Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is about the skills and knowledge you’ve gained through work and life experiences, no matter how, when or where the learning occurred. We acknowledge your previous achievement of competencies or learning outcomes that may count towards your qualification. RPL acknowledges that people learn in many different ways and that learning may have been obtained through:
• Formal learning – which takes place within an institution, such as in a school system, college or at TAFE, and is formally recognised with grades, diplomas or certificates;
• Informal learning – occurs in a variety of places, such as at home, work, and through daily interactions and relationships with members of society;
• Non-formal learning – you had a formal learning environment, but is not formally recognised within a curriculum or syllabus framework (e.g. from workshops, short courses, seminars, community or interest-based courses, conferences);
• A mix of the above.
This recognition process is evidenced in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and could provide you with a full or partial qualification and avoid duplication of training. You may be able to complete your course faster through recognition of your previous study, work skills and past experience as credits towards completion of your course. Some of our courses also have recognised study pathways, making learning more accessible. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
HOW ARE MY SKILLS ASSESSED?
Your skills will be assessed against industry standards. This is done by an RPL assessor. You may be asked to:
• Perform tasks or jobs
• Talk about and explain how you do those jobs (through a structured interview process)
• Provide evidence of your work
• A visit to your workplace may be organised so you can demonstrate your abilities. You may have to provide job descriptions, references or documented evidence of performance appraisals.
• The assessor will consider your skills and knowledge and match them against a suitable qualification.
OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS
If your qualifications, training or skills were gained outside Australia, you might be able to get recognition for your skills or qualifications to determine your eligibility to gain credit for the intended course of study. We can initiate this process on the available courses for which RPL is applicable.
APPLICATIONS FOR RPL
If you intend on applying for RPL:
- Please request the RPL application by contacting our admission officers directly on 1800 22 52 83 or email enquiry@ihna.edu.au state your request.
- Carefully read the information contained within the RPL Student Guide.
- Send your RPL application to our Admissions Officer using the RPL Student Information Form (fully complete all sections).
- Collate copies of all required documents to be used as evidence of your prior learning/experience.
- Attach these documents to your application.
- Submit the Application Form and documented evidence via email to enquiry@ihna.edu.au
- There is an application Fee of AUD$200.00 to conduct the RPL assessment and evaluation.
CREDIT TRANSFER (CT)
Applicants for Credit Transfer must complete the credit transfer application form, attach a copy of a verified Award or Statement of Attainment and submit the application to the Course Coordinator. The Course Coordinator must check the Award or Statement of Attainment and grant Credit Transfer for identical units that have been identified as being completed at another Registered Training Organisation. Verified copies of Qualifications and Statements of Attainment used as the basis for granting Credit Transfer must be placed in the student files. The student and the Course Coordinator must sign the completed Credit Transfer record. Granting of Credit Transfer must be recorded as a unit outcome in the student's file. Student’s individual training plans will be adjusted to reflect any Credit Transfer granted. Credit Transfer does not attract a fee.
