What can count towards RPL?
RPL is about providing formal recognition of your current knowledge and skills. As part of the RPL process you will be required to match your knowledge and skills to the learning outcomes of the course you are enrolled in.
Types of Evidence:
There are three forms of evidence that can be used to demonstrate competence. These include formal qualifications, work experience and life experience.
Formal qualifications: When supplying formal qualifications from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) you must supply a copy of the certificate and a transcript of the competencies achieved, with 'National Unit Codes' listed.
When supplying formal qualifications from a learning institution that is not a RTO, or does not have a transcript with the 'National Unit Codes' listed, you must supply the learning outcomes for each subject you are seeking RPL for. This is to enable Cengage Education to make a comparison of the learning outcomes.
Note: The learning outcomes must demonstrate that they describe the subjects listed, e.g. they are printed on the educational institution's letterhead.
Work and life experience: When assessing evidence from work and/or life experience, Cengage Education must ensure the knowledge and/or skills described in the evidence matches the learning outcomes of the subjects you are applying for. Types of evidence can be:
- In-house training
- Workplace reference
- Statement of duties
- Work project
- Newspaper cuttings of achievements
- Minutes of meetings attended or conducted
- Documents showing organising/supervisor skills
- Awards
Note: In all cases, Cengage Education must be satisfied that the documents demonstrate your competence. A letter from your supervisor/manager on company letterhead, or from a community leader verifying and supporting the evidence is one method.
Which of my skills and knowledge are relevant?
To work out if your current knowledge and skills are relevant, and could be recognised as credit towards the course you are enrolled in you need to:
- Assemble a portfolio of all relevant information to any of the modules in the course. It might be advisable for you to find a person to help with this process and who can become your RPL support person. This person could be your workplace supervisor, a co-worker, a family member or a friend. Your RPL support person should be someone who knows about your skills and knowledge, and who could assist you in identifying which modules you could apply for RPL.
- Once you have determined if your knowledge and skills match any of the modules, you need to consider the evidence you are able to collect to verify that you have achieved the learning outcomes for the relevant modules. (Learning outcomes are statements that outline what a student can do at the completion of a module).
How much RPL can I apply for?
This depends on your qualification, skills, work and life experience. You could apply for RPL for the whole course – although this will be very rare because of the content of some of the modules.
Should you have any further questions regarding RPL please contact one of our Course Advisors on 1300 853 033.