Why Recognition of Prior Learning Applications Are Tripling Year On Year

[updated November, 2022]

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), 62% of Australians aged 15-74 years (11.8 million people) had a non-school qualification (a certificate, diploma or degree), while 12% were studying for one (or another one).

Overall, 68% had or were studying for a non-school qualification. This proportion has been slowly but continuously increasing over time, from 62% in 2013. But what about the rest of the population?

Those Australian’s may have yet to jump aboard a fast-moving train that is picking up skilled workers right across the country in the last 10 years. The desire for non-school qualifications has seen applications for Recognition of Prior Learning at Asset College alone triple in this time.

Why RPL is trending right now

Susan Shortland, a veteran to the recognition of prior learning process at Asset College has some ideas on why RPL is trending right now.

‘The employment market has changed a lot in the past 40 years, with workers now taking responsibility for their own training and personal development, and employers expecting a complete package from the day you arrive. Qualifications are now being considered more beneficial than experience because experience is so hard to prove. But, developments in the education sector now allow us ‘oldies but goodies’ to validate our decades of experience with actual real life qualifications through RPL.’

Henry Winzar, RPL Assessor for Asset College agrees that those already within the workforce want some recognition for their achievements, without having to put the time and money into study.

‘RPL is not only used for qualification recognition but skills recognition also. Depending on the level of evidence that the candidate has available their options for RPL are vast and they may not even know that they are eligible to receive certain qualifications. RPL helps candidates turn their skills into a transferable qualification that will stay with them for life’.

RPL applies to professionals

While this may still be a foreign concept to a number of skilled workers across the country, attitudes towards RPL are changing. RPL can apply to professionals from every industry sector and the fact that those working within some of these sectors are unaware that recognition of prior learning is available has to change.

‘Some people think that there is no point in going through the recognition of prior learning process because they know they have the skills and they already have a job. I say they’re wrong. Gaining a qualification gives you confidence and a sense of achievement and it shows others that you made it,’ says Henry.

The benefits of RPL

The benefits of recognition of prior learning in today’s workforce spread right across every workplace with RPL allowing us to celebrate lifelong learning and to continue to push the need for a productive and capable workforce in Australia.

‘The self-esteem and personal pride that came with achieving my qualifications were priceless. I have now completed 7 x Diplomas, mostly by RPL, and I am currently working on number 8 with Asset College. My office wall has never looked so good!’

‘RPL is an approved and accredited process by which I can validate my decades of hard work, and I intend to take full advantage of it, and I encourage all skilled workers to at least investigate what is available to them and how it will improve their opportunity to remain employable into the future.’ says Sue.

Interested in finding out what qualifications you may be eligible to receive through recognition of prior learning?

Take our Free Skills Assessment today and get the recognition that you deserve.

Learn more at Recognition of Prior Learning or contact us.