If you’ve been working in your trade or profession for years but don’t hold formal qualifications, you might be wondering: Can I use RPL for skills assessment in Australia? The answer is yes—but it depends on the purpose of the assessment and the authority requiring it.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be a powerful tool for having your existing skills recognised without traditional study. However, when it comes to official skills assessments for migration, licensing, or employment, there are a few important things to understand.
What Is a Skills Assessment?
A skills assessment is a formal evaluation used to verify that you have the qualifications, skills, and experience needed for a particular occupation. It is most commonly required by:
- Home Affairs (Department of Immigration) for skilled visa applications
- Licensing bodies or regulators
- Employers, particularly in regulated industries
These assessments are typically conducted by authorised assessing bodies such as Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), Vetassess, Engineers Australia, or the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), depending on your occupation.
What Is RPL?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process conducted by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to evaluate your work experience, skills, and knowledge against nationally recognised qualification standards. If you meet the competency requirements, you’ll receive a nationally recognised certificate under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)—without needing to formally study the course.
Can You Use RPL for a Skills Assessment?
Yes, in many cases you can—but it depends on the requirements of the assessing authority.
When RPL Can Be Used
If you are applying for a skilled migration visa and need a qualification as part of your application, RPL can be a pathway to obtain the required certificate, which you then submit to the assessing body.
For example:
- A tradesperson (like a carpenter or electrician) can get a Certificate III or IV via RPL and then submit it to Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or Vetassess for the migration skills assessment
- A cook or chef can use an RPL-obtained Certificate III in Commercial Cookery for TRA’s assessment requirements
In these cases, RPL is used to obtain the qualification, and then the qualification is used for the skills assessment.
When RPL Alone Is Not Enough
Some assessing bodies have specific requirements and may not accept RPL-only qualifications if they are not issued by an RTO approved by their guidelines. For example:
- TRA requires that the RPL qualification come from a TRA-approved RTO and be part of their Job Ready Program or Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)
- Vetassess may require evidence of formal training and work experience, not just an RPL certificate
Always check with the relevant assessing authority to understand their requirements before proceeding.
Common Occupations That Use RPL for Skills Assessment
Here are some trades and professions where RPL qualifications are commonly used as part of a skills assessment:
- Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers
- Chefs and Cooks
- Automotive Mechanics
- Welders and Fabricators
- Childcare Workers
- Aged Care & Disability Support Workers
- Project Managers
- IT Professionals
These workers often gain their Certificate III, Certificate IV, or Diploma via RPL to support visa or licensing applications.
What’s the Process?
To use RPL for skills assessment, you generally follow these steps:
- Speak to an RPL advisor to check your eligibility and match your skills to a qualification
- Complete the RPL assessment with an approved RTO
- Receive your AQF qualification
- Submit the qualification to the relevant assessing authority (e.g. TRA, Vetassess)
- Complete any additional steps required (e.g. interviews, technical assessments)
Important Tips for Using RPL for Skills Assessment
- Work with an RTO or provider experienced in migration assessments
- Make sure your qualification is issued by an RTO that is recognised by the assessing body
- Collect strong supporting documents (e.g. references, payslips, photos, employment letters)
- Start early, as skills assessment and visa timelines can be tight
- Don’t skip steps—getting the right qualification is only part of the process
Final Thoughts
So, can you use RPL for skills assessment? Yes, but it must be done properly. RPL can be the bridge between your work experience and a recognised qualification—but the qualification must meet the standards of the relevant assessing authority.
Getting the right advice early is crucial. That’s where we come in.
At Skills RPL, we help skilled professionals secure the correct qualifications through nationally recognised RPL pathways. We also guide you on how to use those qualifications for visa, licensing, or employment purposes in Australia.
Let us help you unlock new opportunities with confidence. Start your RPL journey today.
