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2.3 Additional VET QCE credit rules

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VET has an important role in many senior secondary student pathway options. The QCAA recognises completion and partial completion of VET qualifications and assigns credit to the QCE appropriate to the amount of learning completed by a student.

To ensure breadth of learning within a QCE, credit will accrue for new learning only. The QCAA has identified a number of instances where available learning options include a duplication of learning. These are outlined below.

There are many combinations of learning options available in the set pattern requirement of the QCE; only courses listed by the QCAA as duplication of learning are outlined in this handbook. If a course is not listed, it is currently not identified as duplication of another learning option, e.g. General subjects or Certificate III qualifications.

2.3.1 Applied subjects and Certificate II VET qualifications with duplication of learning

The QCAA considers Applied subjects and VET qualifications at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 2 that have similar subject matter and learning goals to be duplication of learning.

Students may enrol in any VET qualification. However, when a student is enrolled in both the identified Applied subject and VET qualification that has been listed as having similar learning, credit for the QCE is determined by the QCAA. Relevant Applied subjects and related qualifications are identified in the table ‘Applied subjects and Certificate II VET qualifications with duplication of learning’. Students may enrol in a combination of these courses; however, where duplication has been identified, QCE credit will only accrue for one course, i.e. a maximum of four QCE credits. At the time of enrolment, the list of courses in the table applies. This list of subjects and qualifications is reviewed and updated annually. If a qualification on this list is superseded, the new qualification will also be considered ‘duplication of learning’ unless otherwise advised.

All completed and partially completed VET qualifications and Applied subjects are recorded on the Senior Statement and/or Statement of Results.

Applied subjects and Certificate II VET qualifications with duplication of learning
Learning area Applied subjectVET qualification Max. QCE credit
English

Essential English

No duplication

4

Health and Physical Education

Early Childhood Studies

No duplication

4

Sport & Recreation

SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation

4

Humanities and Social Sciences

Business Studies

BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills

4

Religion & Ethics

No duplication

4

Social & Community Studies

No duplication

4

Tourism

SIT20116 Certificate II in Tourism
SIT20122 Certificate II in Tourism

4

Mathematics

Essential Mathematics

No duplication

4

Sciences

Agricultural Practices

AHC20116 Certificate II in Agriculture
AHC21216 Certificate II in Rural Operations
AHC20122 Certificate II in Agriculture

4

Aquatic Practices

No duplication

4

Science in Practice

No duplication

4

Technologies

Building & Construction Skills

CPC20220 Certificate II in Construction Pathways

4

Engineering Skills

MEM20422 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways

4

Fashion

MST20722 Certificate II in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles

4

Furnishing Skills

MSF20522 Certificate II in Furniture Making Pathways

4

Hospitality Practices

SIT20316 Certificate II in Hospitality
SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality

4

Industrial Graphics Skills

No duplication

4

Industrial Technology Skills

MSM20216 Certificate II in Manufacturing Technology

4

Information & Communication Technology

ICT20120 Certificate II in Applied Digital Technologies

4

The Arts

Arts in Practice

No duplication

4

Dance in Practice

CUA20120 Certificate II in Dance

4

Drama in Practice

No duplication

4

Media Arts in Practice

No duplication

4

Music in Practice

CUA20620 Certificate II in Music

4

Visual Arts in Practice

CUA20720 Certificate II in Visual Arts

4

Note: If a qualification on this list is superseded, the new qualification will be considered ‘duplication of learning’ unless otherwise advised.

2.3.2 Multiple VET qualifications

To ensure breadth of learning within a QCE, limitations are placed on the amount of credit that can contribute to the QCE for some VET qualifications.

New learning in VET

Credit for the QCE accrues when a student completes new learning. When a student completes multiple VET qualifications, an RTO may credit transfer previously completed units of competency from one qualification to another qualification. New learning in VET is identified for a unit of competency when it is reported as:

  • ‘Competency achieved/pass' and is the earliest date completed
  • 'Credit transfer/national recognition' but has not been recorded elsewhere in the student’s learning account, and is the earliest date completed
  • 'Credit transfer/national recognition' but at the earliest date completed was not part of a qualification that can contribute credit to the QCE.

Credit transfer relates to learning in VET qualifications, which is different from credit contributing to a QCE.

Qualifications from the same VET training package

A maximum of eight credits from the same VET training package can contribute to a QCE. Credit in the Core category of learning will accrue as the priority.

When a student completes or partially completes multiple qualifications from the same VET training package (e.g. a Certificate II in Business and a Certificate III in Business, or a Certificate II in Sport & Recreation and a Certificate III in Fitness), credit accrued from new learning in the Core category of learning will contribute credit, in the first instance, to a QCE. For the maximum credit to accrue for the highest-level qualification, at least 90% (or all but one of the units of competency) must be new learning.

A student who completes only a Certificate I from a training package accrues credit in the Preparatory category of learning. A student who completes only a Diploma or Advanced Diploma while at school accrues credit in the Complementary category of learning.

All completed qualifications are recorded on the Senior Statement and/or Statement of Results.

The QCE estimator is available in the Student Management application.

Qualifications from the same training package — category of learning and QCE credit

Certificate I

Certificate II

Certificate III or Certificate IV

Category of learning

Maximum QCE credit

  

Preparatory

2–3

 

 

Core

4

 

 

Core

4–8

 

Core

5–8

 

Preparatory Core

4–7

(2–3 from Preparatory plus up to 4 from Core)

Core

5–8

 

partially completed

Core

4 from Certificate II

(0–4 additional credit from partial completion of the Certificate III accrues for new learning)

VET credit transfer

Credit accrues to the QCE when a student completes new learning, as defined above.

At least 90% of the total units of competency required for the qualification must be reported as competent. All completed and partially completed VET qualifications that contribute to the QCE are recorded on the Senior Statement and/or Statement of Results.

The following table outlines the credit that contributes to a QCE when a VET qualification is completed or partially completed, and units of competency are recorded as VET credit transfer.

QCE credit contribution for VET qualifications completed with a combination of new learning and VET credit transfer

QCE credit

Amount of new learning completed

Notes

Full QCE credit

90% or more

10% of the total units of competency, or one of the competencies, can be reported as credit transfer.

For Certificate I, the qualification must also be completed and awarded.

75%

75%

Applicable to Certificate II, Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications only.

50%

50%

Applicable to Certificate II, Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications only.

25%

25%

Applicable to Certificate II, Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications only.

0%

<25%

 
Example of QCE credit for Certificates II and III with credit transfer for the same or different training package

An example of QCE credit as detailed in the section text

Example of QCE credit for Certificates II and III with VET credit transfer from different training packages

An example of QCE credit as detailed in the section text

2.3.3 Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications

Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications represent learning that complements core learning undertaken during senior schooling and may provide valuable pathway options for many students. Credit for a Diploma or Advanced Diploma may be accrued to the QCE in the Complementary category of learning.

If a student completes a Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification, the QCE credit is applied only when:

  • the qualification is undertaken while the student is enrolled at a school
  • units of competency are at AQF Level 5 or above
  • the maximum credit from the same training package has not already been met in the Core category of learning.

If a student has not accrued the maximum credit from a training package (eight credits) and completes or partially completes a Diploma or Advanced Diploma, the remaining credit available in the training package is accrued in the Complementary category of learning. When eligible, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications accrue one credit per unit of competency completed, up to a maximum of eight credits. Credit may accrue for the completed qualification or partial completion of the qualification.

All completed qualifications are recorded on the Senior Statement and/or Statement of Results.

Resources available in the QCAA Portal Noticeboard provide examples of QCE credit contribution in the Core and Complementary categories of learning when a Diploma or Advanced Diploma is completed.


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