Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process where you demonstrate existing skills and knowledge acquired through work and life experience, rather than through formal training.
The core requirement is providing tangible, verifiable evidence - "showing" rather than "telling" - to prove you can perform tasks to industry standards. You must be able to provide us with work samples to demonstrate competency. Candidates who are unable to provide suitable evidence, should not apply for RPL.
Assessors look for direct and indirect evidence that links your daily tasks to the units of competency in the qualification
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a formal assessment process designed to evaluate existing skills, knowledge, and experience, and it is not a guaranteed, automatic, or "shortcut" process.
Rule of Evidence
The evidence provided must be:
Valid: The evidence must be directly relevant to the specific skills, knowledge, and competencies being assessed. For example, written case studies might not be valid evidence for a practical, hands-on unit.
Sufficient: There must be enough evidence, both in quality and quantity, to make a confident judgement about the learner's competence.
Authentic: The evidence must be the original work of the learner and not completed by someone else. Assessors must be confident that the work is genuine.
Current: The evidence must demonstrate that the learner's skills and knowledge are current. This means the evidence should be from the present or very recent past, as it can become outdated over time.
Primary Evidence
Primary evidence for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a portfolio of documentation and tangible examples that prove your skills, knowledge, and experience meet the requirements of a specific qualification.
Primary (or direct) evidence is considered the strongest form of proof because it demonstrates your skills in action.
Primary Evidence is "direct" proof that you have performed the required tasks in a real-world setting, rather than just talking about them or telling us about them.
Examples of Primary or Direct Evidence include:
record keeping systems
operation schedules
spreadsheets developed
correspondence (letters, memos, fax messages and emails) you have written
diary notes you have made
completed job cards for work that you have done during your normal work activities
job specifications developed by you
procedures that you follow or that you have written
monthly, annual or financial reports
business plans
appraisals or team reviews that you have completed
videos of your work
photographic evidence of your work
Emails to and from others
Reports you have written
articles you have written
job descriptions and contracts for a position(s) you have held
In other words, primary evidence is anything that you have either produced yourself or for which you have been primarily responsible, and that we can confirm as being your work. All evidence provided needs to comply with the rules of evidence.
The documents supplied must be directly relevant to the qualification being assessed.
Secondary Evidence
This is information gathered from others about you, and could include:
workplace supervisor reports/references
magazine or newspaper articles about you
prizes, certificates or other forms of commendation
minutes of meetings which contain information on your participation and performance in specific activities
letters of appreciation from clients or work colleagues
references from previous employers
video recordings/photographs of activities you have undertaken which can be verified by a third party.
third party reports - this could include statements from other people to support your claim for RPL. You might include managers, supervisors, previous employers, customers and colleagues. These are NOT references: the information contained in this type of statement must be directly relevant to the learning outcomes.
Indirect evidence helps validate your competencies and fills in any gaps by showing how your work experience aligns with the required skills.
Secondary Evidence will only be used to support your primary evidence.
Supplementary Evidence
Supplementary evidence is used to support or enhance your direct and indirect evidence. While it may not be directly related to the competencies you're applying for, it helps provide additional proof of your skills, qualifications, or experience in the relevant field. We can use this to show a pattern in relation to your work behaviour.
Examples of Supplementary Evidence could include:
Relevant Certificates of previous training or courses (including non-formal training). If there is no assessment for the training these certificates can only be used to support your primary or direct evidence.
Awards or recognition for your work - These must be relevant to the RPL application.
Personal reflections or written statements that explain your experience and learning process. These should support or clarify the direct evidence provided.
Supplementary Evidence will only be used to support your primary evidence.
is RPL a Shortcut?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a formal assessment process designed to evaluate existing skills, knowledge, and experience, and it is not a guaranteed, automatic, or "shortcut" process. RPL is an assessment of competence, not a purchase of a qualification.
The RPL TimeLine
Step 1
Send us your CV for review.
Step 2
We review your CV, and if appropriate, invite you to enrol via RPL
Step 3
After enrolment we forward you the evidence mapping documents for your units. This will help you to ensure the evidence provided is sufficient and valid.
Step 4
You collect the relevant evidence, complete the mapping doucments and submit both for us to review. Remember, you need to show us, not tell us!
Step 5
We review your documents and inform you of the assessment outcome.
in Summary:
While RPL is a valid, often faster, way to get a qualification without attending classes, or completing assignments, a successful outcome is dependent on the strength of the candidate's evidence and the competency that they demonstrate through the evidence that they provide.
Simply having worked for many years does not guarantee RPL - the skills must be recent, relevant to the chosen qualification, and directly mapped to the relevant unit.
If you are unable to provide primary evidence, your RPL application will be unsuccessful. If you need permission from your Employer to share documents with us, seek this permission before you enrol.
Submitting the right evidence is critical to the success of your RPL application. By taking the time to carefully organise, and explain your evidence, you're making the process easier for all concerned. Focus on quality and clarity, and your efforts will be reflected in the outcome.
All evidence provided will be checked for validity, sufficiency, authenticity, and currency by qualified assessors. If the evidence provided does not fully meet the required units of competency, gaps are identified. If these gaps cannot be filled, the applicant may not receive the full Qualification.
