Vocational Education and Training (VET)

On 1 July 2011 the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the National VET Regulator was established. To find out about ASQA functions and jurisdictions visit their website.

The VRQA continues to accredit Victorian Crown copyright courses, courses for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) registered with the VRQA and for organisations or individuals who are not RTOs.

The VRQA's role

The VRQA accredits courses in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), the AQTF Standards for State and Territory Course Accrediting Bodies and the AQTF Standards for Accredited Courses.

Accredited courses address skill requirements for industry, enterprises and the community, where these are not covered in nationally endorsed training packages.

Courses cannot be accredited if their outcomes can be achieved through existing training package qualifications.

The VRQA accredits VET qualifications from Certificate I to Vocational Graduate Diploma. Short courses that do not have the depth, breadth and complexity required of a qualification as stated in the Australian Qualifications Framework First Edition July 2011  are also accredited. Such a course is referred to as a ‘Course in [topic]’.

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) has been revised and strengthened, effective from 1 July 2011. All courses submitted to the VRQA for accreditation and/or re-accreditation must meet the requirements of the strengthened AQF.

By accrediting a course the VRQA confirms that the course meets the national quality assurance requirements set out in the AQTF Standards for Accredited Courses.

Once a course has been accredited by the VRQA it is listed on the State Register and Training.gov.au.

Course accreditation process

Course accreditation involves the following steps (click each step for more information):

  1. Preliminary research
  2. Course concept proposal
  3. Course development
  4. Accreditation submission
  5. Assessment of the accreditation submission
  6. Submitting proposed course to the VRQA
  7. Ongoing monitoring

Course accreditation is also covered in the AQTF Users' Guide to Standards for Accredited Courses.

Course developer workshops

The VRQA conducts workshops on the course accreditation process. Anyone considering developing a course for accreditation should attend a workshop. 

For more information, see: Events.

VRQA accreditation advisers

The VRQA has an approved list of independent accreditation advisers. Advisers are experienced in course development and accreditation processes. They are available as consultants to assist in the development of courses, preparation and review of accreditation submissions. Two accreditation advisers are required for the assessment of the accreditation submission.

For information about their fees, check with individual accreditation advisers (Word - 74Kb).