Purpose

The purpose of this policy and procedure is to outline OUR INSTITUTE’s approach to ensuring students are provided with credit for units of competency and/or modules where they are evidenced by:

• AQF certification documentation issued by another RTO of AQF authorized issuing organization such as a university
• Authenticated VET transcripts issued by the Registrar.

Course credit may also be awarded for RPL. The process for RPL is included in TA7 Training and Assessment Policy and Procedure.

This complies with Clause 1.12 and the Standards and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 standards 2, 3 & 6.

The recording of course credit is addressed in the SCI38 Student Administration Policy and Procedure.

Definitions

• AQF: Australian Qualifications Framework, accessible at www.aqf.edu.au
• Certification document: A Testamur, Statement of Attainment, or Record of Results
• Credit: Recognition of the previous studies a student has completed for the purpose of reducing the units or modules required to be completed in their currently enrolled program
• Course: Any nationally recognized qualification, unit of competency, skill set, or short course in which a student is enrolled with the RTO
• Record of Results: A record of all the units and modules completed and their results that lead to an AQF qualification or VET Accredited Course being issued, and is issued alongside an AQF qualification or Statement of Attainment
• PRISMS: Provider Registration and International Students Management System
• RPL: Recognition of Prior Learning
• Standards: The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 from the VET Quality Framework
• Statement of Attainment: Confirms that one or more nationally recognized units or modules have been achieved by an individual but is only used where there has been partial completion of a qualification or VET accredited course
• Testamur: An official certification document that confirms that an AQF qualification has been awarded to an individual. This may be called an ‘award’, ‘qualification’, ‘parchment’, or ‘certificate’

Policy

1. OUR INSTITUTE will not require any student to repeat any unit or module which they have already been assessed as Competent unless there is a license condition or regulatory requirement that requires this.
2. All students will be offered the opportunity to apply for credit for previously completed studies during the enrolment process. Credit can be accessed by a student by completing the Credit Application Form and submitting relevant supporting documents.
3. Where a student can provide certified copies of AQF certification documentation issued by another RTO or authorized issuing organization, OUR INSTITUTE will provide credit for that unit or module.
4. Where evidence has been provided of previous study being completed at another RTO, university, or other authorized issuing organization, an analysis as to the equivalence of study completed with the relevant units in the student’s enrolment with OUR INSTITUTE will be undertaken.
5. All evidence provided as part of an application for Credit will be authenticated by contacting the organization that issued relevant documents to confirm the content is valid.
6. Credit will not be issued where there is a licensing or regulatory requirement that restricts the issuing of Credit.
7. Students will be advised of the outcome of the Credit Application in writing and must accept the credit awarded. Where credit is applied for and approved at the time of application, the course credit will be written into the student’s letter of offer and written agreement. This may result in a reduction of the Course fees.
8. Where credit is provided after the acceptance of a place in a course or on commencement of studies and the credit will affect the duration of studies, this is recorded in PRISMS and a new CoE created.
9. Where there is significant Credit granted, this may result in a reduction of the Course fees which will be advised at the same time.

Procedure

1. Issuing Credit

Procedure	Responsibility
A. Applications for Credit Students will be offered the opportunity to apply for Credit as part of the enrolment process. To apply for credit, a student should fill in the Credit Application Form and supply certified copies of their relevant transcripts. Applications that do not include certified documents should be returned to the student unless originals of the copies are certified by an RTO staff member.	Administration Team
B. Review Credit application Transcripts should be reviewed for their authenticity. Consider:Are the units/modules previously studied relevant to the student’s current enrolment? If not, the Credit Application does not need to be progressed further and the student can be advised that they were not granted any Credits. Does the transcript include the expected information on an AQF Certification document such as name of institution, code, full name of student, name and codes of units completed? Has the copy been certified? Where units are relevant, contact the issuing institutions to confirm the authenticity of the transcripts. Where there is a direct unit match by code and title, a Credit can be issued. Where previously completed studies are deemed equivalent by the Training Package to a unit in the student’s enrolment, a Credit can also be granted for those relevant units. Where previously completed studies are relevant/similar to a unit in the student’s enrolment, the content of the completed units/modules must be analyzed to identify whether the outcomes are equivalent to any units/modules in the student’s course. This may be assessed by reviewing the content of the unit/module which may be accessed through the university or the student may be asked to provide further information if required. Where equivalent outcomes are identified, a Credit can be issued. The reason for the Credits issued should be documented on the Credit Application.	Training Manager/Trainer Administrator
C. Notify student of Credit outcome Once credits have been determined, notify the student of the outcome of their Credit Application in writing. Where 3 or more Credits have been granted, reducing the amount of training and assessment needing to be provided, review the cost of the course and advise the student of the reduced course fees. For international students, follow procedures indicated in Student Administration Policy and Procedures in regard to notification and acceptance of credit and issuing of CoE when credit is awarded.	Training Manager/Trainer Administrator
D. Keep records of Credits granted Keep records of all documents used in the assessment of a Credit Application in the student’s file.	Training Manager/Trainer Administrator