Convert your Defence service into nationally recognised qualifications entirely online. Leadership and management, security risk management and government credentials, fast-tracked through Recognition of Prior Learning — with a 25% discount for serving members and veterans.
In short: 3CIR delivers online Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for ADF members and veterans across Australia. Your existing service, courses and experience are assessed against nationally recognised qualifications under the AQF, issued through Asset College (RTO 31718). Most assessments complete in days, not years — at a 25% Defence discount.
Whether you are still in uniform, recently transitioned, or a reservist balancing civilian work, the leadership, risk, security and operational skills you have built in Defence already meet the standard for nationally recognised qualifications. Online RPL turns that experience into formal credentials — without time off, classrooms or starting from scratch.
Army, Navy and Air Force members who want civilian-recognised qualifications ready for the day they transition — completed online, around operational tempo and deployments.
Transitioned and ex-serving members converting years of military experience into qualifications that employers and recruiters immediately understand and value.
Active reservists and those working in defence industry or contracting who hold real responsibility and want it recognised formally and quickly.
Defence builds exactly the capabilities Australian employers pay a premium for: leadership under pressure, risk management, security awareness, planning and accountability. A nationally recognised qualification puts that on paper. These are the roles ADF members and veterans most commonly move into — with indicative national salaries.
Australians with a post-school qualification earn a median $1,600/week versus $1,000/week for those without — roughly $31,200 more each year. A formal credential is one of the clearest levers on your earning potential after Defence.
Salary figures are indicative ranges drawn from SEEK and Hays salary data (2025) and vary by location, employer and experience. The earnings comparison is sourced from the ABS Characteristics of Employment survey (August 2025). 3CIR does not guarantee employment outcomes or specific salaries; qualifications position you to compete for the roles listed.
3CIR offers more than 40 qualifications across nine fields. For ADF members and veterans, three pathways stand out — the ones your Defence experience maps to most directly. All prices below already include the 25% Defence discount and are GST-free.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a nationally recognised assessment process that converts existing skills, knowledge and experience into a formal qualification, without repeating training you have effectively already completed. For ADF members and veterans, military courses, postings, leadership roles and operational experience are assessed against the competency requirements of qualifications within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Qualifications are listed on the national register, training.gov.au, and Recognition of Prior Learning is governed by the standards of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). The entire process can be completed online: you submit evidence such as service records, course reports and performance appraisals, and a qualified assessor maps it to the relevant units of competency. Where small gaps exist, targeted gap-training is provided. Successful candidates receive the same certificate as someone who studied the course in full.
25% Military & Emergency Services Discount Applied — All prices shown include your discount.Proof of service required at time of payment. Discount applies to serving members and veterans of the ADF and emergency services.
Training and assessment are delivered under a third-party arrangement with Asset College RTO #31718.
The most direct match for ADF rank and command experience. Leadership and management RPL for ADF members recognises your record of leading teams, planning and accountability.
For members with security, force protection or risk responsibilities. Includes the Diploma of Security Risk Management RPL for defence force experience.
Government qualifications through RPL for military experience — protective security, investigations and regulatory roles across the public sector.
Not sure which pathway fits? We also offer Business, Project Management, Work Health & Safety, HR, Quality Auditing and Marketing qualifications — 40+ in total. Browse the full Defence catalogue or get a free eligibility check.
See All Defence Qualifications →You have already done the hard part — years of real experience in Defence. RPL recognises it. Traditional study makes you sit through it again. For ADF members and veterans, the difference is measured in months and thousands of dollars.
Tell us your service background. We confirm which qualifications you can claim — at no cost.
Upload service records, course reports, PARs and your resume through our secure online portal.
A qualified assessor maps your evidence against the units of competency for your qualification.
If small gaps exist, you complete short, targeted gap-training online — never the whole course.
Your nationally recognised certificate is issued through Asset College (RTO 31718).
Most of what you need already exists in your service file. Common evidence accepted for Defence RPL includes:
3CIR is built around how Defence members actually live — posted, deployed, busy and value-conscious. The whole experience is designed to be the quickest, most convenient and most affordable way to get qualified.
Defence services online means exactly that — eligibility check, evidence upload, assessment and certification all happen remotely. Complete it from base, from home, or mid-posting, on any device. Nothing to attend in person.
Fast-track qualifications for defence force experience. Because we assess what you have already done, our fastest turnaround is just 7 days from complete evidence to issued certificate — compared with years of traditional study.
Discounted RPL courses for veterans and serving members. Every price on this site already includes 25% off, is GST-free, and can be split into instalments with no interest through trusted payment partners.
Start your qualification now and pay in instalments. Flexible, interest-free payment plans are available so cost is never the barrier between you and a nationally recognised credential.
Pick the area that best reflects your Defence experience to see the qualifications you can claim through online RPL — and the typical roles they lead to.
If you have led a section, platoon, ship's department, flight or team, your command experience maps directly to nationally recognised leadership qualifications. This is the most popular pathway for ADF members and veterans.
Force protection, physical security, guarding, risk assessment and threat management experience supports a Diploma of Security Risk Management RPL for defence force members — plus certificate-level security credentials.
Government qualifications through RPL for military experience cover protective security, investigations, fraud control and regulatory compliance — ideal for moving into public-sector and APS roles.
Operational planning, logistics, coordination and resource management translate into business and project qualifications — strong options for ex-military moving into corporate and contracting roles.
We are proud of the feedback we receive from serving members, veterans and emergency services personnel who have qualified through 3CIR. These reviews are pulled live from Google.
Defence services online RPL is the process of converting your ADF service into nationally recognised qualifications entirely over the internet. You complete a free eligibility check, upload evidence such as service records and course reports, and a qualified assessor maps it to a qualification under the AQF. Certificates are issued through Asset College (RTO 31718).
Yes. Leadership and management RPL for ADF members is our most popular pathway. Command and supervisory experience — leading sections, departments, flights or teams — maps directly to the Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Graduate Diploma of Leadership and Management. Most members qualify with little or no additional study.
Yes. We apply a 25% discount on all discounted RPL courses for veterans and serving members of the ADF and emergency services. Every price shown on this page already includes that discount and is GST-free. You provide proof of service at the time of payment, and interest-free payment plans are available.
Very fast. Because RPL assesses experience you already have, our fastest turnaround for fast-track qualifications for defence force members is just 7 days from complete evidence to issued certificate. Timeframes depend on how quickly you gather documents; most candidates finish in weeks, not the years traditional study requires.
Yes. The Diploma of Security Risk Management RPL for defence force members recognises force protection, physical security, guarding and risk-assessment experience. We also offer the Certificate IV in Security Management and Certificate IV in Security Risk Analysis through RPL — strong pathways into protective security and risk roles in the civilian sector.
Government qualifications through RPL for military experience include Certificate IV and Diploma-level credentials in Government Security and Government Investigations, plus specialisations in fraud control, regulatory compliance and personnel vetting. These suit ADF members moving into the Australian Public Service, protective security and investigation roles.
Yes, the entire process is online. From the free eligibility check through evidence submission, assessment and certification, nothing requires you to attend in person. You upload documents through a secure portal and communicate with your assessor remotely — ideal for members who are posted, deployed or working full-time.
Most evidence already exists in your service file. Commonly accepted documents include your ADO service record, PMKeyS printouts, course reports and ROAs, PARs, SPARs or PPRs, position descriptions, your corps or category MAE, a current resume and any existing qualifications. Our assessors guide you on exactly what is required.
Yes. Every qualification is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and listed on training.gov.au. Training and assessment are delivered under a third-party arrangement with Asset College RTO #31718, regulated by ASQA. The certificate you receive is identical to one earned through traditional study.
Yes. A qualification gained through RPL is exactly the same credential as one earned by studying the full course — there is no notation on the certificate. Because it is nationally recognised under the AQF, employers, recruiters and government agencies across Australia treat it identically to any other accredited qualification.
Getting started is simple and free. Complete our online eligibility form with a few details about your service, and we will confirm which qualifications you can claim — at no cost and no obligation. From there, your dedicated assessor walks you through evidence and the fast-track online process.
Continue your research with these related pages, or jump straight to a free eligibility check.
The complete rank-based guide to Recognition of Prior Learning for ADF members.
Learn more →Browse all 40+ nationally recognised qualifications available to Defence members.
Learn more →Qualifications designed for transitioned and ex-serving ADF veterans.
Learn more →Turn command experience into Diploma and Advanced Diploma leadership credentials.
Learn more →Recognise force protection and risk experience with security qualifications.
Learn more →Protective security, investigations and compliance qualifications for the public sector.
Learn more →How the fully online study and assessment process works for serving members.
Learn more →RPL pathways for police, fire, ambulance and SES personnel.
Learn more →A plain-English explanation of Recognition of Prior Learning and how it works.
Learn more →Your Defence experience already meets the standard. Find out in minutes which nationally recognised qualifications you can claim — fast-tracked, online, and 25% off for serving members and veterans.