Yes, you may be able to obtain a replacement testamur for an Australian qualification achieved through recognition of prior learning (RPL). RPL describes how your existing skills and knowledge were assessed; it does not create a different kind of qualification. The registered training organisation (RTO) that issued your qualification is usually your first point of contact for a replacement.
What is a replacement testamur?
A testamur is the formal certificate issued when you complete an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification. If you qualified through RPL and later lost or damaged your certificate, you would generally ask the issuing RTO for a replacement of its certification documentation. You are not normally asking to repeat the RPL assessment.
Check which document you actually need before making a request. A testamur confirms a completed qualification, while a record of results lists the units completed as part of it. A statement of attainment relates to completed units or accredited modules rather than, by itself, confirming a full qualification. The Australian Qualifications Framework provides information about AQF qualifications and certification documentation.
How do I request a replacement?
1. Identify the RTO that issued the qualification
Look for the RTO’s name and provider number on an old scan, email, record of results or statement of attainment. If you cannot find them, check your enrolment correspondence and any paperwork from your RPL application. You can use the Australian Government’s training.gov.au register to look up an RTO and check its registration details.
If an RPL support service helped you prepare evidence, that service may be able to help identify the issuing RTO. It cannot issue or replace the testamur unless it is itself the RTO that issued the qualification.
2. Contact the issuing RTO
Ask the RTO for its process for replacing AQF certification documentation. Give it your name at the time of issue, any previous names, the qualification title or code if known, an approximate completion date and a way to contact you. The RTO may ask for proof of identity, a name-change document or a replacement fee. Ask it to confirm its requirements and any applicable fee before you submit sensitive documents.
Tell the RTO whether you need the testamur, the record of results or both. If an employer or another organisation has asked for a particular document, checking its requirements first may save you a second request.
3. If the RTO has closed, ask the relevant regulator
If the issuing RTO no longer operates, the next step depends on who regulated it and what records are available. Contact the relevant VET regulator for guidance on accessing records from a closed provider. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national VET regulator for many RTOs, but some providers are regulated by state authorities. A regulator may be able to explain the available records process; do not assume it holds a copy of your testamur or can issue an identical replacement.
Will a replacement show that I completed the qualification through RPL?
RPL is an assessment pathway, not a separate qualification. Whether a replacement document includes any information about the assessment pathway depends on the issuing RTO’s records and documentation. If someone specifically needs evidence of how you were assessed, ask the RTO what records it can provide rather than assuming the testamur will show this.
Can RPL Access Australia replace my certificate?
RPL Access Australia provides RPL support and advisory assistance, including helping people organise information about their training and assessment history. The issuing RTO assesses RPL applications and issues or replaces its qualification documentation. RPL Access Australia cannot reissue another provider’s testamur or guarantee that a replacement will be available.
If you need the document for a licence, employment or migration matter, check directly with the organisation making that decision. A licensing authority decides its own evidence requirements, and migration or visa decisions rest with the relevant government authority. A replacement testamur does not, by itself, guarantee acceptance for either purpose.
What should I do first?
Start by finding any record that names the RTO that awarded your qualification. Then contact that RTO, explain which document you need and ask about identification, fees and its replacement process. If the provider has closed, seek guidance from the relevant VET regulator. Taking those steps gives you the best chance of finding the right record without starting an unnecessary new RPL application.