Hey there! If you're interested in becoming a trainer and assessor or an RTO looking to hire one, some important changes are coming up that you should know about. Let's break down the recent update (Changes to the Current Standards for RTOs) into simpler terms and see what it means for you.

Big Changes Coming in January 2025

First things first, there's a big update planned for the Standards for RTOs in January 2025. But, some changes are happening even sooner, starting in March 2024. These changes are all about making things easier for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) workforce.

What's Changing?

1. No More Waiting Until You Graduate To Be Able To Work!

If you're enrolled and actively progressing in the Cert IV TAE, a TAE Skill Set or TAE Diploma, you can now deliver training and assist with assessments while you are still learning, just under supervision, and it must be completed within 2 years. 

This means RTOs can hire new trainers and assessors who have just enrolled or haven’t completed their Cert IV or Diploma yet, but will complete it during the course of their employment. This means you don’t have to rush to finish your qualification to be able to start your job.

2. Industry Experts Can Now Co-Facilitate

Industry experts can now deliver training alongside qualified trainers and assessors, whereas they could only participate in assessing previously. This means those with the wisdom from years of doing the job, don’t need a Cert IV in Training and Assessment to get into a classroom and train the next generation. They just can’t go solo though; they still need supervision, but this will make it much easier for experts to share their wisdom.

3. Teachers Have an Easier Path to Become Trainers and Assessors

If you're qualified as a secondary school teacher, your teaching degree alone will now allow you to train VET courses but under supervision. However, if you're a teacher and you also have the Assessor Skill Set or the VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set, you can train and assess without supervision. 

No more having to do a full Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or grapple with the RPL process to gain one, your previous qualifications and experience is being recognised!

What’s Not Changing?

For now, you can still hold the TAE40110 (+TAEASS502 and TAELLN411), TAE40116, or TAE40122 to be considered a qualified Trainer and Assessor because the minimum qualification requirement is not changing, which means if you hold the TAE40110 + the above 2 units, you don’t need to upgrade. However, you might choose to so your skills and knowledge remain current.

What Does This Mean for You?

- For Aspiring Trainers and Assessors: If you're working towards your Cert IV or Diploma in Training and Assessment, you can start gaining practical experience under supervision. Also, if you're a secondary school teacher, you've got a new pathway to enter the VET sector.

- For RTOs: You've got more flexibility in hiring. You can now consider currently enrolled TAE students, secondary school teachers and industry experts for training roles. Plus, the new standards might make your training programs more diverse and robust.

These changes are designed to ease the pressure on the VET workforce and make it easier for people to get into training and assessing roles. If you're an RTO, these changes offer more options for hiring qualified trainers and assessors. Keep an eye out for more details and guidance from the sector to make the most of these changes!

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