Career Centre
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning is the acknowledgment of skills and knowledge obtained through:
- formal training or study including courses at school, college, adult education and training programs at work
- work experience including paid and volunteer work
- life experience including skills attained through leisure pursuits such as musical, mechanical or linguistic abilities.
Recognition of Prior Learning recognises this prior knowledge and experience and measures it against the course in which students are enrolled. The individual may not need to complete all of a training program if he or she already possesses some of the competencies taught in the program.
Recognition of Prior Learning has many benefits:
- students can finish their courses earlier
- study loads and costs are reduced
- the student can take on additional study leading to a second qualification
- by identifying an individual's current competencies, RPL can effectively target training requirements.
The student needs to provide the training provider with evidence of their prior learning if they wish to have their knowledge and skills recognised under RPL.
Training providers take previous experience and study into account whether it was achieved in Australia or abroad.
Training providers can also grant RPL to apprentices and trainees as part of their training plans. Before an apprenticeship or traineeship is reduced however, the employer, apprentice or trainee and representatives from both the Australian Apprenticeship Centre and the Apprenticentre must agree to a variation of the training contract or agreement.
Overseas Qualifications Unit
If you have qualifications and skills that have been obtained overseas you may be able to have them recognised in Australia.
The Overseas Qualifications Unit assists migrants, who are permanent* or temporary residents of Western Australia, with recognition of their overseas gained qualifications and skills.
