September
It is undoubtedly certain that some employees and volunteers have acquired new sets of skills all throughout their employment.
The learning curve of an employee is shown through their performance and/or output. Therefore, it is very important for these employees to realise the importance of validating these skills by obtaining the necessary certifications to recognise such skills.
This is where recognised prior learning (RPL) plays an important and vital role.
It is a process that enables employees to maximise and utilise their strengths and talents.
Technically speaking, it is an assessment and acknowledgment by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that an employee indeed gained knowledge or a skill that is appropriate to the industry’s standards.
So, an employee could save the expense of actually undergoing training before acquiring a qualification/s.
The assessment methods vary through evaluation of previous employment, experiences, knowledge and activities in volunteer work, or actual observation of performance at work and learning.
Thus, this does not mean that only employed individuals may undertake RPL but it also applies to volunteers who do not get any kind of payment while working.
It also does not indicate that the experience should be learned at a specific place. Then, people from various companies and organisations may apply for skills assessment.
Evidence of such competence is not limited only to credentials and qualifications. Nor does it limit their applicants by age, gender, or physical attributes.
The proof needed is based solely on the skills that individuals demonstrate through undertaking their respective tasks and responsibilities, thereby exhibiting their skills and talents to be valued.
Through RPL, individuals may gain credit for their skills in a vocational course even without undergoing training. As a result, not only do employees benefit from such an assessment process but this also benefits the employer as well.
Without requiring an employee to undergo training to acquire vocational qualifications, this saves companies and various employers a huge amount of money. This also means that there is less downtime that will be spent for the days that they will be training.
More importantly, such assessment will allow the employers to understand the skills gap of their employees allowing for more focused training in the future.
With the wide reach of RPL, it could serve people who have been out of the education system for a long time. This process caters for people who may lack the formal qualifications that traditional education provided.
It is also a good way for unemployed individuals to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in hope of looking for prospective employers.
Lastly, it could also serve active community and organization members who have participated in and organised various events and programs.
As a starter, people who have plans on taking the RPL pathway may start with a FREE RPL Assessment. Kick start your career and education today.
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