Certificate IV Course Options
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Your RPL Kit Work?
Our RPL process is different to many out there. Most RPL processes require copious amounts of writing on top of submitting loads of documented proof which we find painful, and we know students do too. So we've made it significantly easier and faster for you and us by including an actual conversation for a chunk of the process!
So, here is our 4-step process to a smooth RPL pathway to gain your TAE40122 qualification.
1. Part A - Performance Evidence
You’ll have 1 to 4 questions to answer. For each question, you’ll need to:
- Give context; briefly explain the situation.
- Write your answer.
- If the instructions ask for it, provide proof.
Your proof must follow these rules:
- It should be recent (less than 2 years old).
- It should be clear that YOU did the work and genuinely worked with others.
2. Part B - Third Party Report
The Third-Party Report must be provided by a qualified supervisor (someone with a valid Cert IV in Training and Assessment as a minimum) or a workplace observer who has witnessed your skills in the past 12 – 18 months.
Full details and instructions for completing the Third-Party Report are outlined in Part B of your RPL Kit.
3. Part A & Part B Review
After finishing Parts A and B, you will submit your completed RPL Kit with supporting documentation for proof. If everything's okay, the assessor will ask you to schedule a “Competency Conversation” for your verbal knowledge assessment.
If something's missing or wrong, the assessor will guide you on fixing it. After fixing it, if your assessor says it’s all good, you can book another Competency Conversation. Remember, you have up to 3 attempts.
4. Part C – Knowledge Assessment and Competency Conversation
Before your interview, reviewing the questions in Part C of the RPL Kit is crucial. If you can't answer them using your workplace experiences, you’ll likely not pass this part of your RPL assessment.
In the interview, you'll be asked deeper questions from Part C based on the answers and evidence you gave in Part A and B. Hint: You’ll want to check these questions before your meeting.
The assessor will listen and jot down your answers (a lot less writing for you). They'll then decide if you've shown you know your stuff based on everything you've provided.
If you don't pass, the assessor will tell you what to do next at the end of the call.
If you do pass, they'll let you know, then upload the completed RPL evidence guide to your learner portal and assess the final portfolio within our 4-day marking turnaround timeframe. And voila! You're all done for that unit!
How Do I Know What Units I Can Do RPL or CT For?
Before you start your course, you will be required to do a "Personal Learning Plan Survey", which helps us determine what your learning journey will look like; we will identify which units you'll complete via an RPL kit or coursework and which ones are covered by a credit transfer.
During the survey you'll be asked about your background, prior and current skills and knowledge, and any courses you've completed. To be able to use the RPL option, you'll be asked if you can provide recent and documented evidence that would satisfy the assessment outcomes of each unit selected to make up your TAE40122 package.
You'll need to do coursework for any other units you can't complete via RPL or CT.
What Are My Options For How Each Unit Can Be Done?
Below is a list of all of the units that are possible for the Cert IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122). We don't offer all of them and some can only be done via Credit Transfer (CT) or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which have all been indicated below. Course Work (CW) has also been included as an option which is what you would be required to do for any units you have not done or that you can't use RPL for, and if there's no option to complete the unit with Course Work, it will state "Not Offered"
CORE UNITS:
TAEASS412 Assess Competence - RPL, CW
TAEASS413 Participate in Assessment Validation - RPL, CW
TAEDEL411 Facilitate Vocational Training - RPL, CW
TAEDES411 Use Nationally Recognised Training Products to Meet Vocational Training Needs - RPL, CW
TAEDES412 Design and Develop Plans for Vocational Training - RPL, CW
TAEPDD401 Work Effectively in The VET Sector - RPL, CW
ELECTIVE UNITS:
GROUP A ELECTIVES - TRAINING & ASSESSMENT
TAEASS404 Assess Competence in an Online Environment - RPL, CW
TAEASS512 Design and Develop Assessment Tools - RPL, CW
TAEASS514 Develop and Implement Plans For Recognition of Prior Learning - Not Offered
TAEDEL311 Provide Work Skill Instruction (can be CT'd from TAEDEL301/TAEDEL301A) - CT, RPL, CW
TAEDEL405 Plan, Organise and Facilitate Online Learning - RPL, CW
TAEDEL412 Facilitate workplace-based learning (can be CT'd from TAEDEL401/TAEDEL402A) - CT, RPL, CW
TAEDEL413 Facilitate Distance-Based Training - Not Offered
TAEDEL414 Mentor In The Workplace (can be CT'd from TAEDEL404/TAEDEL404A) - CT, RPL, CW
TAEDEL415 Complete a Practicum in a Vocational Education & Training Environment - RPL Only
TAEDEL416 Facilitate Learning for Young Vocational Learners - RPL Only
TAETAS411 Maintain training & assessment information (can be CT'd from TAETAS401/TAETAS401A) -CT, RPL, CW
GROUP B ELECTIVES - LEARNER SUPPORT
TAELLN421 Integrate Core Skills Support into Training and Assessment - RPL Only
TAELLN422 Use Foundation Skills Resources, Strategies and Advice - RPL Only
TAELLN423 Integrate Employability Skills Support into Training and Assessment - RPL Only
TAEXDB411 Plan & Implement Individual Support Plans for Learners With Disability (can be CT'd from TAEXDB401) - CT Only, Not Offered
TAEXDB511 Develop & Implement Training & Assessment Strategies for Learners With Disability (can be CT'd from TAEXDB501) - CT Only, Not Offered
GROUP C ELECTIVES - GENERAL
BSBAUD411 Participate in Quality Audits (can be CT'd from BSBAUD402) - CT Only, Not Offered
BSBAUD412 Work Within Compliance Frameworks - BSBCOM406A
How Does A Credit Transfer Work?
Once we have validated your certificate and transcripts, we'll mark the corresponding unit as completed via credit transfer.
The unit in your LMS Portal will be updated to show as completed, and no further work will be required by you for that unit. We will then credit $200 towards your course fee per unit that is completed via credit transfer.
For any units that can't be completed via credit transfer or RPL, you'll be required to complete the coursework and assessments the same way any new student does.
What Makes Our RPL Process Better For You?
You know how most companies with RPL make you fill out endless forms, requiring you to write copious amounts of information, then upload long lists of evidence documents only to play email ping-pong for days/weeks to fill in gaps or clarify? Ugh! This is why we opted to add an actual conversation.
You provide the written information and evidence for us to gauge your competence, and then instead of email ping-pong, we do a verbal knowledge assessment in our Competency Conversation. No long email threads and endless writing sagas!
Plus, by the end of our call you'll know if you've nailed it. Isn't that better?
What Is A Personal Learning Plan Survey?
Because you will have a unique journey to your Cert IV TAE40122, we need you to answer a detailed questionnaire (survey) to find out exactly which units we can do a credit transfer to complete, which units you can do via an RPL kit and which units are left over and need you to do course work to complete.
The survey is how we work out what your Personal Learning Plan will be, which is a list of all of the units that will make up your Cert IV and how you will complete each one. Your Learner Portal will then be set up using your personal learning plan so when you log in, you will see the RPL kits for the units we've confirmed you can do RPL for, the course work modules will be there for the units you still need to complete fully and any units already completed via credit transfer will be marked as done.
What If I Haven't Worked As A Trainer And Assessor For Over 2 Years?
You could, but this pathway is extremely difficult if your experience isn't current. In order to satisfy the assessment criteria, the evidence presented needs to be comprehensive, and if you're no longer working in an RTO, it's unlikely you'll be able to access and produce the documentation you require.
Anyone who has been working in the industry recently or currently, will find it really easy to complete. It would be best to speak to our Course Advisors about your experience to know for sure if this is doable for you.
What If I Only Trained Non-Accredited Qualifications For An Enterprise RTO?
Some of the elective units (specifically, TAEDEL414 Mentor in the workplace and TAEDEL311 Provide work skill instruction) would be perfectly suited for people who are training non-accredited courses.
For these units students would certainly be eligible for RPL. However, all core units of the TAE40122 align to Training and Assessment of nationally recognised training products so it may be more difficult to complete RPL assessment for these if you are not delivering nationally recognised trainings such as Cert I, II, Cert II courses for example.
What if My Experience In Training and Assessing Is From Another Country?
If you have lots of evidence of training and assessment qualifications from a different country like NZ, UK etc you may be eligible for RPL using the Training and Assessment Qualifications held from those countries.
However, because the TAE40122 Cert IV TAE teaches and assesses the design/delivery/assessment and validation of Australian qualifications and uses nationally recognised Australian training frameworks such as the AQF, you would need to be able to show that you have experience training and assessing Australian qualifications as well.
So if you work in Australia as a trainer and assessor, you would certainly be eligible for RPL. If you have never worked in Australia, it would be challenging to provide current evidence of having done these things.
What Is Involved In The Enrolment Interview?
You’ll be sent to a booking page just after making your deposit payment to book your enrolment interview. A confirmation email will then be sent to you with the details of everything you need to prepare for that interview.
The interview can be booked on the same day, but there is a minimum of a 4-hour gap from applying to being able to do the enrolment interview. This is so you have time to get prepared.
HEADS UP: You will need your USI (Student Identifier) before you get to your interview.
Your interview is done via Google Meet or phone (if preferred). This means that you can ask additional questions before enrolling and clarify anything you’re unsure of. We also get to make sure you have chosen the right course pathway and support package for what you really need.
During the interview, we’ll conduct a "Suitability Assessment." This series of questions will help us determine whether you can meet the technical, practical, and skill requirements needed to confidently complete this course online.
The technical requirements include regular computer access, knowledge, and confidence in navigating email, logins, and websites. The practical questions ensure you have access to the human and physical resources you need to complete the assessments in your course.
We will ask additional questions about your goals, your online experience and comfort level in learning online, your learning ability, plus your availability to study. This is all to ensure you're in the right course and ready to succeed before enrolling formally. This gives you more confidence that you can absolutely get all the way to graduation.
If the course is found to be unsuitable for you, your deposit (including the $150 enrolment interview fee) will be fully refunded. However, the enrolment fee is not refunded if you don't show up for your enrolment interview or change your mind after the interview within the 30-day cooling-off period.
What Happens If This Course Is Determined As Not Suitable For Me?
If during your Enrolment Interview we discover this course is not suitable for you, we’ll offer other alternative solutions or refund all fees paid, including the $150 deposit.
What If I Need To Take a Break From Studying?
The flexibility of our online approach means that if you need to take a break from studying, we’ve got that covered too.
We offer the option to defer (pause) your studies. Whilst you are deferred, your enrolment is inactive, and we pause your enrolment duration. Then, when you are reactivated from deferment, you pick up exactly where you left off and carry on.
Here is what you need to know about deferring:
- You can defer a maximum of two times. The first deferment is free, and the second deferment has a $45 fee.
- Payment plans continue on deferment, and your payments must be up to date before we can defer you.
- You won’t have access to your trainer or learning platform while you’re status is “deferred”.
- If you have at least 6 weeks remaining in your enrolment, you can defer for up to 3 months. After that, you can defer for twice the amount of time remaining in your enrolment (for example, if you have 1 week left in your enrolment, you can defer for 2 weeks.)
The most important thing is to contact us if your enrolment isn’t going as you planned so that we can offer you the best support options as and when you need them.
Why Choose Fortress?
We know that right now you probably “need” to do this training and you’re looking for fast and easy so it’s relatively painless for you. We get it, so we’ve spent more time on our end making it as straightforward for you as possible, and finding ways to do our part more efficiently so we’re not the bottleneck!
- We have one of the fastest marking times in the industry – We know that when you start something like this, you want to get through it as fast as possible and marking times can significantly impact how fast you can do it. You’ll get your assessments back within 4 business days with us (except where the Solo Support Package, which is 4 – 8 business days max), and then the speed with which you get to graduation is mostly up to you.
- Our learning material is first-class in clarity and comprehensiveness, and is as close to what you’ll find in real life! We do this so you’re more confident and skilled when you start working as an actual trainer.
- Our support and responsiveness are why we have such a high completion rate. We’ll respond to your emails within 8 business hours, and if we miss your call, we’ll call you back within 4 business hours. Our trainers are also known for their compassion, wisdom and ability to get you all the way to graduation.
Don't believe what we say though, check out our reviews on Google and Trustpilot - See what others have said about learning with us!
Why Is There a Non-Refundable Fee Included In The Deposit?
When you will pay your deposit it includes your $150 non-refundable enrolment interview fee. This covers the cost of the behind-the-scenes work and the time taken to prepare and run the interview itself because it is a cost to us. It's also not fair to others who could have booked an earlier time with us when people just don't show up.
We do the enrolment interview to make sure that the course is the right course for you and that you have all of the resources and the time you will need to complete it successfully (barring any unexpected events that could impact it) BEFORE you actually enrol. We have saved many students money, time and frustration by having this interview and discovering that it's unlikely they will complete it successfully for some reason. We are invested in your success from the start.
If the course isn't suitable for you for whatever reason, you will be refunded the whole amount of your deposit, including your $150 enrolment interview fee. If you simply don't show up, the $150 enrolment interview fee won't be refunded should you choose not to go ahead for other reasons.
If an emergency happens and you can’t let us know you won’t be able to make it, we’re generous when it matters most, so there are circumstances where this enrolment interview fee will also be refunded, but this is only on a case-by-case basis.
Can I Get a Refund If I Change My Mind?
Upon Application:
- If you are found not to be suitable for entry into any of our programs, we will refund all monies paid.
- If you choose not to continue with the enrolment interview or application, we will refund monies paid, excluding the $150 application fee.
After Enrolment:
- Fortress has a 30-day cooling-off period.
- This 30-day cooling-off period starts from the activation of your learner portal. For example, if your learner portal is activated on March 1st, the 30-day cooling-off period ends on March 31st
- If you choose to withdraw within the 30-day cooling-off period, you will receive a full refund of the fees paid (excluding the $150 application fee).
- If you choose to withdraw at any time after the 30-day cooling-off period ends, no refund is applicable, and the full balance of course fees will be due.
Please refer to our Refund Policy here for additional information.
There Are 4 Upgrade Options
The option that's best for you depends on multiple factors, so use the following flow chart to help you determine which option you should look at. If in doubt, our Course Advisors are experts at working this out with you.
Regardless of your choice you'll need to speak to them to book in for your upgrade course option.
You Graduating Is Our No.1 Goal!
This course can be challenging and many of you are doing it because you “have to”, we get it, so we have gone to great lengths to make the learning material as engaging as possible, we also monitor your progress and reach out if we see you’ve stalled so we can support you to keep going. We are there every step of the way!