To register with us, training organisations must meet the following:
- VRQA Guidelines for VET Providers
- Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) standards
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) policies
- principle purpose requirement
- fit and proper person declarations
- notification of third-party agreements.
We audit VRQA-registered training organisations to ensure they meet all relevant standards and guidelines.
VRQA Guidelines for VET Providers
Our guidelines align Victoria's regulation of registered training organisations (RTOs) with the national standards.
The guidelines cover 6 key areas:
- Governance, financial viability and management systems
- Transparency and oversight of third parties
- Trainer and assessor qualifications
- Delivery of training and assessment services
- Annual declaration of compliance
- Child Safe Standards
AQTF requirements for registration
New applicants need to meet the AQTF conditions and standards for initial registration.
Existing RTOs need to meet the conditions and standards for continuing registration:
Principal purpose requirement
RTOs must have the principal purpose of providing education and training.
Assessment of principal purpose requirement
We assess your principal purpose when you register and re-register.
When we assess your organisation, some of the things we will consider are:
- is the purpose stated as education and training in the constitution or founding documents?
- is the organisation focused only on education and training?
- if the organisation has other activities, what is the importance of education and training compared to those activities?
There is a fee for this assessment. We charge a portion of the fee upfront.
There may be additional fees depending on the cost of the assessment.
You do not have to pay this fee if you are exempt from the principle purpose requirement.
Exemptions from the principle purpose requirement
Automatic exemption
Organisations that are automatically exempt from the principal purpose requirement include:
- universities, TAFE institutes or adult education institutions
- registered schools
- bodies in receipt of Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) funding
- public sector bodies
- commonwealth or state departments and authorities.
Ministerial Exemption
You can apply to us for a Ministerial Exemption. We only consider exemptions if an RTO is:
- a community-based organisation
- providing education and training on a not-for-profit basis
- providing education and training only to their staff or staff of a related entity.
To apply, email the application form to vrqa.vet@education.vic.gov.au
Fit and proper person declaration
The following individuals in RTOs must meet fit and proper person requirements and complete a declaration:
- directors
- senior officers
- substantial shareholders in a position to influence the organisation’s management.
Notification of third-party agreements
RTOs can engage third parties for certain services, including:
- training
- assessment
- related educational and support services
- activities related to the recruitment of prospective learners (brokering services).
Third parties provide these services on behalf of the RTO.
You need a written agreement between your organisation, the principal provider, and the third party for this to occur.
You must notify us within 30 calendar days of the agreement or before obligations under the agreement take effect, whichever occurs first.
You must also notify us if the agreement is ending within 30 calendar days of the end date.
The Guidelines for VET Providers outline all requirements of third-party agreements.
To notify us, complete Form F and email it to vrqa.vet@education.vic.gov.au.
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