40+ years experience as a trainer, instructional designer, quality manager, project manager, program manager, RTO auditor, RTO manager and VET adviser.
Oh, the Certificate IV, a carousel of woe, Spinning and turning, round and round it does go. Every six years, a new twist, a new spin, But the core of the training remains the same within.
Trainers and assessors, trapped in this endless ride, Yearning for something new, something to abide. The changes are superficial, a mere facade, Compliance the focus, the journey’s a load.
In 2004, the carousel first took flight, A new qualification, shining so bright. But six years later, it spun once again, A new version, a different refrain.
And so it continued, six years after six years, A never-ending cycle, filled with fear. The changes were minor, the core remained the same, A monotonous journey, a pointless game.
But in 2022, a new twist appeared, A quest for flexibility, a hope to be cheered. Yet, the reality was far from grand, A close to standardised program, across the land.
So, why all this spinning, this endless parade? Is it truly necessary, or just a charade? The changes are superficial, the journey’s a bore, A monotonous carousel, forevermore.
Step 4 Contact the preferred RTO and discuss acceptable evidence with the RPL assessor
Step 5 Apply for RPL and follow RTO’s RPL procedure
This is the third article in a series about updating from the TAE40116 qualification to the TAE40122 qualification.
Step 3. Shop around for an RTO
An RTO can determine its own RPL process and associated fees. It is a good idea to contact a few RTOs and gather information about:
Cost of the RPL
Support provided
Flexibility
Cost of gap training
Cost of the RPL
The fee charged by RTO for RPL assessment can vary. I just did a quick internet search and found three different RTOs offering RPL at $1,300, $2,100 and $2,400. You may like to check if the RTO you work for is willing to pay for or subsidise your RPL.
Support provided
Cost is one criteria. Other criteria, such as the support provided by the RTO, may be important to you.
Does the RTO appear to be friendly and supportive?
What support will the RTO provide during the RPL process?
How much support will you need?
Another important criteria is the RTO’s willingness to be flexible.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the four principles of assessment. Is the RTO willing to be flexible?
Can you select the elective units that you want?
Is the RTO willing to recognise parts of a superseded and non-equivalent unit as substantive RPL evidence (therefore, no need to repeat training or assessment for those parts of the unit)?
Does the RTO willing to adapt or modify there assessment documents used to gather RPL evidence?
Cost of gap training
You may need to do some training to close any gaps. Some people many have a small number of units that can not attained by credit transfer and RPL. Each person applying for RPL will have their own unique circumstances.
How many units may be potential gaps?
How much would it costs to do gap training?
Compare RTOs
Shopping around for an RTO could save you money. And you could save time associated with the RPL application and assessment process. The following is a table that can be used to help you gather and compare information about different RTOs.
More tips and strategies shall be presented at the upcoming webinar.
Step 4 Contact the preferred RTO and discuss acceptable evidence with the RPL assessor
Step 5 Apply for RPL and follow RTO’s RPL procedure
This is the second article in a series about updating from the TAE40116 qualification to the TAE40122 qualification.
Step 2. Determine evidence required and identify evidence that can be gathered
Many TAE40122 units supersede and have been declared not equivalent to the relevant TAE40116 units. A unit that is ‘not equivalent’ does not mean that it is ‘completely different’. In other words, a unit that is ‘not equivalent’ can be ‘partly equivalent’.
What parts of a superseded unit are equivalent?
Let’s look at an example.
The TAEDES411 Use nationally recognised training products to meet vocational training needs supersedes and has been deemed not equivalent to TAEDES402 Use training packages and accredited courses to meet client needs.
Performance Criteria
The following table compares the Performance Criteria for the TAEDES411 unit with the Performance Criteria for the TAEDES402 unit.
Most of the Performance Criteria for the TAEDES402 unit are equivalent to the Performance Criteria for the TAEDES411 unit, with two exceptions. Performance Criteria 3.2 and 3.3 for the TAEDES411 unit are not covered by the TAEDES402 unit.
Performance Criteria 3.2
It is not difficult to seek feedback relating to whether applied training products meet specified requirements and identified needs. A person seeking RPL for this unit should be able to prove that they can do this performance.
Performance Criteria 3.3
This is an example of a poorly written Performance Criteria. It is vague, and it does not describe a typical work task. Training products have been developed to meet an identified need that has been specified by industry. The following is an interpretation of changes to product use:
Change the selected elective units
Change the clustering or sequence of units.
A person seeking RPL for this unit should be able to prove that they can analyse collected feedback and identify required changes to product use.
Knowledge Evidence
The following table compares the Knowledge Evidence for the TAEDES411 unit with the Knowledge Evidence for the TAEDES402 unit.
The TAEDES411 unit has two Knowledge Evidence items that are not covered by the TAEDES402 unit. A person seeking RPL for this unit may need to prove that they have relevant knowledge relating to some, or all, of the following:
Standards for RTOs
Australian Core Skill Framework (ACSF)
Digital Literacy Skills Framework (DLSF)
Australian Digital Capability Framework
Employability Skills Framework
Core Skills for Work.
What evidence is required?
The above example shows that very little evidence should be needed by a person seeking RPL for the TAEDES411 unit. This gap analysis can be replicated for all TAE40122 units that have superseded and been declared not equivalent to TAE40116 units. This approach should significantly reduce the time and effort required when seeking RPL to update to the TAE40122 qualification from the TAE40116 qualification.
What evidence can be gathered?
After determining the evidence required, the next thing is to identify the evidence that can be gathered that may support an RPL application. This evidence may include recent and relevant work experience.
The following table shows a sample portfolio evidence.
In conclusion
This article has covered the second step of the 5-step process relating to updating from the TAE40116 to the TAE40122. This step is about determining RPL evidence required and identifying RPL evidence that can be gathered.
RPL is a process to assess and recognise relevant skills and knowledge gained through prior training and work experience. RTOs should acknowledge previous training and the completion of TAE40116 units. The discrepancy between superseded TAE40116 and TAE40122 units is often minimal, and many current RTO trainers and TAFE teachers possess the requisite work experience to bridge this gap.
More tips and strategies shall be presented at the upcoming webinar.
The core units for TAE40122 qualification are specified as shown in the following table.
The use of this table shall be explain at the webinar.
Select elective units that give credit transfer
Most people with the TAE40116 qualification will be able to select at least two elective units that will give credit transfer.
First elective unit to be selected is TAEDEL412 Facilitate workplace-based learning because it supersedes and is equivalent to TAEDEL402 Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace. And the TAEDEL402 was a core unit for the TAE40116. So, everyone will get credit transfer for the TAEDEL412 unit.
Next, select other units that give credit transfer. For example:
TAEDEL311 Provide work skill instructions
TAEDEL414 Mentor in the workplace
BSBCMM411 Make presentations.
Select other elective units
Select units with the least amount of evidence required to demonstrate your competence. For example:
Consider selecting an LLN unit
Consider selecting TAEDEL405 and TAEASS404 if you have recently facilitated online learning and conducted assessment in an online.
Everyone’s circumstances are unique. At least eight units will be the same for everyone, and there may be some variation in the selection of the remaining four units. The following is an example of the 6 core units and 6 selected elective units.
In conclusion
This first step of the 5-step process is relatively quick and easy. However, it is important for you to do this step to minimise the time and effort later when gathering your RPL evidence:
Select elective units that give you credit transfer
Select elective units with the least amount of evidence required to demonstrate your competence.
More tips and strategies shall be presented at the upcoming webinar.
You may not need the TAE40122, but do you want it?
Some people who have the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification may be interested in updating to the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification. This can be done by credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
Credit transfer is recognition that you’ve previously completed a unit. Units from the TAE40116 qualification that have been superseded and deemed equivalent can be recognised by credit transfer. These include:
TAEDEL402 Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace
TAEDEL301 Provide work skill instruction
TAEDEL404 Mentor in the workplace
BSBCMM411 Make presentations.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is an assessment of relevant skills and knowledge you’ve acquired through previous training or work experience. Many of the units from the TAE40116 qualification have been deemed not equivalent. But don’t be discouraged. If you’re currently working as a trainer at an RTO or as a TAFE teacher, you can use your work experience and your superseded units from the TAE40116 qualification to apply for RPL.
About the webinar
The RPL assessment process can be both time-consuming and laborious. To help streamline this process, I’ve developed a webinar that provides practical tips and strategies.
This 90-minute webinar presents an RPL guide for updating from TAE40116 to TAE40122, including:
Selecting elective units
Shopping around for an RTO
Identifying the gap between TAE40122 units and TAE40116 units
Gathering evidence to support your RPL application
Preparing yourself for the RPL process.
This webinar will be presented by Alan Maguire. Please note that this webinar is independent of, and not affiliated with, any Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
The webinar dates are:
Tuesday 26th of November 2024, starting at 12:30pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Thursday 28th of November 2024, starting at 12:30pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).
On Target Work Skills 