Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Credit Transfer (CT) Policy   

This policy applies to all full qualification training products on Brighten Institute Australia’s scope of registration. Regulatory requirements prohibit the use of RPL for certain short courses that have licensing outcomes, including: RSA, RCG, White Card, Food Safety Supervisor (NSW), First Aid and all HLTAID single-unit courses.

 

 

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

 

TERM DEFINITION
BIA Brighten Institute Australia.
Credit Transfer (CT) The recognition and direct application of previously completed formal VET units of competency or higher education courses as evidence of competency towards another formal Qualification or certificate.
Folio, Evidence Folio The collected items of evidence that have been assessed and verified as meeting the rules of evidence, mapped against the assessment requirements of the relevant Qualification.
Gap Any remaining elements, knowledge evidence, or performance evidence items of the relevant Training Package’s Assessment Requirements after collection and mapping of Credit Transfer and ¤ or RPL evidence – i.e. “gaps” in the evidence of competency that must be filled before certification can be issued.
LMS Learning Management System
NRT Nationally Recognised Training – the standardized training and assessment methodology prescribed in relevant training packages that enables the achievement of an AQF Qualification, recognized and accepted nation-wide.
Qualifications A full, AQF – compliant Qualification from a Training Package: Certificates I – IV, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas. Full Qualifications involve relatively long-term study commitments, ranging from 3 months to 2 years or more.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): an evidence-based assessment of a learner’s relevant skills and knowledge previously acquired through completion of training, work or life experiences (i.e. formal, informal and non-formal learning) related to the training currently being undertaken.
RTO Registered training organization (BIA is an RTO).
The Standards 2015 The Standards for RTOs 2015 (no longer in force)
The Standards 2025 National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Compliance Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations and Fit and Proper Person Requirements) Instrument 2025

 

 

POLICY STATEMENT

 

BIA accepts Credit Transfer (CT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) evidence toward full Qualifications only. BIA’s Short Courses have licensing outcomes and are delivered under conditions of approval with regulatory bodies of the relevant industry in each jurisdiction. Each of these sets of conditions prohibits an RPL pathway for demonstrating competency. Additionally, as all are either single or double Unit of Competency courses, credit transfer would effectively negate the need to undergo training that is necessary for ensuring currency of skills and knowledge.

All evidence will be assessed against the rules of evidence before being deemed acceptable. Learners are offered opportunities to seek RPL and are made aware of BIA’s policies for CT and RPL at several points throughout the learning journey. BIA ensures that all:

·        decisions relating to RPL are based on evidence of prior skills, learning and experience, and are undertaken in accordance with BIA’s assessment system

·        items of RPL and CT evidence collected are assessed against the rules of evidence by suitably qualified assessors: all evidence must be valid, current, sufficient, and authentic

·        decisions relating to RPL are documented and decided in a way that is fair, transparent, consistent amongst learners and maintains the integrity of the training product

·        certification (e.g. Statements of Attainment, Certificates I – IV, Diplomas) submitted for purposes of CT is verified as authentic and legitimate with the issuing organization before being accepted. Where certification cannot be verified, it will not be accepted for CT.

 

CREDIT TRANSFER (CT)

Recognition of VET Qualifications & Statements of Attainment

To receive Credit Transfer for a unit, learners must provide formal evidence that they have previously completed the same unit or a unit which matches content and outcome. Formal evidence can be a Qualification certificate with transcript, Statement of Attainment, or a USI transcript. When credit is recognized, the learner does not need to repeat training or assessment for that unit.

 

Verification of Credit Transfer evidence

All assessment evidence used in competency judgements must meet the rules of evidence: sufficiency, authenticity, validity, and currency. Any Qualification, certificate, Statement of Attainment, testamur or transcript submitted as evidence of competency will be verified with the issuing organization and assessed for authenticity, currency, and validity. In consideration of currency, relevant training package changes (e.g. superseded units, equivalence, etc.) will determine BIA’s acceptance of evidence more than 4 years old.

 

Acceptance or refusal of Credit Transfer evidence

Where Credit Transfer evidence has been assessed and meets the rules of evidence, it must be recognized and accepted. The learner will be provided with an outcome statement showing which assessment criteria have been met by the evidence, along with any gaps that must be addressed and the reasons why full credit was not determined. Credit will be noted in the transcript of full qualifications against the units to which it was applied and recorded in the learner account on BIA’s LMS for Statements of Attainment issued.

Where Credit Transfer evidence is assessed and does not meet the rules of evidence, the learner will be informed of alternative pathways for demonstrating evidence of competency (e.g. formal learning, competency interview, observation and demonstration assessment activities).

 

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)

BIA offers RPL as a pathway toward achieving Qualifications. All learners are advised of the availability of RPL at several points along the learning journey: at pre-enrolment (on website course information pages, Learner Handbook, and publicly available policies), during enrolment processes, and again after enrolment but prior to commencement of study.

 

RPL Criteria

Prior learning is recognized when it has been assessed as meeting the rules of evidence: sufficiency, validity, authenticity, and currency. To ascertain the extent to which the RPL can meet the evidence requirements for a particular unit or cluster of units, the evidence is analyzed by a qualified Assessor and mapped against the assessment evidence requirements as prescribed by the relevant training package.

 

RPL Procedure

Once a learner has indicated they wish to apply for RPL, the procedure is as follows.

1.       SELF-ASSESSMENT

Learners are issued an RPL kit for the relevant Qualification. The kits contain general guidance and other information pertaining to RPL: explaining what RPL is, the processes involved, and what constitutes “strong” evidence of competency in an RPL context.

2.      RPL CONSULTATION & FOLIO CREATION

The learner, following instructions from their RPL kit, contacts BIA to schedule their RPL Consultation. During the consultation, an appropriately qualified Trainer & Assessor discusses prospective RPL pathways with the learner, provides guidance in terms of what evidence could be supplied, and commences assessment of any evidence submitted. After discussing work history, other qualifications and other forms of relevant experience, an initial RPL Evidence Folio is developed. This Folio will continue to grow and evolve throughout the collection and compilation of RPL evidence.

3.      ASSESSMENT & MAPPING OF EVIDENCE

The third stage is the initial mapping of collected evidence to the Qualification’s assessment requirements, allowing identification of any gaps that must be rectified. During this first collation and assessment of evidence, the Assessor also removes from the Folio items of evidence that do not meet the requirements of currency, validity, sufficiency and authenticity.

4.      EVIDENCE VERIFICATION & GAP TRAINING

The fourth stage is the second collection of evidence, where the learner will (under the guidance and instruction of the Assessor) attempt to gather further supporting evidence or replace invalidated evidence previously supplied. Where there is a Gap and no suitable evidence exists, the Learner will undergo Gap Training for the necessary Units of Competency. The Assessor supports the Learner enrolling in and undertaking the Gap Training; where possible, the learner will be enrolled in a BIA course at no additional cost.

Where an RPL evidence submission appears to meet all requirements, the Learner will undergo assessment to verify that all items in the Folio meet the rules of evidence.

 

BIA REQUIRES EVERY RPL APPLICANT TO COMPLETE SOME FORM OF TRAINING AND / OR ASSESSMENT, WHETHER AS GAP TRAINING OR TO VERIFY FOLIO EVIDENCE OF COMPETENCY.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

5.      FINAL MAPPING OF EVIDENCE

After training is completed, the evidence is collated for the last time and mapped against the Qualification.

6.      CERTIFICATION

Where no gaps remain, the assessment judgement of competency is made and, if the learner is deemed competent, certification documents are issued. Where the outcome is NYC (Not Yet Competent), the Learner is consulted and advised of options and pathways for attaining competency. This may include enrolment in Unit of Competency courses, work placements (voluntary or paid basis), or referral to other providers with more suitable resources or delivery formats.

 

 RPL PROCESS INFOGRAPHIC