Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that acknowledges and validates your currently existing skills, knowledge, and experience, despite of how they were acquired. RPL offers an opportunity for you to gain formal recognition for your abilities, enabling you to track your educational and career progression. RPL helps you to get adjoined with the certification that is sufficed with your prior qualifications. RPL is a viable option for people who have gained skills and knowledge through work experience, informal learning etc.

The RPL process is entailed with following steps: • Identify your learning outcomes – The first step is to identify the learning outcomes that you want to achieve through RPL. These learning outcomes will be based on the requirements of the qualification that you are seeking. • Gather evidence of your learning– Once you have identified your learning outcomes, you will need to gather supporting evidence to be provided as proof. This evidence can be in a variety of forms, such as work samples, portfolios, reference or service letters. • Submit your evidence to an assessor– The assessor will review your evidence and determine whether you have met the learning outcomes of the qualification. If you are successful, you will be awarded the qualification.

The duration to get RPL can vary depending on the industry you are focusing on, the certification, the evidence you supply, and how efficiently you supply the relevant evidence. Overall, the RPL process can take from 1 to a maximum of 8 weeks. The following are some of the factors that can affect the length of the RPL process: • The complexity of the qualification: relatively complex qualifications will take a longer time to assess. • The amount of evidence you supply: the more and sufficient evidence you supply, the faster the assessment process will be. • Your quickness in providing the evidence: the faster and efficient the submission of evidence is, the faster we can proceed with the RPL assessment.

The most significant benefits in using RPL includes; • Time saving • A financially viable option • Improves your career prospects • Allows to gain a competitive edge • Increases your self confidence • Helps to expand your knowledge and skills

• It can help you to enhance your confidence and self–esteem – when you have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge through RPL assessment, it will help you feel more confident in yourself. • You may get the chance to network with other professionals – the RPL assessment process can give you the opportunity to build up connections with other professionals who are also seeking to upskill themselves. • You will be able to stay updated with the latest industry trends – the RPL assessment process can help you to identify the latest industry trends and advancements and to ensure that your skills and knowledge are contemporary.

RTO is termed as Registered Training Organisation. RTOs are accredited by Australian government to carry on training and assessment services for individuals. They offer a range of courses summing up every industry.

The main difference between RPL and RTO is that RPL is an assessment process which helps you to get your prior learning and experience evaluated against the requirements of a qualification, whereas RTO is an organisation that is accredited to deliver training and assessment services.