04 Sep Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) versus Credit Transfer
Every day we receive multiple enquiries where people say they want to apply for RPL when it is not merited. We thought it would be a good idea to explain what each category is and how it is assessed by HBA learning Centres.
Recognition of Prior Learning exists where a person has undertaken either formal or informal training, usually “on the job”, and achieved a level of competency in a particular activity.
An example of RPL could be a person has been working in an enterprise delivering induction or equipment usage training under the supervision of their Supervisor. They may wish to enrol in TAEDEL311 Provide work skill instruction in isolation or as part of an entire qualification (say) BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety or (say) TAE40122 Certificate IV in training and assessment both of which import the unit of competency. In the event of this situation HBA Learning Centres would require evidence which would include but is not limited to:
- Evidence of the content of the delivery
- Evidence of the resources used
- Evidence of the Session Plan/s
- Sign on sheets of the students
- Evidence of the students being found Satisfactory in assessment
- 3rd party reference attesting to the above
With evidence that covers 3 separate sessions a person could be found Satisfactory for the practical activities of the Unit of Competency (Performance Evidence). Depending upon the circumstances of the application we may require the person to complete a Knowledge Question workbook (Knowledge Evidence).
Credit Transfer occurs where an individual has completed a specific Unit of Competency either as part of another qualification or as a stand-alone activity and it is part of another qualification they wish to complete. An example of this could be where a person has completed BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety and seeks to become an Auditor of Safety so they enrol in BSB50920 Diploma of Quality Auditing, both qualifications can contain BSBWRT411 Write complex documents. In this event HBA would require either a copy of the formal Statement of Results/Attainment (testamur) which we would then authenticate with the issuing RTO, or access to the persons USI records.
Both pathways exist for all qualifications that HBA Learning Centres delivers, and we welcome enquiries that can produce evidence consistent with the Rules of Evidence:
- Validity (must directly relate to the elements)
- Sufficiency (must have enough)
- Authenticity (must have proof it is yours)
- Currency (is recent)
For further information on this feel free to email [email protected] and start a discussion re your own situation.