Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Credit Transfers

1. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Credit Transfers

2. Content • Overview of the RPL process • Definition of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) • Credit Transfer • RPL Process • Your Portfolio • Step by Step Instructions • Submitting your RPL Portfolio • Notification of Results

3. Overview of the RPL process The overview of the SAIG RPL process has been designed to help you meet the assessment requirements of the units of competency that make up the qualifications on our scope as an Registered Training Organisation. An RPL assessment must measure an individual against the elements and performance criteria that make up the units of competency being applied for. Therefore, each person undertaking an RPL assessment is required to develop and submit their own work. Submissions found to be completed by someone other than the identified candidate, or containing work plagiarized from another source, will result in a Not Yet Competent result with no refund of fees applicable.

4. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer RPL and Credit Transfer provide assessment only pathways to achieving a statement of attainment or qualification. RPL:Assessment process that assesses formal, informal & non formal learning to determine the extent to which the individual has achieved the required learning outcomes; and Credit Transfer:Evaluation of an individual’s formal qualifications to determine the extent to which it is equivalent to the required learning outcomes, competency standards or qualification standards

5. Recognition of Prior Learning Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL); • Is the formal recognition of a person's current skills and knowledge, no matter how, when or where the learning occurred. It 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 (Australian Qualifications Framework 2011). What does this mean? • RPL assessment is a complex process because it requires time, research and the evaluation of varied evidence on the part of the Assessor to ensure the appropriate evidence is submitted to inform the judgment of competence. • A candidate must submit sufficient evidence to allow the Assessor to make a judgement of the competence of the candidate against the elements and performance criteria in the units of competency sought

6. RPL - Process Overview Application for RPL is made Evidence is submitted Evidence interpreted & judgment made Report to stakeholders & outcome recorded Appeal mechanism Candidate makes application for RPL Candidate submits evidence to support application for RPL, including relevant workplace documentation Evidence presented and assessed against units of competence - judgment made by a qualified SAIG assessor • Stakeholders may include: • Candidate • Employer • SAIG • Relevant funding bodies • Relevant accreditation bodies • Candidate may appeal the judgment

7. Principles of Recognition of Prior Learning • RPL should be: • Timely, fair and transparent; • Assessment based on evidence; • Equitable; • Culturally inclusive; • Fair; • Flexible; • Valid and reliable • The evidence you provide will be evaluated against the requirements of the unit(s) of competency. Your evidence will also be checked to ensure it is: • Valid • Sufficient • Authentic • Current

8. RPL Assessment The methods used to assess RPL may take a number of forms: • The candidate may undertake exactly the same or modified assessment normally offered to candidates as part of the course; • Assessment based on a portfolio of evidence; • Direct observation of skill or competence; • Examples of a candidate’s work drawn from workplace, social, community or other settings where the candidate applies learning, skill or competence; • Testimonials of learning skill or competence; and • Combination of any of the above

9. Credit Transfer Credit transfer • Is a process that “provides students with agreed and consistent credit outcomes for the components of a qualification based on identified equivalence in content and learning outcomes between matched qualifications”(Australian Qualifications Framework 2011) What does this mean? • Credit transfer forms one part of the overall RPL process dealing with formal qualifications • When you apply for credit transfer, you are asking SAIG to evaluate the equivalence of the qualification you have already completed with the qualification or units of competency for which you are applying. You must provide sufficient information to allow SAIG to determine equivalence, including course outlines and assessment methods, as well as evidence that you completed the qualification or units of competency. • Evidence equivalence in content and learning outcomes also includes evidence of the application in the workplace of the knowledge you acquired. This may be demonstrated by evidence of projects undertaken as part of the assessment process

10. Credit Transfer – Process Overview Application for Credit Transfer is made Evidence is submitted Evidence interpreted & judgment made Report to stakeholders & outcome recorded Appeal mechanism Candidate makes application for Credit Transfer to SAIG and pays the relevant fee • Candidate submits evidence to support application, including appropriate documentation, course outlines, certificates, etc Documentation presented by candidate is evaluated for equivalence against units being sought • Stakeholders may include: • Candidate • Employer • SAIG • Relevant funding bodies • Relevant accreditation bodies • Candidate may appeal the judgment

11. RPL – Assessment Process The RPL process normally consists of the following stages: • Choose units of competence you have evidence to support • Complete and submit the Application form, formally identifying the units you will seek recognition for - you will then be registered as an RPL candidate and an invoice will be issued • Pay the invoice • Prepare a portfolio of evidence and submit it for assessment to SAI Global • SAI Global forwards the portfolio to a qualified Assessor for evaluation • The Assessor evaluates the evidence in the portfolio and provides feed-back to applicant about the assessment outcome NOTE: If the Assessor deems the evidence provided in the portfolio to be insufficient to demonstrate competency, the Applicant will be contacted and provided with the opportunity to re-submit additional evidence as required by the Assessor.

12. Your Portfolio Your portfolio should include samples of workplace documents you have produced that provide evidence of your competence against each element / performance criteria in the unit(s) of competency. You may include paper and/or electronic work samples. For example, the following documents are typically included in a portfolio of evidence against the units that make up our Lead Auditor course: • A current Resume showing your industry /auditing experience (required) • Verified copies of relevant qualifications and Statements of Attainment previously completed • At least two audit plans for a range of quality audits containing: - the audit schedule, proposed activities, methods, and techniques; - risk analysis and proposed treatment of identified risks; - entry and exit meeting agendas

13. Your Portfolio (cont) • Evidence of your use of at least two of the following audit methods and techniques: • determining information flows • evaluating the effectiveness of system controls • questioning • sampling • scanning • tracing • trend analysis • An audit report for an exit meeting, which analyses findings and information gathered to arrive at the findings. • At least two comprehensive written audit reports • An audit schedule showing that you have recently undertaken the role of lead auditor on at least two occasions NOTE: You may also ask a colleague or supervisor to complete a Third Party Observation of Performance. Your third party needs to be in an equal or higher role than yourself and understand the requirements of auditing and risk management. SAIG can provide you with a template form to use, if required.

14. Portfolio Checklist You are required to attach: • Clearly labelled and numbered documents with a table showing how each document relates to the units / elements / performance criteria • Certified copies of relevant qualifications / Statements of Attainment, if applicable  • Outlines of relevant Courses/Programs you have attended including all learning outcomes and course/session outlines. Note: a transcript of course results will not suffice to demonstrate equivalence unless you can provide an outline of what the course covered. • Detailed CV/Resume outlining the responsibilities/tasks and achievements of each job role relevant to the units of competency you wish to acquire.

15. Step by Step Instructions for submitting your portfolio • Complete the RPL Assessment Cover Sheet with your personal details • Review the evidence you have provided against the requirements of the units of competency you are applying for. You are responsible for providing evidence that will clearly demonstrate your competency against eachelement/performance criteria that makes up the unit of competency you wish to attain. • Prepare your Portfolio of Evidence, numbering each document and providing a table that relates each document to the unit / element / performance criteria sought

16. Submitting Your RPL Portfolio Submit your completed RPL application to SAI Global for assessment. • You may submit your RPL Assessment electronically by e-mail or hard-copy by post. • If submitting by e-mail, please type “RPL Assessment – “your name” in the subject line. • Email address: training@saiglobal.com • Postal address: SAI Global LTD Training & Improvement Solutions “RPL Assessment” GPO Box 5420 SYDNEY NSW 2000 NOTE: Despite our best efforts, RPL submissions sometimes get lost. You are required to KEEP A COPYof your RPL submission.

17. Notification of Results Notification of the results of your assessment will take the following form: • COMPETENT: Notification via email and receipt of the required statement of attainment or qualification (if applicable) by mail. • NOT YET COMPETENT: Notification via email with notification of additional work required to achieve competency status. NOTE: If you are deemed to be Not Yet Competent, the Assessor will contact you to explain the deficiencies in the evidence you have submitted. The Assessor will discuss with you the various options to obtain the desired units of competency, including re-submitting your RPL application and/or enrolling in training

18. Thank you for choosing SAI Global as your training provider.For further information visit: www.saiglobal.com, or callCustomer Service on 1300 727 444.