Skills recognition

Skills recognition is a generic term that can be used to cover the ways in which an individual’s skills, experience, knowledge and qualifications can be formally acknowledged.

These include:

  • recognition of prior learning
  • recognition of current competency
  • credit transfer (including national recognition)
  • trade recognition
  • overseas qualification assessment.

Whilst this article focuses on recognition of prior learning, some information about the other forms of skills recognition is also provided so that registered training organisations are able to offer consistent advice to applicants seeking to have their skills recognised.

What is recognition of prior learning?

Recognition of prior learning is an assessment process that assesses the individual’s non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards for entry to, and/or partial or total completion of, a qualification.

In February 2006, the Council of Australian Governments agreed that a better process to recognise the existing skills of all people entering training will be introduced by January 2007, so that workers do not have to repeat or undertake training for skills they have already acquired on the job. This is a strategy to ensure that Australia makes the most of the existing skills in the workforce.

What are the benefits of recognition of prior learning?

The benefits of recognition of prior learning include:

  • engaging or re-engaging existing workers to enable people with relevant skills to meet new workplace demands, use new technologies and change jobs
  • recognising a student’s prior learning so they can gain credit for units of competency in a course they are studying—this differs from credit transfer, which involves assessing a previously completed course or subject
  • identifying skills gaps to see what training is needed to complete a qualification
  • avoiding duplication of training and maximising employers’ training budgets.

Recognition of prior learning can result in a full qualification, or a statement of attainment for partial completion of a qualification.

What is involved in the recognition of prior learning?

The Australian Quality Training Framework identifies that skills may have been gained through:

  • formal or informal training and education
  • work experience
  • general life experience
  • any combination of the above.

The recognition of skills and knowledge should be acknowledged regardless of where, how or when they were achieved. The skills of an individual are assessed against the relevant standards established by industry.

Although the benchmarks for assessment are the same as those used in training, the assessment processes can be quite different. The evidence of competence is still assessed in relation to specific units of competency, but it can be done in a number of ways, including:

  • work samples
  • practical demonstrations in the workplace
  • references and/or interviews with supervisors
  • certificates or performance reviews
  • other documented evidence (such as photos of work samples and testimonials).

As in all assessment events, it is the evidence that is presented by the applicant that is assessed, not the applicant themselves.

What are the other forms of skills recognition?

It is important to be aware of the distinctions between the different processes and purposes, and be able to advise people about the best contact points for their particular skills recognition needs.

Recognition of current competency

Recognition of current competency applies if a client has previously successfully completed the requirements for a unit of competency or module and is now required (for example, by a licensing authority) to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained. In this case no extra skill or competencies are nationally recognised. An unsuccessful recognition of current competency assessment does not invalidate the previous competent assessment outcome.

National recognition

National recognition (previously referred to as mutual recognition) means that a student automatically has credit for units of competency that they have completed at any other registered training organisation in Australia. A statement of attainment from another registered training organisation that contributes to a qualification is reported as a form of credit transfer.

Credit transfer

Credit transfer involves assessing a previously completed course or subject to see if it provides equivalent learning or competency outcomes to those required within the student’s current course of study. It is used when seeking credit for a course or subject already completed.

Trade recognition

Trade recognition is generally applied to apprenticeship occupations, where the applicant has
skills and significant work experience in the area. It is usually sought by people who:

  • have years of experience (the requirements vary from state to state but the minimum is four years)
  • were trained overseas
  • need certification to supervise an apprentice
  • want to gain a licence or a promotion
  • are undertaking further study.

The eligibility prerequisites, costs, and in some cases the trades recognised, vary from state to state.

Overseas qualification assessments

There are several steps involved in having qualifications gained overseas recognised in Australia. The process is slightly different for people in regulated professions (which require licensing or registration to practise). Australian Education International, through the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR), and the Overseas Qualifications Units of each state and territory training authority provide official information and advice on the comparability of overseas qualifications to Australian qualifications, and the processes for getting qualifications assessed and recognised.

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