Prepare your initial RTO registration application

To prepare to become an RTO, you need to: 

• understand the requirements for registration
• undertake business planning and choose your training products 
• develop your organisation’s policies, procedures, systems and tools so you are ready to become a quality education and training provider 
• gain access to all the required resources 
• prepare your application form  
• prepare evidence to submit with your application. 

When submitting your application for registration please include the full scope of training package qualifications, accredited courses and units of competency that your RTO seeks to deliver within your first 24 months of operation. You will not be permitted to adjust this scope until you have successfully delivered your first 24 months of approved scope. 

Initial RTO registration guide

We recommend using our guide to initial RTO registration when preparing your application. 

• Guide to initial RTO registration 

Guides to initial ESOS and ELICOS registration are also available.

• Guide to initial ESOS registration 
• Guide to initial ELICOS registration 

These guides explain: 

• eligibility requirements 
• provider responsibilities and obligations 
• registration requirements, including: 
  • compliance with the relevant regulatory and legislative requirements
  • resourcing requirements, and
  • required supporting evidence 
• information about our application forms, and 
• how we assess applications for initial registration. 

Application forms 

There are 3 different types of initial registration application form: 

• Initial RTO registration – use this form to become a registered training organisation (RTO) that delivers VET courses for domestic students (Australian citizens, permanent residents and temporary visitors who are not on student visas). 
• Initial ESOS registration - use this form to become a provider that delivers VET courses to overseas students (students in Australia on a student visa). This includes existing RTOs who want to become ESOS Providers. 
• Initial ELICOS registration - use this form to become an ESOS provider who delivers English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS). 

Applications may be submitted together if the organisation is seeking more than one type of registration. The table below describes which forms are required for different types of applications.

Forms required for different types of application

Evidence requirements 

All applications must be accompanied by: 

• a completed initial RTO application form
• a signed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) statutory declaration
• fit and proper person declaration forms for:
  • the CEO
  • executive officers
  • high managerial agents
  • any person/s who exercises a degree of control or influence over the management or direction of the registered training organisation.
• a financial viability risk assessment
• comprehensive evidence to demonstrate commitment and capability to become a quality provider. Information about the required supporting evidence for different types of applications can be found in our initial registration application guides linked above.

Choosing training products

When submitting your application, you should ensure that you include all training products your organisation intends to deliver during the first 2 years of its registration.

Newly registered RTOs are not permitted to apply to add training products to their approved scope until they have been registered for a period of 24 months or more. This is to ensure new RTOs focus on providing quality training or assessment for the products they are initially approved to deliver, and so that ASQA may ensure that the RTO has demonstrated understanding of the educational integrity and commitment required to operate in the VET sector prior to expanding its course offerings.