If you are applying for recognition of prior learning (RPL), you may be asked for a third-party statement about the work you have done. The obvious person to ask might be your manager—but what if you are self-employed, have changed jobs or no longer work with your former supervisor?
The short answer is that a suitable verifier is someone who has directly observed your relevant work and can give an honest, specific account of it. The registered training organisation (RTO) assessing your RPL application decides whether that person's statement is suitable and how much weight to give it.
What is third-party verification in RPL?
Third-party verification is information from someone other than you who can speak to your skills and experience. It may take the form of a signed report, a workplace observation record or answers to questions from an assessor. It supports your other evidence; it does not replace the RTO's assessment.
In Australia's vocational education and training system, RPL is an assessment process, not simply a check of how long you have worked. The assessor must consider whether your evidence demonstrates the requirements of the relevant training product. You can look up qualifications and units of competency on the Australian Government's training.gov.au. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for vocational education and training; its website provides information about RTOs and assessment requirements.
Who can provide a third-party statement?
The best person depends on the tasks you need verified. Possible choices include:
- A current or former supervisor: Someone who directly oversaw your work and can describe what you did without relying on your job title alone.
- A manager or team leader: A person who observed your performance, reviewed your work or was responsible for its quality.
- An experienced colleague or tradesperson: Someone who worked closely enough with you to describe specific tasks, provided the assessor considers them an appropriate source.
- A client or customer: Particularly useful if you are self-employed and the client directly observed relevant work. They may be able to confirm the project, your role and the outcome, though they might not be able to judge every technical skill.
- A contractor or business partner: Someone who worked alongside you and can explain what you personally did, rather than what the business delivered as a whole.
For regulated or highly technical work, the RTO may ask about the verifier's own role, experience or licence. Do not assume that a client or colleague is suitable for every unit of competency. Ask the RTO or your RPL adviser what its evidence instructions require before approaching someone.
What makes a verifier credible?
A strong verifier has first-hand knowledge of your work, can be contacted if the assessor needs clarification and is willing to provide accurate details. Their statement should explain their relationship to you, when and where they observed you, the tasks you performed, how independently you worked and, where relevant, the equipment, procedures or standards involved.
Specific examples are more useful than broad praise. “I watched Sam complete pre-start checks and record faults on three site visits” tells an assessor more than “Sam is an excellent worker.” A verifier should only confirm what they genuinely know. If they did not observe a task, they should say so rather than guess or copy wording from a unit of competency.
Who is usually a poor choice?
A friend or relative who has not observed your work is unlikely to provide useful independent evidence. The same goes for a senior manager who knows your job title but cannot describe your actual tasks. A personal relationship does not automatically disqualify someone, especially in a family business, but you should disclose it and ask the RTO whether it will accept that person's statement and what additional evidence it needs.
What if you cannot contact a former employer?
Tell the RTO early. You may be able to nominate another person who observed the work or provide different evidence, such as work samples, job records, project documents, photographs you are permitted to share or records of completed tasks. The RTO may also use an interview, practical demonstration or other assessment methods where appropriate. Do not share confidential customer or employer information without permission; remove personal details where necessary.
If you are unsure how to organise your evidence, an RPL support service can help you identify possible verifiers and prepare information for submission. The RTO—not the support service—assesses your evidence and decides whether to grant RPL or issue a qualification. If your goal involves an occupational licence or a visa, the relevant licensing authority or government decision-maker applies its own requirements separately.
A quick check before you ask someone
- Did this person directly see the skills you need to demonstrate?
- Can they describe your individual contribution with specific examples?
- Are they comfortable giving accurate contact and role details?
- Have you checked the RTO's required form, format and any verifier eligibility rules?
Choose someone who can speak honestly about your work, then let the RTO know if there are gaps in what they can verify. A clear, limited statement backed by other evidence is more useful than an enthusiastic statement that cannot be substantiated.