Your essential guide to becoming an RTO

What’s an RTO?
‘RTO’ stands for ‘registered training organisation’. RTOs are registered by state and territory
training authorities to deliver nationally recognised training—which means training that:

 is recognised by all RTOs throughout Australia

 is part of a Training Package that has been developed to meet the needs of a particular
industry, and
 results in a qualification that is part of the Australian Qualifications Framework

Any organisation wishing to deliver nationally recognised and accredited training and
assessment services must become a registered training organisation (RTO).

To register as an RTO, an organisation must:

 apply to the appropriate state or territory registering authority
 demonstrate compliance with the AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial
Registration.

The registration process

Becoming a registered training organisation (RTO) involves three major steps:
 preparation
 application and approval
 ongoing compliance.

The length of time it takes to complete the registration process varies but generally it takes
about three months to prepare, lodge, audit and approve the application.

Preparing to register

Attend an information session

Most state and territory registering authorities - who are responsible for registering
and monitoring RTOs - hold information sessions and workshops for training
organisations.

These sessions provide advice on becoming an RTO and explain the necessary
compliance to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) – a set of nationally
agreed standards, which ensure quality of vocational education and training (VET)
services across Australia.

Ensure full compliance with the AQTF

A training organisation seeking to become an RTO must be fully compliant with the
AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration. Visit AQTF
Publications to view the Users’ Guide to the AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards
for Initial Registration to help prospective RTOs demonstrate their compliance.
 Define the scope of registration
A prospective RTO must define its scope of registration, that is, the courses,
qualifications and other services it intends to deliver.

Meet legislative and licensing requirements

All legislative and licensing requirements relevant to the proposed scope of
registration must be met. This information is available in Training Packages or through
the appropriate industry skills council

Application and approval

Validation audit
Following submission of an application to register, the registering body will appoint an
auditor to undertake a validation audit of the prospective RTO. The auditor will assess
whether the systems and processes in place are compliant with the AQTF Essential
Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration.

Formal approval
After registration, details of the RTO and the courses and qualifications it may deliver
are published on a national register called the National Training Information Service
(NTIS). The listing also provides access to current and emerging training market
information.

On-going compliance
Registration under the AQTF is for up to five years - unless amended, suspended or
cancelled. After this period, an RTO must apply for renewal of registration.
Once registered, an RTO must continue to comply with the AQTF Essential Conditions
and Standards for Continuing Registration at all times.

Only qualifications or courses identified within its scope of registration can be

delivered by the RTO. Any changes to this scope - for example the introduction of
additional courses, or a change from assessment-only services to delivery and
assessment – require the approval of a variation to scope application.

Reasons why becoming an RTO is great for business

Only RTOs can:

 deliver nationally recognised courses and qualifications—the training RTOs provide is

recognised and valued Australia-wide
 use the nationally recognised training logo on qualifications, statements of attainment and
promotional material—an invaluable marketing tool
 have their business listed on the National Training Information Service —an established
marketing channel where potential clients search for RTO services, and
 apply for Australian Government and state/ territory government funding.

Find out more about the benefits of being an RTO on training.com.au

The decision’s made and you want to become an RTO—what next?
If you want to become an RTO, you need to declare the courses, qualifications and other
services you want to deliver. This is called your ‘scope of registration’.

So, the first step is to visit the National Training Information Service for a list of endorsed
Training Packages and accredited courses and qualifications, and to decide which qualifications
or courses you want to deliver. Find out more about registering as an RTO on training.com.au

More information
You’ve probably got questions like:

 How much does it cost to become an RTO?

 I can’t find a suitable accredited qualification or course—how do I go about developing my
own?
 If I become an RTO, what qualifications do my staff need to deliver nationally recognised
training?

training.com.au contains a great deal of information about what’s involved in becoming an

RTO, but your best source of information is your state or territory registering/ course
accrediting body, as they will be processing your application for registration.

Each State and Territory has its own training authority that administers vocational
education and training. Their role includes allocation of funds, registration of training
organisations and accreditation of courses.

ACT - Accreditation and Registration Council (ARC)

How to register

NSW - Vocational Education & Training Accreditation Board (VETAB)

How to register

NT - Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET)

How to register

QLD - Training and Employment Recognition Council (TERC)

How to register

SA - Training and Skills Commission

How to register

TAS - Tasmanian Qualifications Authority (TQA)

How to register

VIC - Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)

How to register

WA - Training Accreditation Council (TAC)

How to register
Costs
There are costs involved in becoming a registered training organisation (RTO) and in
maintaining registration.

These include:
 registration or renewal fees
 compliance and infrastructure costs
 the purchase of Training Packages.

Any organisation applying to become an RTO, or renewing registration must pay an

application fee to the relevant state or territory registering body. The fee varies between the
states and territories, from $500 to over $1500, which includes the cost of the initial
appraisal and compliance audit. Annual fees are also payable upon registration in some
states and territories and can range from $350 to over $1000.

Fees also apply for extension to scope of registration and approval to provide courses to
overseas students.

In 2011 that responsibility will transfer to a National Regulator.

Q: Why is the Australian Government establishing a National VET Regulator?

A: The move towards a nationally consistent environment of VET regulation has long been a
policy goal of Australian governments. National standards for training providers have been in
place since the 1990s and model clauses for state legislation were introduced in 2002.
On 7 December 2009 the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) agreed to establish a new,
independent national regulator for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

The National VET Regulator will regulate the training sector to ensure national standards are
met and strengthen quality assurance for the students and businesses committed to the sector.
The regulator will be responsible for the registration and audit of registered training providers
across Australia and accreditation of courses from 2011.

On a national basis, all providers operating in a referring state or territory, or enrolling

international students in post-secondary educational institutions, will be registered through the
national regulator.

The Western Australian and Victorian regulators will retain responsibility for regulating training
providers which are operating only within that jurisdiction and do not cater to international
students. Western Australia and Victoria have not agreed to refer powers, however have agreed
to introduce mirror legislation to ensure national consistency.

A separate body, the National Standards Council, will be established to provide advice to the
Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) on national standards for
regulation, including registration, quality assurance and accreditation of VET qualifications.
Q: When will the new arrangements take effect?

A: The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) called for the development of an agreed
approach for national regulation through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to be in place
by the end of May 2010.

The national VET regulator will be operational from April 2011.

There will be a transitional period from state regulation to the new system of national
regulation. More details about how this transition will occur will be released following the
passage of the relevant legislation in the Commonwealth Parliament, which is expected in early
2011.

Q: If I am currently registered with a state or territory regulator or the National

Audit and Registration Authority (NARA), will I need to re-register?

A: It is likely that registrations will transfer across from current regulators to the national
regulator in a phased process. Transition arrangements are currently under consideration and
negotiations are occurring with states and territories. Further information will become available
following the passage of the relevant legislation in the Commonwealth Parliament, which is
expected in early 2011.
Velg Training

Velg Training is Australia’s leading provider of professional development to the vocational

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For more information on Velg Training go to www.velgtraining.com

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