Yes. If you disagree with an assessment of your recognition of prior learning (RPL) evidence, you can ask the registered training organisation (RTO) that conducted the assessment about its review or appeals process. The first step is to understand the assessor’s decision: was your evidence considered insufficient, was something missing, or did the assessor decide it did not demonstrate a particular unit requirement?
RPL recognises skills and knowledge you already have. It is still an assessment process, so submitting evidence does not guarantee a particular result. A review gives you a way to raise concerns about the assessment decision or process; it does not automatically change the outcome.
Who reviews an RPL assessment decision?
The RTO is responsible for assessment decisions and, where the requirements are met, issuing the qualification or statement of attainment. RPL Access Australia can help you understand evidence requirements and prepare questions for the RTO, but it does not make or overturn assessment decisions, issue certificates, or decide licensing or visa outcomes.
Contact your RTO for its complaints and appeals policy. Ask how to request a review, whether there is a form to complete, what information to include and whether any deadlines apply. Processes can differ between providers, so use the policy that applies to your enrolment rather than assuming another RTO’s procedure is the same.
Before you request a review, identify what you are questioning
It helps to separate a concern about the decision from a request for guidance on additional evidence. For example, you might believe the assessor overlooked a document you submitted. Alternatively, the assessor may have considered the document but found that it did not demonstrate the required skill. Those situations may call for different next steps.
Ask the RTO for clear feedback about:
- Which unit or assessment requirements were not met.
- Which pieces of evidence the assessor considered.
- Why particular evidence was not sufficient, current, authentic or relevant.
- Whether you can provide further evidence or undertake another assessment activity.
- How to lodge an appeal if you believe the assessment decision should be reviewed.
You can check the published details of a qualification or unit on the Australian Government’s training.gov.au. Those details can help you understand the requirements being assessed, but the RTO should explain how they apply to your individual assessment.
How to make a clear review request
Follow the RTO’s procedure and keep your request factual. Include your name and enrolment details, the qualification or unit involved, the decision you want reviewed, the date you received feedback and the reason you disagree. Refer to specific evidence rather than simply saying you have years of experience.
For instance, if you believe a work sample was missed, identify the file, when you submitted it and the requirements you believe it addresses. If the concern is about the process, explain what happened and provide any relevant emails or assessment records. Keep copies of what you send and of the RTO’s response.
Make clear what you are asking for: an explanation, consideration of evidence you believe was overlooked, an opportunity to submit further evidence, or a formal appeal of the assessment decision. The RTO can tell you which option fits its process. New evidence may be assessed differently from an appeal about evidence already considered.
What if you remain unhappy with the response?
Use the RTO’s internal complaints and appeals process first and ask for the outcome in writing. If your concern remains unresolved, check which external complaint or review options apply to your circumstances. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) provides information about its role and the regulation of vocational education and training through its official website. A regulator complaint is not the same as asking a regulator to award you a qualification or replace the RTO’s assessment decision.
If you need a licence for your occupation, check requirements with the relevant licensing authority separately. Likewise, questions about a visa or migration skills assessment belong with the relevant decision-maker. A reviewed RPL outcome does not, by itself, guarantee a licence, skills assessment or visa result.
Getting your evidence ready for the conversation
Organise your evidence by the requirements it is intended to demonstrate. A short list showing each document, what work you performed and how recently you performed it can make your questions more precise. Avoid sending sensitive workplace records without permission, and ask the RTO how it handles confidential information.
If you would like help making sense of an evidence request before speaking with your RTO, RPL Access Australia can provide advisory support. The RTO remains responsible for considering evidence, handling its review process and making the assessment decision.