What is Recognition?

Recognition,  sometimes also referred to as recognition of prior learning, is the formal assessment of skills and experience that you may have gained from:

• high school
• formal and/or informal training completed after finishing high school
• paid and/or volunteer work in Australia or overseas
• other qualifications from Australia and/or from overseas
• on-the-job training
• work and life experience.

What are the advantages of Recognition?

The main advantages of applying for Recognition are:

• gaining up to 100% Recognition for a qualification
• gaining entry into higher qualifications
• gaining new qualifications of equivalent value to qualification/s you hold
• completing your qualification faster*.

*Depending on the type of course in which you are enrolled, completing within a shorter time could mean paying fees for fewer semesters taking less money from your pocket.

 When can I apply for Recognition?

Applications for Recognition are accepted:

• before enrolment
• on enrolment into a qualification offered by OTEN
• after you are enrolled as long as your enrolment is valid for the current period.

If you tick the TAFE NSW Credit Transfer box on your OTEN Enrolment Application form, all of your previous and relevant TAFE NSW studies will be credited to your course. 

If you are already enrolled in a qualification and you wish to seek Recognition, there are no additional costs.

If you/your employees do not wish to enrol with OTEN, we provide a Commercial Recognition Service for recognising relevant and current skills against a qualification.

 Possible effects of gaining Recognition

Before applying, please be aware that gaining Recognition may affect:

• your outcome in a graded qualification or course
• any Centrelink payment to study, you may be receiving
• your eligibility for a refund or applying for a course to course transfer
• the status of your visa, if you are from overseas and on a student visa.

If you are unsure how these may affect your studies, please speak to a Teacher, Counsellor, Recognition Officer, Multicultural Education Officer or an International Consultant at OTEN. If you are the recipient of a Centrelink payment to study, you need to check with Centrelink.