Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be a great pathway for experienced tradespeople to turn years of practical experience into a nationally recognised qualification.
But one concern often comes up before people begin the process:
What happens if the assessor finds gaps in my skills or knowledge?
Finding a gap doesn’t necessarily mean your RPL application has failed or that you need to start an entire qualification from the beginning.
In many cases, it simply means there are particular areas of the qualification where the assessor needs more evidence, further demonstration of your skills, or some targeted training before competency can be confirmed.
At Gimbal Group, RPL is designed to recognise the skills you already have while identifying any areas that may still need to be addressed.
First, What Is an RPL Gap?
During an RPL assessment, your existing skills, knowledge and experience are compared against the requirements of the nationally recognised qualification you are seeking.
Your assessor needs to be satisfied that you can demonstrate competency against the relevant units of competency.
That assessment can involve a combination of:
- workplace evidence
- photos or videos of you performing trade tasks
- employer or supervisor references
- technical interviews
- knowledge questions or assessments
- practical demonstrations
The evidence also needs to be current, sufficient, authentic and relevant to the competency being assessed.
A gap is identified when there isn’t enough evidence to demonstrate competency in a particular area, or when your current skills or knowledge don’t yet cover everything required by the unit.
A Gap Doesn’t Mean You Aren’t Experienced
This is an important distinction.
You may have been working successfully in your trade for many years and still have gaps against a particular qualification.
Trade qualifications are designed to cover a specific range of skills and knowledge. Your work history may simply not have exposed you to every task included in that qualification.
For example, you might be highly experienced in one area of your trade but have had limited exposure to another.
A fabrication worker may have significant experience with certain welding and fabrication processes but less exposure to a particular technique required within their chosen qualification.
A painter may have spent years working primarily on residential projects but have limited experience with certain specialist coatings or other required tasks.
A mechanical tradesperson may be highly competent in servicing and repairing particular equipment but not have regularly performed another competency included within the qualification.
That doesn’t erase the skills you’ve already developed.
It simply means the assessor needs to identify what has been demonstrated and what still needs to be addressed.
Sometimes the Gap Is Actually an Evidence Gap
Not every gap means you don’t know how to perform the task.
Sometimes you have the skill — you just haven’t provided enough evidence to prove it.
For example, an assessor may need:
- additional workplace photographs
- clearer video evidence
- another employer or supervisor reference
- documentation from previous projects
- additional information about your role
- a further practical demonstration
- clarification during your technical interview
Gimbal’s RPL process allows assessors to request further evidence where required before making a final assessment decision.
This is one reason it is important to provide evidence that clearly shows what you personally did, rather than simply proving that you worked for a particular company or on a particular project.
What If It Is a Genuine Skills or Knowledge Gap?
If the assessment identifies an area where you don’t yet meet the competency requirements, the next step may be gap training.
Gap training is targeted training designed specifically around the areas you still need to develop.
Rather than completing training for skills you’ve already demonstrated, you focus on the particular competencies that are missing.
Gimbal Group describes this as targeted training that may be recommended after assessment where gaps in practical skills or knowledge are identified.
This is one of the major benefits of the RPL process.
The goal isn’t to make an experienced tradesperson repeat years of learning unnecessarily. It is to recognise existing competency while making sure every requirement of the qualification has ultimately been met.
What Can Gap Training Involve?
The exact process will depend on the qualification and the gaps identified.
It may involve things such as:
- additional theory or knowledge assessment
- practical training
- completing a particular workplace task
- demonstrating a specific technique
- submitting further video evidence
- further assessment with your trainer or assessor
Because every person’s experience is different, gap training isn’t necessarily identical for every RPL candidate.
Someone with broad experience across many areas of their trade may have very little to complete.
Someone whose experience has been highly specialised may have more areas that need to be addressed.
The important point is that the training is focused on what you still need, rather than automatically repeating what you already know.
Can You Receive Partial RPL?
Yes.
If your assessor determines that you have demonstrated competency in some units but not yet all the units required for the full qualification, you may receive recognition for the units you have successfully demonstrated.
Gimbal’s RPL information explains that where partial RPL is awarded, a Statement of Attainment can be issued for the units assessed as competent, with an opportunity to undertake further training and assessment for the outstanding areas.
Once the remaining requirements have been successfully completed and all required units are deemed competent, you can progress toward the full qualification.
Why Assessors Can’t Simply ‘Tick Off’ Experience
RPL isn’t based only on how many years you’ve worked in the industry.
An assessor must be able to confirm that your skills and knowledge meet the requirements of the qualification.
That means someone with many years of experience may still need to provide additional evidence, while another worker with broad and recent experience may be able to demonstrate competency more readily.
The assessment needs to confirm that the evidence is:
Valid – it actually relates to the competency being assessed.
Sufficient – there is enough evidence to support the assessment decision.
Authentic – the work and evidence genuinely belong to you.
Current – your skills and knowledge are still relevant and up to date.
These requirements help protect the integrity of nationally recognised qualifications.
How Can You Reduce the Chance of RPL Gaps?
You can’t always avoid gaps, particularly if your work experience hasn’t covered every part of a qualification.
However, good preparation can make the assessment process much smoother.
Before beginning your RPL, gather evidence from as many relevant parts of your work history as possible.
This might include:
- photos and videos of completed work
- job sheets
- plans and drawings you’ve worked from
- invoices or quotes if you’re self-employed
- employment records
- references from qualified supervisors or employers
- licences, tickets or previous training certificates
- examples showing you performing a variety of trade tasks
It is particularly useful to show a breadth of experience, rather than providing multiple examples of exactly the same task.
Following the instructions for practical video evidence carefully can also help your assessor verify competency more efficiently. Gimbal notes that clear practical evidence can reduce the amount that needs to be covered later during a technical interview.
Be Honest About What You Haven’t Done
RPL is not about trying to convince an assessor that you have experience you don’t actually have.
If there is an area of the trade you haven’t worked in, it is better to be upfront.
Your assessor can then determine what training or assessment may be needed to address that gap.
Ultimately, completing targeted training in an unfamiliar area can make you a more capable tradesperson and help ensure your qualification accurately reflects your competency.
The Goal Is Recognition — Not Starting Again
One of the biggest misconceptions about RPL is that finding a gap means the whole process has been unsuccessful.
That’s not how it works.
The purpose of RPL is to identify and formally recognise what you already know.
If you meet most of the qualification requirements but have a small number of gaps, those areas can often be addressed individually through additional evidence, training or assessment.
You don’t lose recognition for the skills you’ve already demonstrated.
Instead, the process helps create a clear pathway between the experience you already have and the requirements you still need to meet.
Thinking About RPL?
If you’ve spent years working in your trade but don’t yet hold the corresponding Australian qualification, RPL may provide a pathway to have your existing skills formally assessed.
And if gaps are identified along the way, Gimbal Group can help determine what additional evidence, training or assessment may be required.
You don’t necessarily need to start again — you may simply need to fill in the gaps. Contact Gimbal Group to discuss your experience, eligibility and the RPL pathway that may be available for your trade.