This is for anyone who is currently working in the VET sector as a trainer and assessor, a lead trainer and assessor, a VET teacher in a high school or teaching TAFE, who may be working as training manager, and has numerous years of experience. This would mean that you also currently hold the Cert IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110 or TAE40116, or a Bachelor of Education.

This isn't for anyone who doesn't hold one of the above qualifications and who isn't currently working in one of the above roles, or hasn't been working in the VET sector for a number of years. If you have had a lengthy break but hold the Cert IV TAE40116 qualification, you should look at the Cert IV TAE40122 Upgrade course, and if you are a high school teacher that isn't qualified to teach VET courses yet, look at the VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set (TAESS00024).

If you aren't sure if you are eligible to enrol in this course, speak to one of our Course Advisors.

Before you start your course, you must submit your existing qualifications to us via email. These can include your TAE40116 your TAE40110 Cert IV Transcripts along with anything else that you feel might be recognised (such as Diploma Transcripts or other Cert III or IV Qualifications you have completed).  

We will then analyse these qualifications and select the best 12 units for your course (this will likely include some credit transfer as well).   

You will then only complete your RPL Statement and Third Party Reports for the units that are NOT awarded via Credit Transfer, further reducing your course workload.

Our RPL process is different to many out there. Most RPL processes require copious amounts of writing on top of submitting loads of documented proof which we find painful, and we know students do too. So because you are experienced and have lots of skills and knowledge, we won’t make you jump through hoops.

Here is our 5-step process to a smooth RPL pathway to gain your TAE40122 qualification.

1. PROVIDE EVIDENCE: When your course is activated after enrolment, you will be required to upload some supporting documents to demonstrate your qualifications and experience in training and assessment. 
2. PROVE CURRENCY: You’ll complete some easy online knowledge questions for us to assess your currency in the core units of the new TAE40122.
3. PROVIDE YOUR STATEMENT: You will complete what we call an “RPL Statement”. This is a simple Word document with examples to assist you in explaining how you have the existing skills and knowledge for each unit selected for your TAE40122.
4. 3RD PARTY CONFIRMATION: A colleague or supervisor will need to complete the condensed Third Party Report to back up your responses.
5. FINAL DECLARATION: Finally, after the submission and assessment of the above, you will complete a “Final Declaration” and Voila! You will graduate with your TAE40122 Cert IV TAE.

You know how most companies with RPL make you fill out endless forms, requiring you to write copious amounts of information, then upload long lists of evidence documents only to play email ping-pong for days/weeks to fill in gaps or clarify? Ugh! This is why we opted to add an actual conversation.

You provide the written information and evidence for us to gauge your competence, and then instead of email ping-pong, we do a verbal knowledge assessment in our Competency Conversation. No long email threads and endless writing sagas!

Plus, by the end of our call you'll know if you've nailed it. Isn't that better?

After making your deposit payment, you’ll be sent to a booking page to book your enrolment interview. A confirmation email will then be sent to you with everything you need to prepare for that interview.

The interview can be booked on the same day, but there is a minimum of a 4-hour gap from applying to being able to do the enrolment interview. This is so you have time to get prepared.

HEADS UP: You will need your USI (Student Identifier) before you get to your interview.

You will also be required to complete a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) which can be done one of 2 ways:

1. You can have this discussion in your enrolment interview, but you will need to have emailed all of your course transcripts to us prior to the interview OR 
2. You can be sent the PLP Survey to complete prior to your interview. 

Your interview is done via Google Meet or phone (if preferred). This means that you can ask additional questions before enrolling and clarify anything you’re unsure of. We also get to make sure you have chosen the right course pathway and support package for what you really need.

During the interview, we’ll conduct a "Suitability Assessment." This series of questions will help us determine whether you can meet the technical, practical, and skill requirements needed to confidently complete this course online.

The technical requirements include regular computer access, knowledge, and confidence in navigating email, logins, and websites. The practical questions ensure you have access to the human and physical resources you need to complete the assessments in your course.

We will ask additional questions about your goals, your online experience and comfort level in learning online, your learning ability, plus your availability to study. This is all to ensure you're in the right course and ready to succeed before enrolling formally. This gives you more confidence that you can absolutely get all the way to graduation.

If the course is found to be unsuitable for you, your deposit (including the $150 enrolment interview fee) will be fully refunded. However, the enrolment fee is not refunded if you don't show up for your enrolment interview or change your mind after the interview within the 30-day cooling-off period.

Once we have validated your certificate and transcripts, we'll mark the corresponding unit as completed via credit transfer.

The unit in your LMS Portal will be updated to show as completed, and no further work will be required by you for that unit. We will then credit $200 towards your course fee per unit that is completed via credit transfer.

For any units that can't be completed via credit transfer or RPL, you'll be required to complete the coursework and assessments the same way any new student does.

You could, but this pathway is extremely difficult if your experience isn't current. In order to satisfy the assessment criteria, the evidence presented needs to be comprehensive, and if you're no longer working in an RTO, it's unlikely you'll be able to access and produce the documentation you require.

Anyone who has been working in the industry recently or currently, will find it really easy to complete. It would be best to speak to our Course Advisors about your experience to know for sure if this is doable for you.

Because you will have a unique journey to your Cert IV TAE40122, we need you to answer a detailed questionnaire (survey) to find out exactly which units we can do a credit transfer to complete, which units you can do via an RPL kit and which units are left over and need you to do course work to complete.

The survey is how we work out what your Personal Learning Plan will be, which is a list of all of the units that will make up your Cert IV and how you will complete each one. Your Learner Portal will then be set up using your personal learning plan so when you log in, you will see the RPL kits for the units we've confirmed you can do RPL for, the course work modules will be there for the units you still need to complete fully and any units already completed via credit transfer will be marked as done.

If you have lots of evidence of training and assessment qualifications from a different country like NZ, UK etc you may be eligible for RPL using the Training and Assessment Qualifications held from those countries.

However, because the TAE40122 Cert IV TAE teaches and assesses the design/delivery/assessment and validation of Australian qualifications and uses nationally recognised Australian training frameworks such as the AQF, you would need to be able to show that you have experience training and assessing Australian qualifications as well.

So if you work in Australia as a trainer and assessor, you would certainly be eligible for RPL. If you have never worked in Australia, it would be challenging to provide current evidence of having done these things.

There will be a link in your portal to book a 30-minute block with a trainer as you need help. Trainers generally have availability each day so if you need a session asap, book early in the day for that afternoon. However, some trainers have varied availability so if you want to stick with a particular trainer, just be aware that they may have a slightly longer wait time to book in, but you can book with any other trainer if you need help fast.

We've found that most students understand the learning material but have questions about their assessments and deciding on certain aspects of it, and occasionally struggle understanding a concept (particularly when trying to learn while overwhelmed with life in general, which happens to us all), so 30 minutes is ample time to discuss, clarify, plan and decide whatever needs to be decided.

You have unlimited hours included in your package, so you can use this time if you're not sure how to get started, if you're having trouble with completing any of the tasks or even navigating the learner portal. You may decide to even set up a regular check in with a trainer for ongoing accountability, or you can use them only when you need help. It's entirely up to you!

If during your Enrolment Interview we discover this course is not suitable for you, we’ll offer other alternative solutions or refund all fees paid, including the $150 deposit.

Once your enrolment is finalised, you are set up with a login to your Learner Portal. An email with everything you need to know to get started is sent, and inside the Learner Portal is a video introduction that will show you how to navigate it.

Inside the learner portal, you'll find all of your units listed in a logical order, with all lessons in PDFs and videos, broken down into smaller chunks with comprehensive assessment guides to make it as easy as possible to know what you need to do to complete them right the first time. As you complete each item, they are marked as complete, so you can easily see where you're up to when you next log in.

We want to make sure that you are the right fit for us and we are the right fit for you. Here are a few things for you to consider:

• Fortress Learning is not a “tick and flick” RTO. If you want the fastest and easiest way, we probably won’t be a good fit.
• We made the decision a long time ago to focus on quality and not quantity. As a result, our qualifications have a very good reputation in the industry.
• Employers know that a Fortress Learning qualification is more than just a piece of paper; it has substance.
• Our students finish their training with knowledge, competence and confidence.

Suitability Assessment

During your Enrolment Interview, before you are able to complete the enrolment form, our student support team member will guide you through a verbal conversation regarding suitability.

What will I be asked?

The Suitability assessment consists of different questions that will address the technical requirements of the program, such as required IT and digital literacy  skills. We will also make sure you have access to the human and physical resources you need for the practical requirement of your course.

This ensures that you are placed in the right course for you before you enrol formally.

What happens if I am found not suitable?

If for some reason, during your Enrolment Interview, we discover that based on the suitability responses you give, you cannot continue with the enrolment, we will offer other alternative solutions or refund your fees paid including the enrolment interview fee.