FAQs

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that evaluates your existing skills, knowledge and experience — gained through workplace practice, prior training, or other learning — against the requirements of a nationally recognised qualification. RPL is one of several pathways available at OPEC College. For more information, visit our RPL page.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where we can provide you with nationally recognised qualifications through converting your existing skills, knowledge and experience, gained through prior work or study, into formal competencies. Credit Transfer is where we recognise qualifications or units of competence that you already hold. You will have received these qualifications or units of competency through another accredited Registered Training Organisation. We can apply those units against any study or RPL application you make with us, free of charge, to reduce the amount of evidence you need to supply or the study you need to complete.

RPL is available to anyone who can provide evidence of relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The extent to which RPL can be granted depends on your individual background, the evidence you provide, and how it aligns with the requirements of the qualification. Your assessor will work with you to determine your eligibility. If RPL is not suited to your circumstances, study and blended pathways are also available.

RPL timelines vary depending on the qualification, the quality and completeness of your evidence, and the scope of assessment required. As a guide, the process typically takes between 4 and 12 weeks. Your assessor may contact you during the process to discuss your evidence or request additional documentation.

Our RPL process involves the following steps: Step 1 — Pre-enrolment suitability review You provide OPEC College with documents such as your CV, job description, and any existing qualifications. We conduct an initial review and advise you on the most suitable pathway — full RPL, blended RPL+study, or structured study. Step 2 — Evidence gathering and assessment You submit evidence of your experience using our RPL guides and with support from your assessor. Your assessor evaluates this evidence against the units of competency, applying the principles of assessment and rules of evidence. Where gaps are identified, we discuss your options, which may include providing additional evidence or undertaking gap training. Step 3 — Assessment outcome and certification Once all assessment requirements are met, your nationally recognised qualification is issued by River Oak College (RTO 46425) in both digital and hard copy. You become an OPEC College graduate with access to alumni benefits and preferential pricing on additional courses. RPL outcomes are not guaranteed. All applicants are assessed individually against the units of competency.

Absolutely they are! Your qualifications will be issued under the Australian Qualification Framework and, as such, they must be recognised by all other Registered Training Organisations including TAFE Colleges. We are very proud of our Training and Assessment skills and knowledge and we are happy to put our people up against the TAFE system at any time.

You will find the cost of each qualification on the brochure and on the website as well as within the Student Handbook. Once you contact us and we have a chat about your needs and wants, we will send you a fees letter that sets out for you exactly what costs you will experience and when you will need to pay them. We will always be as open and transparent about costs as it is possible to be.

If you are seeking RPL we will conduct the initial assessment for free and with no obligation. Once you decide to enroll with us we will charge you $500 to start the process. That money is held in trust until you either start studying with us or we conduct the first formal RPL assessment. Prior to your enrolment you will receive a fees letter that sets out very clearly how much and when you are requested to pay. That letter also has information on our refunds policy.

Currently we do not have access to any funding.

Your RPL Assessor will discuss in detail with you the types of evidence that are appropriate for the qualification that you are seeking to achieve. A good start point for pretty much every qualification is a resume, job description and any qualifications or certificates you already hold. If you are a Defence member, a service record is a great help as well. The same goes for Police, Ambulance and Fire Officers.

OPEC College exists to help you achieve every possible qualification you are entitled to. This is our passion and something we are very good at. OPEC College has very broad and deep links across business, industry and Defence in Australia. That means we have our finger on the pulse and are able to advise you on trends and opportunities.

The Standards that we assess against require that evidence demonstrating current competency is from the present or the ‘very recent past’. They do not specify the time that would be considered ‘very recent past’, as this may vary between industries. Basically, this means we must determine whether the evidence is recent enough to show that you are competent at the time we make the assessment decision. Generally, the newer your evidence the better. This does not mean older evidence cannot be included in the evidence used to make an assessment judgement it has less weight and needs to be supported by more recent activities.

If your evidence does not fully demonstrate competency across all units, your assessor will discuss your options with you. These may include providing alternative evidence, undertaking a blended pathway where you complete gap training for the remaining units, or transitioning to a study pathway. Our goal is to support you toward achieving your qualification through the most appropriate pathway for your circumstances.

Yes you can. Many people come to us with a desire to study a qualification in order to expand their resume, knowledge or skills. This may be as part of your plan to move onward and upward at your current work or in a new role altogether. If you choose to study with us you will be assigned a Trainer/mentor who will work closely with you to make sure you receive all the help you need.

You can find our Policies in several places. Our Student Handbook is the best source of all the information you need about OPEC College and how we will work with each other. There is a link to the Handbook in the footer of this page and every page. You can also find specific policies like Refunds, Complaints and Appeals, Privacy, and Access and Equity on our Policies page. There is a link to the Policies page in the footer of this page and every page.

The best place to find information about each qualification is on the Qualification tab in the tool bar at the top of our home page. Click on the area of interest and then onto the specific qualification you are looking for. You could also call us at 1300 99 OPEC and speak to one of our student support staff who will be very happy to send you out a brochure for the qualification you are interested in.

The best place is the Student Handbook in the footer of this page. You could also ring our 1300 number and speak to one of our student support staff.

You will be assigned a dedicated trainer and assessor who will be your primary point of contact throughout your enrolment. Our trainers and assessors maintain manageable student loads to ensure timely, personalised support. You can reach your trainer via email, phone, or scheduled consultation during business hours.

OPEC College has partnered with Macleay College to offer study pathways from Diploma to Degree for OPEC College graduates. The Bachelor Degree qualifications offered within the Pathway include Business; Advertising and Media; and Digital Media. For more information on our Pathways: opeccollege.edu.au/diploma-to-degree-qualification-pathways-with-macleay-college

Yes. OPEC College offers a structured assessment process for upgrading existing qualifications to their current version. You will need to provide your existing qualification, academic transcript, and evidence of continued workplace practice. Our assessors will evaluate your evidence and advise you on the outcome, which may include full RPL, partial RPL with gap training, or a study pathway for any remaining units. Timelines depend on the evidence provided and the scope of the upgrade. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.