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This information provides an overview of reforms to integrate occupational licensing requirements in vocational education and training (VET). It explains how occupational licensing requirements are being integrated into VET and the benefits that will provide. It also details specific projects which are underway to develop units of competency which will cover some commonly used occupational licences.
Overview of reforms to integrate licensing into VET
Integration of licensing requirements into training packages
Benefits of integration into VET
Integrating with the training system
High risk work licensing units of competency
Overview of occupational licensing reform
Improving the alignment between the licensing and training systems has been identified as a key priority in occupational licensing reform. Historically, training and assessment for licensing and regulatory purposes have been conducted separately to vocational education and training for a qualification outcome.
The aim of the reform is to make the training and assessment process more efficient for people working in licensed occupations by reducing the duplication which comes from additional training and assessment to meet licensing and regulatory requirements.
As parts of the integration process it has been agreed that, where applicable, any skill related requirements for licensing be integrated into national training packages or accredited courses. As part of this work, new units of competency for licensing for high-risk work are being developed for inclusion in a range of training packages.
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Integration of licensing requirements into training packages
Given the relationships between licensing and training, and the potential for duplication of effort, it is now policy that licensing requirements should be embedded, where possible, into the appropriate units of competency and qualifications within training packages.
By doing this, qualified workers may avoid the need for further competency assessment over and above the training package requirements.
Alternatively, where there is regulator agreement on national licensing standards and suitable units of competency, units of competency which directly equate to licence requirements may be included in training packages. In this case, learners will not need any further competency assessment over and above the training package requirements to meet the occupational licensing requirements.
A lot of work is being done in this area. Industry skills councils are undertaking training package continious improvement projects to incorporate occupational licensing requirements and to obtain the agreement of licensing authorities. Also a number of specific projects are being undertaken to develop units of competency which will cover some commonly used occupational licences. These projects include:
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Benefits of integration into VET
The integration of licensing requirements into the vocational education and training systems bring with it many benefits which help to increase Australia's overall productivity.
The main benefits include:
- the removal of duplication of training and assessment requirements for skilled workers
- the creation of an integrated occupational pathway incorporating both industry and regulatory requirements
- ensure that licensing and regulatory requirements are part of 'best practice' within industry
- enable a partnerships allows training and licensing regulators to complement each other with their core expertise and perspective.
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Integrating with the training system
To ensure the seamless integration of licensing requirements into the vocational education and training system it for licensing and training stakeholders to engage to ensure the training products developed meet the requirements of both.
For licensing and regulatory authorities part of the engagement process involves the following:
- identifying product
- ensure quality standards
- implementation and audit.
Indentifying product
It is important for licensing and regulatory authorities to engage and liaise with industry skills councils (ISCs), who are the main training product developers in Australia, through their development of Training Packages.
Strong working relationships with ISCs ensure licensing and regulatory requirements are adequately addressed within Training Packages. Licensing regulators need to work with ISCs to identified suitable units of competency or develop units of competency where no suitable unit exists, and inform ISCs of changes to licensing requirements which affect training and assessment and may necessitate amendments to units of competency.
If licensing requirements are not addressed in a training package, regulators will need to develop an Accredited Course to ensure the licensing requirement is integrated into vocational education and training.
Ensure quality standards
Licensing regulators will also need to engage with the training regulators, known as State Training Authorities (STAs). This engagement is important to ensure that the quality control standards expected both regulators are understood, meet and enforced. Licensing and regulatory authorities should discuss with STAs course quality control points and audit procedures. They should also work with STAs and other state and territory licensing regulators to establish amore holisitc approach to quality standard setting for licensing requirements in vocational education and training.
Implementation and audit
The establishment of Memorandum of Understanding is an effective way of ensuring a shared understanding between licensing regulators and STAs on the implementation and audit of courses which deliver licensing requirements.
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High risk work licensing units of competency
A project is underway to develop units of competency for inclusion in Training Packages the requirements of high work licences as outlined in the National Standard for Persons Performing High Risk Work (April 2006).
The project aims to facilitate the operation of a nationally uniform, competency based licensing system for persons performing certain types of high risk work.
Find out more on high risk work licensing units of competency.
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RELATED INFORMATION
Overview of licensing reform
What is vocational education and training
Information for training stakeholders
Key training links
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