From ASQA: RTOs must apply to add TAE40115 to scope

I use such cautious language because I’ve learned that when it comes to endorsement of TAE v2, nothing happens ’till it happens.  We’ve been waiting for more than a year now.  But, it would appear that TAE v2 may finally be endorsed in early September 2015.  Read more on the IBSA website.

Will RTOs with TAE40110 on scope need to apply to ASQA to extend scope to include TAE40115?  Of course there are other TAE qualfications to consider also, but this post focuses on the Certificate IV TAE qualification.

• IBSA has deemed TAE40115 non-equivalent to TAE40110 (source: final draft TAE40115 packaging rules – download from IBSA website).
• Therefore, TAE40115 is a ‘new product.’ ASQA’s policy is that RTOs must apply to add any ‘new product’ to their scope of registration.
• Therefore, RTOs must apply to ASQA to add TAE40115 to their scope of registration.

Might ASQA make an exception to their ‘new product’ policy for TAE40115, since most TAE40115 units are deemed equivalent to TAE40110 units?  So, I wrote to ASQA and asked.  Yesterday I received their reply.

Here’s a transcript of the entire email, with relevant links:

Dear Chemene, Thank you for your enquiry. ASQA advises that training packages are developed by Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) to meet the training needs of an industry, or a group of industries. ISCs update training packages in accordance with the Training Package Development and Endorsement Process Policy when it is deemed that such an update is required. ISCs are required to publish a Companion Volume Implementation Guide when they revise a training package. The Companion Volume Implementation Guide is designed to help providers implement the training package.

Changes to training package products are defined as either ‘equivalent’ or ‘not equivalent’ by the relevant ISC. The ISC determines equivalence in keeping with the Standards for Training Packages and supporting policy documents (including the Training Package Development and Endorsement Process and the Training Package Products Policy).

Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA) have published TAE version 2 resources on their website, including a TAE Training and Education Training Package Implementation Guide which provides proposed equivalency mapping. These documents are for reference until the package is endorsed by the Australian Government and state and territory governments and released on the National Register, www.training.gov.au.

As of 1 July 2014, equivalenttraining package products (qualifications and/or units of competency) have been automatically added to RTOs’ scope of registration without requiring an application or a fee. This process applies to all ASQA registered training organisations (RTOs) with a training package product listed on their scope that an ISC has superseded with a new training product that it has deemed equivalent.

ASQA considers not equivalenttraining package changes to be new products. New products require a risk assessment before being added to an RTO’s scope of registration. Therefore, before a non-equivalent training package product may be offered RTOs must submit an application to add the new product in ASQAnet, pay the associated application fee, and ASQA must grant your application. 

Please note ASQA does not determine equivalence; you may wish to direct enquiries regarding the determination of equivalence to IBSA.

I hope this information assists, and please do not hesitate to contact ASQA should you have any further enquiries.