The Australian VET system has been designed to recognise a person’s competency without prescribing how a person should learn and develop their competence.
This is the fundamental difference between a competency-based training system and a curriculum-based training system. The current competency-based training system was implemented in 1993 to replace the previous curriculum-based training system. And a focus on outcome, or demonstrating competence regardless on how it has been attained, has continued to be a feature of Australia’s VET system.
Some people can learn from performing work. They have learnt from their own work experience rather than attending formal or structured training. The Australian VET system allows a person to have their competence assessed before commencing a training program. We know this assessment-only pathway as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The following is the ‘official definition’ of RPL: [1]
RPL is an assessment process that involves assessment of an individual’s relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the credit outcomes of an individual application for credit.
An RTO should offer RPL at enrolment or prior to the commencement of training. [2]
Many people report that their experience with RPL has been unsatisfactory. It can be time-consuming. It can be frustrating. Often RPL assessments are poorly conducted. And many RTOs seem to be reluctant to offer RPL.
Two of the four principles of assessment are fairness and flexibility. RPL is an important process that contributes to an RTO’s service being fair and flexible. And the principles of fairness and flexibility must be used to guide the RPL process that is implemented by an RTO.
The RTO must fully inform the learner, or RPL candidate, about the assessment process before the assessment process begins. And this includes types of evidence and performance standards expected. [3]
The RTO must ensure that assessment is flexible to the individual learner, or RPL candidate, by assessing competencies. It does not matter how or where competency has been acquired. [4]
You may be required to design and develop an RPL assessment tool.
If you work for an RTO, the RTO will probably have a template for you to complete. And the RTO should have an RPL assessment tool for other qualifications, skill sets or stand-alone units that it has on it’s scope of registration. Therefore, the RTO should have existing examples of RPL assessment tools for you to refer to.
Often the RPL assessment tool will be known as the ‘RPL Kit’. An RPL Kit will usually consist of:
The RPL Kit should give clear and concise information about the RPL assessment process. Relevant RTO’s policies and procedure will need to be communicated to the RPL applicant, including appeals and complaints processes.
A range of general information must be provided.
For example (from the RPL applicant’s perspective):
An RPL applicant may have many questions about the RPL assessment process before they commence. Giving information to prospective RPL applicants aims to provide answers to frequently asked questions.
Specific information must also be provided. An RPL applicant needs to clearly understand the type and amount of evidence that required to be provided. This information may be descriptive rather than prescriptive, and when possible, it is useful to give a range of typical evidence that may support a person’s application for RPL.
Sometimes a single item of evidence may have multiple descriptions because there may not be a single or standard term used in industry or workplaces. For example:
It is only fair that an RPL applicant is informed that evidence is required for every performance criteria. The following example is an extension from the above example for the BSBPEF202 Plan and apply time management unit of competency.
A comprehensive list of evidence has to be communicated to the RPL applicant, otherwise they will not know what to do. They need to know the type and amount of evidence needed to be gathered. This is important information to help the RPL applicant focus on gathering evidence that must comply with the four rules of evidence: valid, current, authentic, and sufficient.
The RPL applicant needs to be provided with specific information relating to the required evidence for the unit or units of competency being assessed, such as:
Some units of competency specify a volume or frequency of performance evidence. The specified amount of evidence to be provided must be communicated to the RPL applicant. The following are some examples.
The specified quantity of evidence is still required when a person is seeking RPL.
Assessment instruments are required to gather knowledge evidence and gather performance evidence. Also, these instruments are used by the assessor to conduct the assessment and make their decisions about competence.
A common method for gathering knowledge evidence is asking questions. Questions can be written, verbal, or combination of both.
Written questions are often used because it can be a cost effective methods for the RTO. Using verbal questions help to explore a person’s breath and depth of knowledge. Having a ‘competency conversation’ is a useful approach. Verbal questions can be to tailored to specifically relate to an individual’s Portfolio of Evidence. Many people will find it easier to talk from their own experience rather than talking theoretically or hypothetically.
A verbal questioning approach has the additional benefit of helping to verify the authenticity of items from a Portfolio of Evidence.
A common method for gathering performance evidence during an RPL assessment process are:
Often indirect evidence is extensively used during an RPL assessment. And a favourable assessment result can not be made based solely on supplementary evidence.
Many people do not keep documents when they are performing their everyday work. Therefore, many people will not have ready access to document evidence. An RTO should be prepared to offer assessment tasks to the RPL applicant. This may include gathering direct evidence if an assessor can observe the RPL applicant performing tasks.
The assessment conditions specified for a unit of competency must be complied with. For example, the assessment conditions for the BSBPEF202 Plan and apply time management unit of competency states:
Skills in this unit must be demonstrated in a workplace or simulated environment where the conditions are typical of those in a working environment in this industry.
Basically, evidence for the BSBPEF202 unit must be from a workplace.
An assessment matrix gives an outline of the various assessment methods that can be used for gathering evidence. The following is an example for the BSBPEF202 Plan and apply time management unit of competency.
The above assessment matrix is incomplete. The matrix should also include:
Some units of competency may also require evidence for the specified Foundation Skills. For examples units from:
Clear and concise instructions will be required:
The RPL assessor needs instruction about conducting the RPL assessment process. And the RPL applicant needs instructions to guide them through the RPL assessment process, in particular the gathering of evidence.
It is common for RPL applicants to be asked to submit a resume, position descriptions, and job descriptions. And some RPL applicants are asked to complete a self-assessment. These documents may be useful background about a person’s previous work experience but:
Asking ‘how-to’ questions should not be used as a method for gathering performance evidence. A person may not be able to describe how to perform a task, but they might have the ability to do it. And a person may have the words to describe how to perform a task, but they don’t have the ability to do it. Asking questions can gather knowledge evidence but not used to gather performance evidence.
It is common for the RPL assessment tool to be called an ‘RPL Kit’.
ASQA’s Guide to developing assessment tools is a document that is worthwhile reading before creating any assessment tool. It is brief, easy-to-read, and it covers essential information.
However, ASQA’s Guide does not go into the details about how to develop an RPL assessment tool.
Usually, an RPL Kit will be developed for an entire qualification. Hence, it will cover many units of competency. The RPL Kit can become a very big document. It will be important to organise and structure the RPL Kit to make it easier to read, navigate and use. This includes:
The walnut has a hard shell. The effort to crack open the hard shell is rewarded by the tasty nut. RPL seems to be a hard nut to crack in the Australian VET system.
In this article, I have covered some key considerations when developing an RPL assessment tool , and I have listed a 5-step process for developing an RPL Kit.
An RPL assessment tool, also commonly known as an RPL Kit, should consist of the following four things:
The conduct of RPL assessment is another topic.
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