individual has attained workplace competence. This means that a formal assessment procedure is required, and this assessment should be designed to measure skills as well as knowledge. Written examinations, essays and tests are normally designed to measure knowledge rather than skill and should not be the only method of assessment.
General considerations
Shop around to see if the course represents value for money. As well as enrolment fees check if there are any additional charges for books, tools, materials and equipment.
Find out as much as you can about the organisation's facilities. Ask about the types of equipment - computers and tools - that students use for training and find out what supplies and tools you must provide for yourself. Visit the training premises; ask to see the classrooms and workshops.
- Ask about the trainers' qualifications and the size of classes. Sit in on a class. Are the students engaged? Is the trainer interesting?
- Find out about their policies for things like refunds, or appealing if you disagree with an assessment decision.
- You could ask for testimonials or referees - these could include past students, or employers of past students.
- You could see if the RTO is recommended by major industry associations.
- You can ask to view their facilities or attend an Open Day to get more information.
- Once you decide on an RTO, review the materials they give you carefully. Avoid signing up until you've read the documents carefully.
- Check to see whether you can cancel within a few days of signing up and if so, how to go about it, and how much of your course fee will be refunded.
- If a staff member of the RTO tells you something other than what is in their documents, ask them to put it in writing.
RTOs for Australian Apprenticeships
The training and assessment that takes place under an Australian Apprenticeship must be managed by an RTO. However, only certain RTOs are eligible to do this.
To find a list of eligible RTOs for a specific Australian Apprenticeship in your state/territory, contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre.
Training for overseas students
For more information on how to study in Australia, or to search for organisations registered to deliver training to overseas students, please see the Study in Australia website.
