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Most nationally endorsed training is covered in current training packages (see ‘training packages’ in glossary for more information); however, sometimes all the skill requirements for industry, enterprises and the community are not covered by the training packages already in place. This additional training is covered in accredited courses. Like training package qualifications, accredited courses are nationally recognised and only a registered training organisation (RTO) can issue a nationally recognised qualification or Statement of Attainment following its full or partial completion. Accredited courses may be:

• Specific only to a certain aspect of an industry (e.g. Diploma of Golf Management) and therefore not required as part of the general associated training package, or;
• Specific to a new technology (e.g. Vocational Graduate Certificate in Tool Design for Plastics) that has not had time to be incorporated into the current training package.

A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning

Apprentice

A person who is:

• employed under a training contract that has been registered with, and validated by, the State Training Authority
• involved in paid work and structured training that has on- and off-the-job training
• undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship (see below)

Australian apprenticeships

Covers all Australian apprenticeships and traineeships.
Australian apprenticeships:

• do not require entry qualifications
• can be full-time, part-time or school-based
• combine training and employment
• can lead to a nationally recognised qualification
• are available to anyone of working age including school-leavers, people re-entering the workforce or those wishing to change careers

Australian Qualifications Framework(AQF)

The Australian Qualifications Framework is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

A national regulatory body for the vocational education and training (VET) sector. ASQA are responsible for course accreditation and the regulation of registered training organisations.
Two state-based regulatory bodies also exist, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority  (VRQA), andWestern Australian Training Accreditation Council (WA TAC).

A qualification showing that a student has achieved learning outcomes as described in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). 
There are four levels of certificates; they range from Certificate I (basic fundamental knowledge and understanding in a narrow area of work and learning) to Certificate IV (broad factual, technical and theoretical knowledge in a specialised field of work and learning).

A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

• graduates at this level will have technical and theoretical knowledge and concepts, with depth in some areas within a field of work and learning
• Typically takes 1-2 years to complete

Most or all of the cost of this training is borne by the student or a person or organisation on behalf of the student.

A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

• graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area
• the volume of learning is typically 0.5-1 year

A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

• graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area
• the volume of learning is typically 1-2 years

The name by which a registered training organisation is legally known. This name may differ from the trading name.

Collects, analyses, evaluates and communicates research and statistics about vocational education and training (VET).

The National Register for vocational education and training (VET) is a record of all training organisations formally approved to deliver VET services by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (or, in some cases, a state regulator).
The registered training organisation’s (RTO) registration is recorded, and details are made publicly available, on the authoritative National Register of VET in Australia, training.gov.au .

Formal certification awarded in recognition of the successful completion of an educational program. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications are awarded when a person has satisfied all requirements of the units of competency or modules that comprise an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification .

Recognition of prior learning identifies your skills, knowledge and experiences no matter where, when or how you gained them. It offers the opportunity to have these attributes count towards a formal qualification. Your skills and knowledge are matched to current industry qualifications so you can gain that formal recognition.
Recognition of prior learning is ideal for people with industry relevant work skills or knowledge acquired through paid or unpaid work experience, life experience or community work.

An organisation registered in accordance with vocational education and training (VET) legislation to deliver and/or assess nationally recognised training in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework. RTOs are also referred to as training organisations, and all RTOs are listed on the National Register, training.gov.au .

A nationally unique code a registered training organisation (RTO) has been allocated to use for an identified period of time. An organisation's RTO code on My Skills is the same as on the National Register, training.gov.au .

The units of competency, qualifications and accredited courses that a registered training organisation (RTO) is registered to deliver and/or assess. The scope found for a training organisation on My Skills is the same as on the National Register, training.gov.au.
The training organisation may not be currently delivering every item on its 'scope'. Please contact the relevant training organisation to confirm all delivery details of the training and how to enrol.

Statement of attainment

Formal certification provided by a registered training organisation, confirming that the person has achieved:

1. part of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification; or
2. one or more units of competency from a nationally endorsed training package; or
3. all the units of competency or modules comprising an accredited short course

Money or other financial incentives paid by a government to help in the delivery and participation of students in training courses.

Technical and further education institution; a registered training organisation owned and operated by a state government, or public provider of training.

Trading name

The particular name by which a registered training organisation is publicly known.

A training organisation’s approach to providing education and training. An organisation’s training options dictates the training delivery modes available to students. Face-to-face is the more traditional training delivery mode, whilst flexible service delivery models may involve distance education, mixed-mode delivery, online learning, self-paced learning, self-directed learning, or combinations of these.

The National Register of information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations (RTOs).

A training package is a set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills in a specific industry, industry sector or enterprise.
Despite the name, training packages do not describe how people should be trained, nor does it refer to a package of training or qualification that can be delivered or attained. Rather, training packages provide the nationally endorsed industry standards against which training can be developed and flexibly delivered to meet particular local, individual, industry and enterprise requirements.
Training packages complete a quality assurance process and are then endorsed by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC). The training packages are reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to meet the needs of industry, students and the community.

Unit of competency

Units of competency are the building blocks of a qualification. Each unit of competency identifies a distinct workplace requirement or skill needed to perform the task effectively in the workplace. This can include work knowledge and skills, language, literacy and numeracy, or occupational health and safety requirements.
Legislation makes it a requirement that each unit of competency be listed on the National Register, training.gov.au . Units of competency must be adhered to in training and assessment to ensure consistency of outcomes.

VET course

A vocational education and training (VET) course is defined by the
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011, s.3
as:

1. the units of competency of a training package that is endorsed by the Ministerial Council; or
2. the modules of a VET accredited course; or
3. the modules of a course accredited by a VET Regulator of a non‑referring state

VET FEE-HELP

Assistance for tuition fees available to eligible students studying higher level vocational education and training (VET) qualifications (Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma courses).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational education and training (VET) is training in technical, job-related skills. It provides students with specific skills to help them in the workplace, and enables them to gain qualifications for all types of employment. All of the training on the My Skills website is VET.
VET is different from secondary (high school) education and tertiary (university) education, although some schools and universities offer VET courses; for further information visit My School , or myfuture .