Updated directions from ASQA
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has updated its general directions in relation to transition from superseded and deleted Training Package qualifications and units of competency, and expired accredited courses, as well as describing arrangements to teach-out students enrolled in superseded qualifications, units of competency, or expired accredited courses.
The following general direction can be used by RTOs as a guide to meet requirements under SNR 25 (Standards for NVR RTOs).
Transition Arrangements
RTO Registration | Continuing Students | New Students | |
Superseded training package qualification or Superseded training package unit of competency |
| An RTO must transfer current students of the superseded qualification or unit of competency into the replacement qualification or unit as soon as practicable following granting of registration but no later than 12 months from the date of publication of it being superseded on the national register. | Once a replacement qualification or unit of competency is published on the national register, an RTO may still commence training or assessment of a new student into the superseded qualification or unit, but only until the superseded qualification or unit is removed from its scope of registration on the national register. |
Deleted training package qualification or Deleted training package unit of competency or Expired accredited course |
| There is no replacement qualification or unit or course for the RTO to transition students of a deleted qualification or expired accredited course to. Nonetheless, the RTO must provide timely and adequate advice and guidance to students if the qualification/unit/course in which they are enrolled is deleted or expired, with the view to transferring the student to an alternative endorsed training package qualification, unit of competency or accredited course. | Once the national register publishes that a training package qualification or unit of competency has been deleted or that an accredited course has expired, an RTO must not commence any training or assessment of the deleted qualification or unit or expired accredited course to any new student. |
Understanding ASQA’s directions.
When interpreting SNR 25, and ASQA’s directions and guidelines it is important to consider the following principles that underpin the requirements:
- Students are entitled to receive the current (endorsed or accredited) training product, unless the student would be genuinely disadvantaged in transferring to that product under the prescribed transition arrangements. In these cases, an RTO is permitted a further period to teach-out the student in his/her existing qualification, but must be prepared to demonstrate, upon request from ASQA, how the student would have experienced genuine disadvantage if made to transition earlier. A student must not continue training in any qualification, course or unit of competency beyond the combined transition and teach-out periods under any circumstances.
- RTOs must apply to have a new training package qualification, unit of competency and/or accredited course added to their scope of registration (by submitting an Application to change RTO scope of registration, accompanied by the required fee), if it wishes to deliver the new product. Approval of this application must be recorded on the national register (training.gov.au) before the RTO can commence delivery.
- RTOs must ensure that students are not enrolled in qualifications/courses that adversely affect their opportunities for employment, residency status and/or future study pathways.
- An RTO must provide timely and adequate advice and guidance to current students if the qualification or course in which they are enrolled is superseded/deleted/expired and ensure students are given the opportunity to transfer to replacement training package qualifications and accredited courses or other currently endorsed training packages or accredited courses.
- Transfer of students must be undertaken in collaboration between the student and the RTO. Current students must not be required to transfer to new training package qualifications or new accredited courses where the genuine disadvantage to them in doing so would outweigh their continued training in, and issuance with, a qualification or statement of attainment for a superseded or deleted training package qualification or superseded or expired accredited courses.
- A registration application for a superseded or deleted training package qualification (or part thereof) or expired accredited course (or part thereof) will not be considered, unless the application is to renew the RTO’s current scope and the product is still within the allowable transition period.
- An RTO does not need to apply to ASQA to teach-out a training package qualification, unit of competency or accredited course in accordance with this general direction.
Teach-out Arrangements
RTO Registration | |
Superseded training package qualification or Superseded training package unit of competency |
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Deleted training package qualification or Deleted training package unit of competency or Expired accredited course |
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Source: asqa.gov.au