10 Things to Know Before You Enroll

Distance learning, on-line study and blended delivery are great ways to undertake training. The internet is chock full of web sites offering training on-line, but how can you be sure that the qualification you are paying for is the genuine article?

Back in the day of text books, exam papers and a sharp pencil, you were much more likely to walk into a college or registered training organization (RTO) to complete your studies. No doubt the walls would have been festooned with certificates of accreditation, the glossy brochures would have been branded with official logos and from the second you walked through the door you would detect the reassuring whiff of credibility.

So how can you get the same reassurance from a website when you can’t even look your trainer in the eye?

The tell-tale signs are still there and, with a bit of on-line research, you will know within minutes whether you are dealing with a credible and experienced RTO.

1. The RTO’s registration number: Every RTO has a unique number that will be displayed on its literature and on any certificates issued by the organization.

2. Every accredited RTO is listed on the National Training Information Service (NTIS), the official database on vocational education and training in Australia. NTIS is the national register of information on Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organizations (RTOs).

3. Each RTO will be regulated either by the National Audit and Registration Authority (NARA) or the Department of Education and Training in the state where their services are delivered. If you have any doubts about the RTO you should contact the registering authority for more information.

4. A certificate that has been issued by an accredited RTO should always display the Nationally Registered Training logo; A green and red triangle. This logo is not authorized to be displayed on non-accredited course materials or advertising.

5. A company that is not an RTO may enter into partnership to offer accredited training under license to a Registered Training Organization. If this is the case the company must state on its website or advertising that it is delivering courses under a partnership agreement and display the RTO’s number.

6. Qualified trainiers and assessors must hold a Certificare IV in Training and Asessment.

7. Credible and experienced RTOs will discuss your training needs with you. It is important that you are given clear advice about the level of qualification you require. They should also discuss pre-requisite requirements to learning such as police safety checks for child care students.

8. All RTOs should offer the option of Recognition of Prior (RPL) Learning to its students. RPL means your existing skills and knowledge can be recognised no matter how when your learning occurred. You will have to provide evidence to the RTO of your competancy. By using RPL you can fast track your qualification by having some, or all, of the qualification recognised. In some cases you won’t have to sit the course at all.

9. A good RTO offering on-line training will usually provide access to trainers via email, web workshops and telephone support, this is often referred to as Blended Delivery.

10. Response times for an experienced RTO will usually by within 24 hours for your inquiry. Any training organization that leaves you waiting more than a week before getting back to your initial inquiry may not be efficient when it comes to supporting you through your studies.