Clause 1.25—Independent validation of training and assessment qualifications

Clause 1.25

To deliver any AQF qualification the Assessor Skill Set or the Teacher Enhancement Skill Set from the Training and Education Training Package (or its successor), the RTO must have undergone an independent validation of its assessment system, tools, processes and outcomes in accordance with the requirements contained in Schedule 2 (and the definitions of independent validation and validation).

What clause 1.25 means for your RTO

Validation is critical for ensuring that:

assessment is appropriately rigorous
graduates are fully capable of carrying out the tasks that their qualification claims they can complete.

RTOs delivering or applying to deliver qualifications from the TAE Training Package must have undergone an external, independent validation of their assessment system, tools, processes and outcomes. The extent and nature of this validation activity varies depending on whether the qualification or skill set is already on the RTO’s scope of registration, but the validation must be carried out by someone who has had no involvement with the RTO other than conducting the validation activity.

A guide to compliance

An application to add a training product or skill set from the TAE Training Package to your scope of registration (even if other qualifications from the TAE Training Package are already on your RTO’s scope) must include evidence of:

an external and independent validation of assessment (for any training products specified in ASQA’s application process)
the assessment system your RTO will adopt for the training products being applied for (including evidence that this assessment system has been externally and independently validated and will meet these requirements when fully implemented).

RTOs applying to add TAE Training Package products to their scope of registration are required to submit additional evidence.

If you are seeking to add TAE training products to your RTO’s registration, the following application requirements apply:

Your RTO must have held continuous registration (either with ASQA, the Western Australia Training Accreditation Council or the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority) for at least two years.
You must provide evidence demonstrating that your RTO has undergone an independent external validation of:
- five qualifications and/or units of competency on the RTO’s explicit scope of registration from training packages other than the TAE or TAE10 (or if the RTO has fewer than five qualifications and/or units of competency on its scope of registration, all other qualifications and/or units of competency on the RTO’s explicit scope of registration)
- any current TAE training products on the RTO’s scope of registration
- the assessment system your RTO will adopt for delivery of the TAE qualifications or the assessor skill sets applied for.

For more information, please refer to ASQA’s advice on applying for TAE Training Package products.

If your RTO has any qualification or the Assessor Skill Set or Teacher Enhancement Skill Set from the TAE Training Package on its scope of registration, you must retain evidence that an external and independent validation of the assessment system has been carried out for those training products. This requirement applies to TAE units that are embedded within qualifications from other training packages that form a TAE Assessor Skill Set or Teacher Enhancement Skill Set where the RTO delivers this Assessor Skill Set or Teacher Enhancement Skill Set. Evidence provided must include confirmation that the assessment system and outcomes meet the requirements of Standard 1 and the TAE.

How can my RTO demonstrate and provide evidence of compliant practice?

Ensure that you fully document how you selected your independent validator and how they meet the definition of independent validation in the Standards.
Maintain complete records of the validation process, outcomes and any action taken in relation to outcomes.

If your organisation is seeking registration as an RTO
Clause 1.25 does not apply. An RTO is required to be registered for two years before it can be registered to deliver any qualification or assessor skill set from the TAE Training Package.

Case Study—Arranging independent validation of TAE qualifications
An RTO, Quality Training Inc., has the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training on its scope of registration. Quality Training Inc.’s compliance manager has arranged for the owner of another RTO, HIJ Training—which also has the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training on its scope of registration—to conduct the independent validation. The owner of HIJ Training holds the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, and keeps up to date with vocational skills and knowledge by attending VET professional development training about assessment with an industry association, reading ASQA newsletters, and attending ASQA information sessions and webinars. Quality Training Inc.’s compliance manager keeps evidence of this on a register. The independent validation includes Quality Training Inc.’s assessment policies and procedures and assessment materials, tools and judgements. A validation template is used to document whether the RTO’s assessment system, tools and outcomes ensure that TAE assessments are consistent and are based on the principles of assessment and rules of evidence. The independent validation identifies that improvements and amendments to Quality Training Inc.’s TAE assessment tools and processes are required. These are recorded into the Quality Training Inc.’s continuous improvement register with an action officer and due date. Quality Training Inc. retains evidence that the validation was conducted by an independent person and evidence that demonstrates the improvements have been actioned.

Case Study—Arranging independent validation of TAE qualifications

An RTO, Quality Training Inc., has the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training on its scope of registration.

Quality Training Inc.’s compliance manager has arranged for the owner of another RTO, HIJ Training—which also has the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training on its scope of registration—to conduct the independent validation. The owner of HIJ Training holds the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, and keeps up to date with vocational skills and knowledge by attending VET professional development training about assessment with an industry association, reading ASQA newsletters, and attending ASQA information sessions and webinars. Quality Training Inc.’s compliance manager keeps evidence of this on a register.

The independent validation includes Quality Training Inc.’s assessment policies and procedures and assessment materials, tools and judgements. A validation template is used to document whether the RTO’s assessment system, tools and outcomes ensure that TAE assessments are consistent and are based on the principles of assessment and rules of evidence.

The independent validation identifies that improvements and amendments to Quality Training Inc.’s TAE assessment tools and processes are required. These are recorded into the Quality Training Inc.’s continuous improvement register with an action officer and due date.

Quality Training Inc. retains evidence that the validation was conducted by an independent person and evidence that demonstrates the improvements have been actioned.