Switching Trades or New to Australia? How Recognised Prior Learning Works
If you've got real trade experience — as a career-changer, or as a tradesperson who trained overseas — but no formal Australian qualification, Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) lets a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) assess your existing skills against the Australian competency standard. Depending on the outcome, that can mean skipping straight to a licence exam rather than starting a multi-year apprenticeship from scratch.
How the process generally works
- Find an RTO that offers RPL assessment for your specific trade
- Gather evidence of your experience — pay slips, references, photos of completed work, any overseas licences or qualifications
- Attend a practical skills assessment, usually combined with an interview
- Receive a statement of attainment for the units you're assessed as already competent in, with any gaps identified for further training
Timelines and costs vary significantly by trade, state, and how much evidence you can provide — there's no single standard figure, so treat any specific quote you're given as specific to your situation rather than the norm.
Where to start
Search for RTOs offering RPL assessment in your trade, or check your state's skills assessment authority — for overseas-trained tradespeople, a formal skills assessment is often also required for visa purposes, which can run in parallel with RPL.