RPLs and Credit Transfers: What's All the Fuss About?

Currently, there is a lot of confusion in the industry regarding some of the very basic concepts related to vocational education and training, so we thought it would be a good idea to explain them one by one. We would like to take a look at RPLs and Credit Transfers first, what are they and how do they work? Why are they important? What are the reasons for this? The main differences between them are discussed in this article. 

What are RPLs 

The term RPL refers to Recognition of Prior Learning. The process involves assessing and recognising individuals' prior learning (whether formal, informal or non-formal) against the requirements of a training product, such as a unit of competency or skill set.

A person's prior experience, skills, knowledge and abilities are identified, assessed and recognised through the recognition of prior learning, regardless of how, when or where they gained them. A person may use recognition of prior learning (RPL) for various reasons, such as gaining admission to further study, advancing within a qualification, or being assessed for competency.

For individuals seeking to improve their employment prospects or gain additional qualifications, RPL can be a very valuable tool.

The RPL process typically involves the following steps:

1. identification of prior learning;
2. assessment of prior learning; and
3. recognition of prior learning.

As part of our learning process, we acquire prior knowledge in a variety of ways, such as through work experience, life experience, formal training and education, or informal learning.

In general, a prior learning assessment is conducted by comparing an individual's prior learning to the requirements of a particular training product in order to determine if the individual has the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to meet the requirements of that training product.

The individual is usually awarded credit towards their qualification when they have been recognised as having prior learning. The individual will not have to complete certain tasks or assessments that are necessary to obtain the qualification, as they have already demonstrated their competence through their prior learning, and thus are not required to complete these tasks or assessments.

It is important to note that RPL can be a very useful tool for individuals who have acquired skills and knowledge through work experience or other non-formal routes to learning. Furthermore, this can also be beneficial for people who may not be able to complete a formal qualification but who still want to obtain recognition for their skills and knowledge, although they may not have the opportunity to do so.

What are credit transfers? 

A credit transfer is a process of recognising academic credits that were gained through formal study at Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), professional bodies or enterprises as well as universities. In the context of credit transfers, credit is given based on documentary evidence of achievement/qualifications that can be verified to be accurate. 

Credits can be external credits from external organisations or internal credits from within the training organisation. 

Difference between RPLs and credit transfers

In contrast to RPL, which is based on prior learning in a formal, informal or non-formal setting, credit transfers are exclusively based on competencies achieved in a formal setting. If a credit transfer is going to take place, the transfer of credit must require the same unit of competency to be credited, and any gaps within the studies should be filled with gap training and gap assessment.  

Therefore, credit transfer should be based on: 

1. Whether a learner has the same unit of competency or not 
2. When a unit is superseded and deemed equivalent, what are the differences in different versions and how have students addressed those differences? 
3. The student must be assessed through RPL if a unit has been superseded and deemed non-equivalent.