Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) & Credit Transfers
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
2
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.
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
Credit Transfer – Process Overview
Application
for Credit
Transfer is
made
Evidence is
submitted
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
Evidence
interpreted &
judgment
made
Documentation
presented by
candidate is
evaluated for
equivalence
against units
being sought
Report to
stakeholders
& outcome
recorded
Appeal
mechanism
Stakeholders
may include:
•Candidate
•Employer
•SAIG
•Relevant
funding bodies
•Relevant
accreditation
bodies
Candidate may
appeal the
judgment
10
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.
11
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
12
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.
13
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.
14
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
15
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.
16
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
17
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.