Guidelines – Standards for vocational education and training providers

These guidelines apply to all VRQA-registered training organisations from 1 January 2027.

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) issue these guidelines under section 4.3.18A of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (the Act). They are issued in response to the agreement at the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council in May 2024 that all Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in Australia must comply with the 2025 Standards for Registered Training Organisations. The intention is to promote national consistency in RTO compliance requirements within Victoria’s legislative framework.

The purpose of these guidelines is to:

• ensure the quality of training and assessment services
• outline how the VRQA regulates vocational education and training (VET) in Victoria
• align Victoria’s regulatory settings to the national 2025 Standards for RTOs and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.
• ensure that VRQA-registered RTOs comply with the Child Safe Standards if delivering to students under 18 years of age.

These guidelines supersede all previous VRQA guidelines for VET providers.

Registering with VRQA as an RTO

The VRQA registers training organisations that deliver VET courses to domestic students in Victoria. It is a condition of registration under the Act that RTOs demonstrate compliance with these guidelines.

There are 3 guidelines that apply to all RTOs

Guideline 1: 2025 Standards for RTOs including:

• Outcome Standards and performance indicators
• Compliance Standards, Fit and Proper Person Requirements and Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) logo conditions
• Credential Policy

Guideline 2: VRQA requirements, including interactions with the VRQA

Guideline 3: RTO data reporting requirements

There is an additional guideline that applies only to RTOs that deliver to students under 18 years of age

Guideline 4: Child Safe Standards