Qualifications: VET

Vocational Education and Training

Students who complete all or part of a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification drawn from a training package or accredited course receive credit towards satisfactorily completing the VCE. Students typically undertake training at Certificate II or III levels.

VET programs

VET qualifications coded on VASS are:

• VE1 – VET certificates approved by the VCAA for delivery to secondary students. They are typically drawn from Certificate II and III levels with qualifications and units of competency (UoC) packaged within VCE VET programs.
• VE2 – VET certificates with training schemes approved by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) for delivery as School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs). Both VE1 and VE2 coded certificate types provide credit towards the VCE and VPC  in the form of VCE VET units.
• VE3 – all other VET certificates are contained within this certificate type. These certificates offer block credit recognition towards the VCE and VPC.

Home schools must make sure students are enrolled in the correct certificate type and receive accurate advice about eligibility for satisfactorily completing both the qualification and the VCE and VPC. The onus for reporting completion of VET certificates lies with the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Some VCAA approved programs are available as both a VCE VET (certificate type VE1) and an SBAT (certificate type VE2) qualification. All other VET qualifications are classified on VASS as certificate type VE3.

If the VET qualification is not available on VASS, schools should contact Student Records and Results for further advice, or complete and add to VASS the Application for VET qualifications or General Education courses form (available as a VASS download) accompanied by any information requested in the form.

VET programs appear on VASS in the following format: Certificate Code–Type–Description (for example, SIR20116–VE3–Certificate II in Community Pharmacy).

This table provides details on each certificate type and the recognition available for each type of program.

Summary of certificate types

VCE VET programs

VCE VET programs (certificate type VE1 on VASS) provide credit towards the VCE typically for Units 1–4, although some programs provide credit only at Units 1 and 2 or Units 3 and 4 levels.

VCE VET programs are constantly being developed or revised. Refer to the VCAA Bulletin or VET section for the most up-to-date information. A summary of VCE VET programs, containing qualification codes and titles, is available online in January each year. If changes are identified in the summary, a fully updated version of the program is on the relevant VCE VET program webpage.

Programs offering a study score at Units 3 and 4 levels are indicated on individual VCE VET program pages.

Assessing groups

Schools may indicate where the delivery of VET qualifications is taking place by selecting an assessing group when entering VET programs on VASS.

For all scored VCE VET programs, assessing group data will be used for reporting on VASS and for statistical moderation.

An assessing group can be:

• a home school – a teacher from the school delivers and assesses the VCE VET program
• an RTO – students attend an external RTO for delivery of the VCE VET program
• a cluster group – students attend another school as part of a VET cluster for delivery of the VCE VET program.

School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT)

School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) occur where a student undertakes a vocational training program within a part-time employment arrangement. Each student is required to enter a formal training contract.

An SBAT comprises:

• enrolment in the VCE/VCE VM/VPC
• enrolment with an RTO in a structured vocational training program that leads to a vocational qualification
• part-time, paid work under an industrial agreement that recognises SBATs
• at least one timetabled day spent on-the-job or in training during the normal school week
• at least 7 hours of employment and 6 hours of training per week.

A student can undertake an SBAT only if the:

• training scheme is approved by the VRQA for delivery as an SBAT
• student is 15 years of age or over
• student is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
• student is in relevant employment
• principal or principal’s delegate has signed the training plan which confirms the student is enrolled in a nationally recognised qualification that can be undertaken as an SBAT.

Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that does not satisfy the school-based criteria will instead be undertaking a ‘part-time apprenticeship or traineeship’. This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE/VCE VM/VPC if it is recorded on VASS as a VE2 certificate type.

SBATs typically offer credit at Units 1–4 level towards the VCE/VCE VM/VPC. Further credit is available in larger qualifications up to a maximum of 6 units. For the level of credit in the VCE, refer to the Certificate UoC structure report on VASS.

Other VET qualifications

Students can use training in any nationally recognised VET qualification as part of their VCE/VCE VM/VPC.

Block credit recognition in the VCE

Students are eligible for credit towards the VCE if they are completing or have completed training in a nationally recognised VET qualification that is not included in the suite of approved VCE VET and SBAT programs. Credit towards the VCE will be available for full or partial completion of a nationally recognised qualification at AQF Level II and above. This credit is referred to as block credit recognition. Students must be enrolled in the VCE to be eligible for block credit recognition.

VCE VET programs and approved SBAT programs with full recognition in the VCE have predetermined credit. Credit for all other nationally recognised qualifications at and above AQF Level II is based on the block credit recognition rules.

Other VET qualifications require enrolments in the VE3 certificate type on VASS. These arrangements see credit accruing at the certificate level with Certificate II qualifications providing credit at Units 1 and 2 levels up to a maximum of 6 units, Certificate III at Units 1–4 up to a maximum of 6 units and Certificate IV or above at Units 3 and 4 levels up to a maximum of 4 units. Schools should check the UoC structure report to confirm credit arrangements.

Students who have completed training in VET before 2023

Students who have completed training in a nationally recognised VET qualification before 2023 and have not previously had their details entered on VASS can include the qualification in their current year enrolment if it is available on VASS. If it is not available on VASS, the school must apply to the VCAA.

Applications for credit in this way must be made on the Application for credit towards the VCE and VPC form available as a VASS download and be accompanied by copies (certified by the principal) of statements of attainment or certificates or both. Original documents must not be submitted. Credit granted will be recorded, which schools can view on VASS. The VCAA will report the credit granted on the VCE Statement of Results.

Entry to VET programs

Transfer arrangements between certificate types

If a student wants to transfer to a different certificate type for the same qualification (for example, from the VE1 certificate type for SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation to the VE2 certificate type), the following procedure should be followed:

1. If the student is currently enrolled in the VE1 program, they should be withdrawn from the program before enrolment in the VE2 program.
2. A statement from the RTO should be obtained, listing the UoCs that the student has satisfactorily completed in the previous enrolment.
3. The student can now be enrolled in the VE2 program and then given a result of S (competent) for these UoCs completed in the VE1 certificate program.
4. The student should then be enrolled in the remaining UoCs expected to be completed in the current year of the VE2 program.
5. The student should be awarded S for any UoCs completed and N (not yet competent) for UoCs not yet completed in the VE2 program.

Satisfactorily completing VET programs

Certificate type: VE1 and VE2 programs

The requirements for satisfactorily completing a VCE VET program are outlined in the relevant VCE VET program booklets. For VCAA-approved SBATs, the Certificate UoC structure report on VASS provides completion and credit arrangements.

Certificate type: VE3 programs

Satisfactory completion of a certificate type VE3 qualification is not calculated or reported on VASS, however any training completed can contribute towards the student’s overall VCE or VPC. The RTO is responsible for issuing a statement of attainment or a certificate for training undertaken.

Contribution of VET to VCE

VCE VET and SBAT (VE1 and VE2) programs and VET (VE3) certificates contribute to the VCE in different ways.

Recognition within the VCE for VCE VET programs

For VE1 and VE2 programs only, enrolment in a UoC leads automatically to enrolment in VCE VET units. Schools will be unable to directly enrol students in, or withdraw them from, VCE VET units. This can be done only by enrolment in, or withdrawal from, a UoC.

As UoCs are completed, VCE VET unit completion is calculated automatically. The nominal hours for VCE VET units vary from program to program.

In VCE VET programs where a study score is available, the contents of the Unit 3–4 sequence are prescribed. Completing the VCE VET units depends upon finishing the prescribed UoC in the Unit 3–4 sequence.

In VCE VET programs where a study score is not available, students will receive credit based on the accrual of hours from that program (typically, credit accrues in the following order: Units 1, 2, 3 and 4).

Credit will be granted up to a maximum of 6 units towards the VCE based on the nominal hours of a UoC.

Duplication between VCE VET programs and VCE or other VET

VCE VET units contribute as units towards satisfactorily completing the VCE only if there is no significant duplication between a VCE VET program and VCE studies or other VCE VET programs. If there is significant duplication, students may enrol in the VCE VET program, VCE studies or other VCE VET programs identified, however a reduction in credit towards the VCE will then apply.

In such a circumstance, all satisfactorily completed VCE VET units will appear on the student’s Statement of Results. Program coordinators should refer to VCE VET program booklets for further information on the duplication between VCE VET programs and VCE studies or other VCE VET programs.

Current duplication has been identified between VCE Languages studies and the VET Applied Language certificates where they are undertaken in the same language. Where a student is enrolled in both a VCE Languages study at Units 3 and 4 levels and the VET Certificate III in Applied Language in the same language, the VCE Languages study will be the only one to contribute towards satisfactorily completing the VCE. In this instance, the results from the VET Certificate III in Applied Language will also be reported on the VCE Statement of Results.

Duplication between VCE VET programs and other VET qualifications available through block credit recognition will be considered when determining the amount and level of credit towards the VCE. If UoCs sit within the scored Unit 3–4 sequence of a VCE VET program, they will not be included in VE3 qualifications in the same industry.

Duplication of units of competency

The same UoC may be contained in multiple VET qualifications, for example the First Aid units. Students enrolled in multiple VET qualifications should be enrolled in the duplicated UoC for VCE and VPC credit towards a single qualification only. The RTO responsible for reporting the outcome of each VET qualification will report on each UoC in the respective qualification

Recognition of VET within the VCE

Contribution towards the VCE for certificate type VE3 programs is calculated via block credit recognition. Credit is to be awarded in the VCE based on achieving UoCs. The level of credit is determined by the AQF level of the qualification in which the UoC are undertaken. Students who aggregate results from more than one VET training program may be eligible for credit for all of their training, subject to completing sufficient hours.

The rules for the award of credit in the VCE are as follows:

• Certificate I qualifications do not provide any credit in the VCE.
• Certificate II qualifications provide credit at VCE Units 1 and 2 only, with each completed 90 nominal hours of training providing one unit of credit. Credit accrues with hours of training completed in the following sequence: Units 1, 2, 1 and 2, up to a maximum of 6 units.
• Certificate III qualifications provide credit at VCE Units 1–4, with each completed 90 nominal hours of training providing one unit of credit. Credit accrues with hours of training completed in the following sequence: Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 3 and 4, up to a maximum of 6 units.
• Certificate IV and above qualifications that are pre-approved by the VCAA provide credit at VCE Units 3 and 4, with each completed 90 nominal hours of training providing one unit of credit. Credit accrues with hours of training completed in the following sequence: Units 3, 4, 3 and 4, up to a maximum of 4 units.

Schools seeking to enrol students into Certificate IV or Diploma qualifications need to seek prior approval from the VCAA, before students commence training. An application for approval form is available from block credit recognition page. This approval process makes sure that students are undertaking qualifications aligned to their future pathway and that qualifications are appropriate to their needs and capabilities.

The award of credit to a student will consider issues of duplication with their other studies or VCE VET programs.

Additional recognition arrangements for VET within the VCE and VPC

From 2023, there will be additional recognition arrangements for VET undertaken by VCE and VPC students.

Students may accrue credit achieved through UoCs undertaken, that are not currently contributing to a VCE VET Unit at certificate II level or above. These UoCs are overflow and can be combined to form up to 2 VCE VET units at unit 1 and 2 level. A maximum of 180 hours from UoCs will be recognised across VET qualifications. These VCE VET units will be reported as General units.

In 2024, students wanting to achieve a Unit 3–4 sequence from VCE VET programs, other than the identified scored sequence, will be required to complete 360 nominal hours of training if they:

either

• complete 180 nominal hours of training from a single or from multiple qualifications and then change to another single qualification (from the same industry as any completed training) and complete a further 180 nominal hours of training, as long as that qualification contains a Unit 3–4 sequence

or

• complete 180 nominal hours of training from a single or from multiple qualifications and complete a further 180 nominal hours of training from an SBAT in a single qualification containing a Unit 3–4 sequence.

VCE VET documentation

See the VET quick guide for VASS administrators and booklets for all VCE VET programs.

The following website and organisations can also provide useful information:

• training.gov.au – the national VET database
• Victorian Department of Education’s TAFE, training and universities pages – information on access to further education and training opportunities for Victorians and links to Victorian purchasing guides and Victorian Government–accredited curriculum documents and curriculum maintenance managers
• the Australian Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – responsible for developments and policy changes in VET at a national level.

Structured workplace learning recognition

Students who undertake structured workplace learning (SWL) for VET and complete the assessment requirements for SWL recognition may achieve credit towards the VCE/VCE VM or VPC.

SWL recognition requirements are:

• completing a minimum of 80 hours of SWL in the same industry as the VCE VET program or school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) that the student is enrolled in
• an enrolment in at least 180 hours of VET in a VCE VET program or an SBAT
• Satisfy the Outcomes of Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the VCE Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET study design an enrolment and entry of results VASS.

Students are eligible for up to two units of credit for SWL recognition at the VCE Units 1 or 2 levels.