Search online for RPL and you will quickly find ads promising a qualification in days, with "no study, no exams" and a guaranteed result. Some come from legitimate providers using loose marketing. Others are not. A qualification that was not properly assessed can cause real problems later, so it pays to know the warning signs.
Why it matters
RPL is an assessment process. A qualified assessor must judge your evidence against every unit. If an RTO issues qualifications without proper assessment, the regulator can take action, and that can include cancelling qualifications that were not properly issued. That can leave people without the qualification they paid for, and in some industries without the credential they need to keep working.
Employers and licensing bodies may ask to see your USI transcript, or check your qualification with the RTO that issued it.
Warning signs
- A guaranteed outcome. No genuine RTO can guarantee you will be found competent before it has assessed your evidence.
- Very fast turnaround. A certificate "in 48 hours" or "in a week" leaves little time for real assessment, especially for higher-level qualifications.
- No conversation, no questions. If no one asks you about your work or checks your evidence, it is not a genuine assessment.
- A resume is all they need. A resume and a self-declaration are not enough evidence on their own.
- You cannot find out which RTO will assess you. If you are dealing with a broker or agent, you should be told the RTO's name and number before you pay.
- Pressure to sign or pay quickly. Limited-time discounts and pressure tactics are a red flag.
- Offers to "help" write your evidence. Evidence must be your own. Support to understand requirements is fine. Having someone else create your evidence is not.
How to check a provider
- Search training.gov.au for the RTO by name or number. Its registration should be current, and the qualification should be on its scope. Our training.gov.au guide walks you through it.
- Check ASQA's website for any published regulatory decisions about the RTO.
- Ask for the RPL process in writing, including how evidence is assessed, who the assessor is, and whether there is a competency conversation or practical assessment.
- Ask for a written quote with all fees, refund terms and what happens if you are not competent in some units.
- Ask who you are paying. If it is not the RTO, ask why.
What good RPL looks like
A good provider will usually:
- have an initial conversation to understand your experience before you commit
- give you an evidence guide mapped to the units
- tell you honestly where you may have gaps
- include a competency conversation, and a practical assessment where the units need it
- explain your appeal rights
It may feel slower, but it gives you a qualification you can rely on.
If you think something is wrong
If you have already paid and are worried about how you were assessed, contact the RTO first and ask how your evidence was assessed. If you are not satisfied, use the RTO's complaints process, then report your concerns to ASQA, or to the VRQA or TAC if the RTO is registered in Victoria or Western Australia. Consumer protection agencies may also be able to help.
For more on choosing a provider, see our guide to finding a quality RPL provider.