Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Credit Transfers

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Content

1. Overview of the RPL process

2. Definition of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

3. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

4. Credit Transfer

5. RPL Process

6. Your Portfolio

7. Step by Step Instructions

8. Submitting your RPL Portfolio

9. Notification of Results

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.

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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

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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

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RPL - Process Overview

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Candidate makes

application for RPL

Application for RPL is made

Evidence is submitted

Candidate submits

evidence to support

application for RPL, including

relevant workplace

documentation

Evidence interpreted &

judgment made

Evidence presented and

assessed against units of competence -

judgment made by a qualified

SAIG assessor

Report to stakeholders &

outcome recorded

Stakeholders may include:

•Candidate•Employer

•SAIG•Relevant

funding bodies•Relevant

accreditation bodies

Appeal mechanism

Candidate may appeal the judgment

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

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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

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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

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Credit Transfer – Process Overview

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Candidate makes

application for Credit Transfer

to SAIG and pays the

relevant fee

Application for Credit

Transfer is made

Evidence interpreted &

judgment made

Documentation presented by candidate is evaluated for equivalence against units being sought

Evidence is submitted

Candidate submits

evidence to support

application, including

appropriate documentation, course outlines, certificates, etc

Appeal mechanism

Candidate may appeal the judgment

Report to stakeholders & outcome recorded

Stakeholders may include:

•Candidate•Employer

•SAIG•Relevant

funding bodies•Relevant

accreditation bodies

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.

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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

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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 occasionsNOTE: 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.

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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.

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Step by Step Instructions for submitting your portfolio

1. Complete the RPL Assessment Cover Sheet with your personal details

2. 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 each

element/performance criteria that makes up the unit of competency you wish to

attain.

3. Prepare your Portfolio of Evidence, numbering each document and providing a

table that relates each document to the unit / element / performance criteria

sought

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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 COPY of your RPL submission.

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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

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Thank you for choosing SAI Global as your training provider.For further information visit: www.saiglobal.com, or call

Customer Service on 1300 727 444.