Change to application process for initial accreditation of VET courses

ASQA has revised the application process for initial accreditation of a vocational education and training (VET) course.

What has changed?

Applicants will be required to submit the new VET course concept form in the early stages of the application process. The VET course concept form asks course developers to show:

• evidence that sufficiently establishes an industry need and support for the proposed course
• that appropriate industry stakeholders have been identified for consultation during the development of the proposed course.

ASQA will review the VET course concept submission, and then advise applicants whether they are ready to progress to the next stage in the process, course development.

If the course concept is insufficiently developed, ASQA will ask for further information to be provided. If the additional information is not received within the specified timeframe or the course concept remains insufficient, the application may be rejected.

Why has ASQA made this change?

It is critical that sufficient industry consultation is conducted during the development of a new training product. This new step in the application process will help ensure, at an early stage, that course developers have appropriate plans in place for consultation with industry stakeholders.

The introduction of the VET course concept form also provides direct benefits to individual course developers. The course development stage requires investment of significant time and effort on the part of the applicant. ASQA’s review of the VET course concept form will provide course developers with valuable feedback before they embark on course development.

Note that the introduction of the Course Concept Form does not negate course developers’ responsibility to consult with Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) or Skills Services Organisations (SSOs) during the course development stage.

When does the change take effect?

The VET course concept form is available now on the ASQA website.

From 1 April 2019, ASQA will not accept applications for initial accreditation of a VET course unless the VET course concept form has been submitted and noted.

All course developers are encouraged to make use of the form as of today, so they can benefit from ASQA’s feedback.

Have any fees or charges changed?

There is no change to the total dollar amount of fees payable during the application process of initial accreditation of a VET course. From 1 March 2019 the applicable fees are:

• Application lodgement fee ($500)—payable upon submission of the VET course concept form
• Application assessment fee ($7,570)—payable upon invoice. ASQA will issue the invoice once an application for course initial accreditation is deemed complete.

For applications submitted on or before 31 March 2019, the $500 application fee is payable upon submission of the Application for course accreditation—initial form.

More information

The complete five-stage application process for initial accreditation of a VET course—including the new course concept stage—is described in detail on the ASQA website.