If you’ve been working in your trade for years but don’t have a formal qualification to show for it, you may have started wondering whether Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) could be an option.
But how do you know when you have enough experience to actually be ready for an RPL assessment?
It’s not simply about reaching a certain number of years on the tools. RPL looks at the skills, knowledge and experience you have developed and whether you can demonstrate competency across the requirements of the relevant qualification.
Here are some signs that your trade experience may be ready to be assessed through RPL.
What Is Recognition of Prior Learning?
Recognition of Prior Learning, commonly known as RPL, is an assessment process that recognises skills and knowledge you have already gained through work, previous training and practical industry experience.
Instead of completing training in areas you are already competent in, your existing skills are assessed against the requirements of a nationally recognised qualification.
For experienced tradespeople, this can provide a pathway to formal recognition of skills that may have taken years to develop in the workplace.
However, having worked in a trade for a long time does not automatically mean you will meet every requirement of a qualification. The important question is whether your experience has given you the breadth and depth of competency required.
You Can Complete the Core Tasks of Your Trade Independently
One of the clearest signs that you may be ready for RPL is that you regularly complete the key tasks of your trade without needing constant supervision.
An experienced tradesperson should generally understand not only how to perform a task, but also how to:
- plan the work
- select appropriate tools, equipment and materials
- interpret plans, drawings or job instructions
- complete the task safely
- identify and solve problems
- check the quality of completed work
- follow workplace procedures and industry requirements.
If you are confidently carrying out these responsibilities as part of your normal work, you may already have a strong foundation for an RPL assessment.
Your Experience Covers More Than One Type of Job
RPL is about demonstrating competency across a qualification, not proving that you are very good at one particular task.
For example, someone working in cabinet making may have extensive experience assembling cabinets but less exposure to reading plans, operating different machinery, installing finished products or working with different materials.
Similarly, a mechanical tradesperson may be highly experienced in one type of equipment but have limited experience across some of the other skills covered by their qualification.
The broader your work history, the more likely it is that you have developed the range of competencies needed.
Ask yourself:
Have I worked across different jobs, environments, materials, equipment or types of projects within my trade?
If the answer is yes, that variety may help demonstrate the breadth of your experience.
You Understand Why a Job Is Done a Certain Way
Competency is about more than being able to physically complete a task.
Experienced tradespeople usually develop a strong understanding of the reasoning behind their work.
You should be able to explain things such as:
- why you selected a particular tool or material
- how you would approach a job differently under different conditions
- what hazards need to be considered
- how you would recognise poor workmanship
- how you would troubleshoot a problem
- what could happen if a task was completed incorrectly.
Being able to explain your decision-making demonstrates that your skills go beyond simply following instructions.
Safety Has Become Part of How You Work
Safe work practices are an important part of trade competency.
You should understand the hazards associated with your work and know how to manage them appropriately.
Depending on your trade, this may include:
- personal protective equipment
- manual handling
- machinery and equipment safety
- electrical or mechanical hazards
- hazardous substances
- working at heights
- dust and airborne contaminants
- housekeeping
- isolation procedures
- reporting hazards and incidents.
An experienced tradesperson should be able to identify risks and take appropriate action without needing someone else to point them out first.
You Can Solve Problems When Things Don’t Go to Plan
Trade work rarely goes exactly according to plan.
Materials may not fit correctly. Equipment can fail. Site conditions may change. Measurements may be wrong. A previous stage of work may have been completed incorrectly.
Being able to respond to these situations is often one of the biggest differences between someone who is still learning and someone who has developed genuine trade competency.
If you can assess a problem, identify possible causes and work out an appropriate solution while maintaining safety and quality, that experience can be valuable during the RPL assessment process.
You Have Evidence of the Work You’ve Done
Being skilled in your trade is one part of RPL. You also need to be able to demonstrate those skills.
The evidence required will depend on your qualification and individual circumstances, but examples may include:
- photos or videos of completed work
- employment records
- employer references
- job sheets
- invoices
- contracts or work orders
- previous qualifications or training records
- workplace documents
- third-party reports.
You don’t necessarily need to have every possible type of evidence before making an enquiry.
However, if you have a solid work history and can provide evidence showing the type of work you regularly perform, you may be in a good position to begin discussing RPL.
Other Tradespeople Rely on Your Knowledge
Think about the role you currently play at work.
Are you the person younger tradespeople or apprentices come to when they have a question?
Do you help troubleshoot difficult jobs?
Are you trusted to work independently, organise tasks or check the quality of work?
You don’t necessarily need to be a supervisor to be ready for RPL, but being trusted by employers and colleagues can be a good indication that you have developed significant knowledge and practical experience.
You’ve Learned Through Years of Real-World Experience
Not every skilled tradesperson followed a traditional apprenticeship pathway.
You may have developed your skills through a combination of employment, informal workplace training, mentoring, previous study and years of practical experience.
RPL exists to recognise that learning can happen in the workplace as well as in a classroom.
What matters is whether you can demonstrate that your current skills and knowledge meet the requirements of the qualification being assessed.
What If You Have Some Gaps?
You don’t necessarily need to know everything before asking about RPL.
Part of the assessment process is identifying what you already know and whether there are areas where additional evidence, assessment or training may be required.
If gaps are identified, this does not automatically mean you need to start an entire qualification from the beginning.
The purpose of RPL is to recognise the competencies you already have and determine what, if anything, still needs to be addressed.
Experience Is Important — But Competency Is What Counts
It can be tempting to think of RPL in terms of years:
“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, so surely I qualify.”
But two people who have both spent 10 years in the same industry can have very different levels and types of experience.
One may have worked across a wide range of projects and responsibilities, while another may have performed the same narrow range of tasks throughout that time.
That’s why RPL focuses on what you can actually do, what you know and what you can demonstrate.
Could Your Trade Experience Be Ready for RPL?
If you have substantial hands-on experience, work independently, understand the technical and safety requirements of your trade and can provide evidence of the work you have completed, it may be worth exploring RPL.
You don’t have to work out your eligibility alone.
Gimbal Training can discuss your experience, the qualification you are interested in and the RPL assessment process to help determine the appropriate next step.
Been on the tools for years and ready to see whether your experience could count towards a nationally recognised qualification?Contact Gimbal Training to learn more about Recognition of Prior Learning and skills assessment options.