The transition from superseded training products
The following is useful information regarding the transition of superseded training products.
Subject to clause 1.27 of Standards for RTOs 2015 and unless otherwise approved by the VET Regulator, the RTO ensures that:
- Where a training product on its scope of registration is superseded, all learners’ training and assessment is completed and the relevant AQF certification documentation is issued or learners are transferred into its replacement, within one year from the date the replacement training product was released on the national register
- Where an AQF qualification is no longer current and has not been superseded, all learners’ training and assessment is completed and the relevant AQF certification documentation is issued within two years from the date the AQF qualification was removed or deleted from the national register
- Where a skill set, unit of competency, accredited short course, or module is no longer current and has not been superseded, all learners’ training and assessment is completed and the relevant AQF certification documentation is issued within one year from the date the skill set, unit of competency, accredited short course or module was removed or deleted from the national register
- A new learner does not commence training and assessment in a training product that has been removed or deleted from the national register.
The requirements specified in clause 1.26 (a) do not apply where a training product requires the delivery of a superseded unit of competency.
What clauses 1.26 and 1.27 mean for your RTO
ASQA’s strategic review of the marketing and advertising practices of RTOs found that almost 12 percent of a random sample of 238 RTO websites were found to be marketing qualifications after the relevant transition period had expired. This is of significant concern, as the average consumer would not recognize that the courses being offered were out of date.
Students are entitled to graduate with a qualification that reflects the current skill needs of the relevant industry. If a qualification is superseded or discontinued, this is a clear indication that industry needs have changed and the previous qualification is no longer the most suitable.
To best meet the needs of your students and industry, transfer students from superseded qualifications into replacement qualifications as soon as possible.
Superseded training products
Where a training product is superseded by a replacement version, all deliveries to all students in the superseded version must finish within one year. This should see the student transferred to the replacement product; however, before this can happen, you must ensure that the replacement training product is on your RTO’s scope of registration.
Where the developer responsible for the parent training package deems the replacement training product is equivalent to the superseded qualification, in most cases ASQA will automatically update your RTO’s scope of registration to include the replacement training product. Your scope will be updated immediately after the endorsement process unless your RTO:
- Has ‘opted out’ of this process, or
- Has unresolved compliance issues that prevent the scope update.In cases where the training product is not considered
In cases where the training product is not considered equivalent to the earlier version or where your RTO has ‘opted out’ of automatic updates, before transferring any student enrolments you will need to:
- Apply to ASQA for the replacement to be added to your RTO’s scope of registration
- Has that application been approved?
An RTO that holds a delegation from ASQA (to manage its scope of registration) can add the relevant training products to their scope without application (except for designated qualifications and skill sets from the TAE Training Package).
Students who will complete their study in the superseded product and be issued with a qualification or statement of attainment within the one-year transition period do not need to be transferred to a replacement training product.
During the one-year transition period, students may still commence training in the superseded training product; however, these students must then either be completed or transferred out before the end of the transition period.
ASQA will remove the superseded training product from your RTO’s scope of registration one year from the date it was superseded. From this date, you must not:
- Train students in that training product
- Issue a qualification or statement of attainment for that training product (except as a replacement for a previously issued qualification or statement of attainment).