Before you can start the Recognition of Prior Learning Process, you need to undertake the assessment to find out whether you're an eligible candidate. Luckily, there are Australian Registered Training Organisations set up to provide free assessments to determine whether you are suitable for certification.

Only a recognised training organisation can handle the process, so ensure you're working with a reputable organisation. 

The RPL Assessment Process

It might sound daunting, but the process is easier than you think.

The first hurdle is the most difficult one and that's the painstaking process of compiling a portfolio of experience. This is your opportunity to compile all the evidence that supports your application, documentation that you know how to and have covered a particular subject.

The evidence you present should be relevant to the certification you're pursuing, showing that you have the learning and experience to support your claim. So, familiarise yourself with the certification you're pursuing to ensure you have relevant experience and evidence. It can be a time-consuming process, so the earlier you start, the better.

Once your portfolio is complete, an RPL Assessor will enter the evidence review stage, going through your portfolio of experience to determine whether you are fully qualified for certification or not. The RTOs Australia review process can be as quick as a month but can take up to three months. Just be prepared for the assessor to ask for more evidence or paperwork to bolster your claim.

There are three potential outcomes – the first is that you will receive your certification outright, the second is that you may need to upskill certain areas or subjects before certification can be approved, and finally, the assessor may determine that you are not suitable for certification. If it's the latter, the assessor may recommend certification in a different course more closely aligned with your skills and evidence. 

RPL Certification

So, is the RPL Process worth it?

That's up to you to decide based on your personal circumstances, but by completing the RPL Process you receive RPL Certification, allowing you to bypass a host of subjects, shaving months (possibly even years) from the study journey, which will save you a lot in fees.

It might feel like it's too expensive upfront, but the long-term savings could be too big to turn down. The first step is to start the assessment process and find out whether you're a suitable candidate to upskill your prior learning and turn it into a qualification that can further your career.