Advanced RPL Assessor - Certification for Professional Practice
Get: Advanced skills, Individual Support, Contemporary Practice
Learn and assess program
Master the skills for better, smoother, user-friendly RPL practices and processes - and simultaneously combat issues that make RPL an ASQA regulatory risk priority
Learn from Wendy Cato, a nationally and internationally recognised expert in the RPL domain who understands the candidate-centred RPL frameworks because of her industry experience and applied RPL practice in the field – actually supporting candidates, RTOs, employers and assessors.
The Advanced RPL Assessor course is designed for experienced trainers and assessors who want to expand their skills in RPL.
It will show you:
ü How to develop RPL toolkits that make assessors, employers and candidates happy
ü The way to eliminate the mountain of paperwork that seems to be common with RPL applications
ü What to do to develop RPL tools that truly support the candidate - even if they don't have documents as evidence
ü Why RPL is a critical component of the Australian VET sector, and Australia’s productivity
ü What to do to make your processes more effective so that you can facilitate the recognition of existing staff skills than having them 'offline' for extended periods of training and assessment time
Best of all, every registrant is fully supported throughout the course with individual mentoring. While the course is self-paced and you can access the materials at your convenience, you’re not left alone to find your own way.
Plus, there is a suite of support materials with templates and sample documents to guide your progress.
Included in your registration, you get:
ü eBooks on Clustering and Mastering RPL
ü Approx. 12 hours of video content – stepping you through how to create RPL that works
ü Extension resources
ü Access to the peer discussion forum
ü Formative quizzes to solidify your knowledge development
ü One-on-one mentoring to guide and support
ü Template guidance
In the spirit of fostering lifelong learning, all alumni are gifted ongoing membership to RPL Matters, our facilitated community of learning about RPL, so your professional development doesn’t have to stop on completion of the course.
People have been enjoying the course, telling us this about their experience:
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
They love the mentoring aspect
…I liked the self-paced nature of the course and the mentor ‘check ins’ were valuable at staying engaged
…I found the one on one mentoring a very beneficial part of the program
...I had Wendy as my personalised mentor during the course. Wendy is a wealth of knowledge on RPL and having her review and comment on our process was well worth doing the course to gain that overview
…Access to mentoring and feedback was always available when needed, and support was timely and constructive whenever I reached out with questions or ideas to test.
…The final mentoring sessions was extremely valuable as it consolidated all information we had learned so far and supported us to move forward in our RPL journey.
The learning materials are valuable
…The videos complimented the course and made it more interesting to hear how knowledge from the course to be applied.
…The resources were clear, practical and easy to work through. Having well-structured templates and sample documents added real value and helped bring the concepts to life.
…I loved the resources. I enjoyed the course, and it challenged me.
…I got a lot from the e-Books.
Even though they have experience with RPL, they got to learn something new
… I found the course challenged the way I looked at assessments as well as the way I provide guidance to candidates.
...Even though I work as an RPL specialist within an RTO I feel I that I have built on my existing RPL skills. Reflecting on how I used to do RPL to what I've learnt now, I feel I will be able to make the process quicker and far more flexible [for candidates]. I'm looking forward to it actually!
...Learning clustering as part of the course was a game changer.
...The program was fantastic. I learned that not having documents doesn't necessarily mean 'no RPL for you!'
...I feel I’ve got a renewed way of thinking about RPL and made some realisations that our RTO could benefit from thinking differently about our current approach. There are some fabulous opportunities to improve our processes. I really feel more of our educators should complete this course and will be promoting it where I can.
…I found it enlightening as I had not previously really thought about candidates without documents and the course has opened my eyes to other options for that cohort.
…It gave ideas on how to undertake a compliant RPL and it [made me realise RPL] was not as scary as I always thought it was.
…I feel better equipped to find new ways of doing things and to adjust our templates that make them more fit for purpose.
The course design is well thought out and easy to follow
...LMS and course design was done well. It was easy to navigate and progress through the sessions/sections.
…The course design felt well thought out and fit for purpose, without being over-complicated or overly academic.
…Very interactive using the videos.
...The program is well rounded and well presented, great work.
Overall, it’s valuable, worthwhile professional development
...Skills Education, 2 of my trainers just finished and I have to say, it's been the most satisfying and beneficial learning for them! They both got so much out of it, thank you 🙏 - RTO CEO
...One of the best learnings I had from the program was why the assessor needs to take charge of the RPL process
…This course genuinely challenged the way I’ve approached RPL over the last few years, in a positive way. The CatoHR approach is a model I felt comfortable and confident working with, and it closely aligns with how I believe RPL should be delivered in practice – focused on the candidate, flexible in application, and grounded in real workplace evidence.
… I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to take a more modern, focused and candidate-centred approach to RPL.
…This course was really relevant and supported furthering my learning on RPL and understanding what is required. I found the course really interesting and easy to understand and follow.
…The learning program made sense – it challenges the thinking of our organisation in that it would require our assessors to become more engaged / candidate centred
…The course was informative and has given me more confidence going forward to work with RPL.
100% of graduates say they would recommend the course to others!
Join the ranks of happy graduates, start today
Why do the Advanced RPL Assessor Credential?
ü Earn a microcredential
In this course, you undertake advanced, highly specialised training to have your skills and knowledge to develop candidate-centred RPL tools and processes verified via assessment. On successful completion, you will be issued with microcredentials as professional certification of your practice as an Advanced RPL Assessor.
PLUS 
This course has clustering embedded within it so on certification, you will receive one credential to recognise your capabilities in Advanced RPL, and one for your Advanced Practice - Clustering.
ü Build knowledge, enhance existing assessment design and development skills, learn how to create RPL Toolkits that are easier to use, sought-after by industry and inline with world's best-practice
ü Get your expertise in this area verified via assessment and earn a certification recognising your professional practice
ü Course content developed by an internationally- and nationally-recognised expert in RPL - learn from the best
ü The Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is an entry-level qualification not specifically targeted to a specialist focus like RPL - take this opportunity to drill down into a focused, highly specialised area of practice
Who is this course for?
ü Experienced trainers/assessor who want to build on their accredited training and further their knowledge and skills in RPL
ü Compliance managers who need to embed candidate-centred processes into their assessment systems
ü Compliance staff who need to understand the process and who need to develop tools to address varying needs of diverse RPL candidates
ü Instructional designers/assessment writers who have experience developing assessment tools and want to expand their expertise into the development of valid, flexible RPL Toolkits
ü Organisation staff looking for an easier way to conduct RPL
ü Enterprise RTOs and industry-facing RTOs who need efficient systems to formally recognise existing skills of workers
ü Anyone interested in knowing how to make RPL an evidence-generating, rather than simply an evidence-gathering, process
Rolling intakes, start anytime
What can I expect to achieve in the Advanced RPL Assessor?
The Advanced RPL Assessor program will build on your assessment development experience and further develop your understanding and skills to:
- Confidently design and develop clustered RPL assessment tools and supporting resources
- Identify the RPL candidate's needs according to the level of workplace documentation and support they have access to as part of their claim for RPL
- Tailor required resources according to the candidate's circumstances
- Ensure all developed RPL materials support an assessment process that is assessor-led and candidate-centred
What do I have to do?
To be awarded a microcredential, you must successfully complete an assessment according to the stipulations listed:
Design and develop a full RPL Toolkit aligned to the candidate-centred philosophy and that:
- Is suitable for a non-employer-supported candidate
- Clusters two (2) units of competency at AQF level 3 or above
- Is aligned to the vocational area in which you work
The RPL Toolkit will be inclusive of:
- Candidate version of assessment
- Assessor version of assessment - inclusive of benchmarks, exemplars, rubrics etc
- Pre-mapping matrix
- Mapping document
- Other documents as required for the candidate-centred non-employer-support process
It is not a requirement of the course that participants change their RTO's policies and procedures. However, participants are asked to develop guides (for assessment purposes only), in line with candidate-centred practices.
Assessments will be reviewed and verified by CatoHR Assessors as recognised experts in the field of RPL.
Enrol and start now
Not interested in doing the assessment?
Just after PD for advanced practitioner concepts? The Learning Program offers the same content and support as the 'Learn and Assess Certification Program' but without the need to complete any assessment activity.
Please note that while this option is an excellent PD opportunity, it does not lead to certification as recognition of your professional practice.
On successful completion of the Learning Program, to recognise your efforts, you will be issued with a digital badge and you can trigger a personalised certification as a record of your participation.
If you successfully complete the training in the Learning Program and decide at a later date you would like to be certified, you can enrol in the Certification Program; Assessment only, or Learn and Assess pathway.
Click on the image below to be taken to the Advanced RPL Assessor Learning Program where you can read more and enrol.
Already completed the learning?
If you have substantial experience or have already undertaken the learning linked to developing candidate-centred RPL tools for use in various environments and circumstances of candidate-support, you may decide to undertake certification via assessment only.
In the assessment-only pathway for this microcredential, you still have access to mentoring support if you feel you might need assistance or guidance to develop your assessment materials.
Other options
Find out what else is on offer to support Advanced RPL Assessor capabilities
Ts and Cs
Course access is subject to Ts and Cs. Read more about the terms specific to these programs and applicable on registration
Added bonus
All alumni of the Advanced RPL Assessor programs are automatically included in the new Australian Community of Learning and RPL - RPL Matters
RPL Matters is open for separate individual enrolment too. See the Community of Learning page for more information and to subscribe to start your membership
What we know:
ü Potential candidates for RPL are often dissuaded from pursing a recognition pathway and end up feeling frustrated and like "it'll just be easier to do the course" - despite already having the knowledge and experience required. This is a waste of their time and unfair
ü Many existing practices rely on the candidate to interpret the unit or evidence requirements themselves to figure out what is needed for their submission portfolio
ü Assessors (and RTOs) who can streamline recognition processes and provide guided support to candidates on navigating RPL will be in high-demand as industry looks to fill skills shortages
ü There is only a small percentage of trainers/assessors who say they feel highly confident to assess RPL, let alone develop the tools!
ü ASQA have again listed RPL as one of their regulatory risk priority priority areas.
- ASQA are concerned about current non-rigorous RPL practices of awarding qualifications to people without the requisite skills and competencies.
- We're proud to offer a microcredential that specifically addresses this issue - plus so much more