Become a Registered Training Organisation
On this page:
Quality training
The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is the national set of standards which assures nationally consistent, high-quality training and assessment services for the clients of Australia's vocational education and training system.
A training provider must be a registered training organisation (RTO) if it wishes to use these standards and be recognised under them.
Any business or association with an interest in training can apply to be registered.
All training organisations (including TAFE institutes) that issue Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and statements of attainment must be registered by the national regulator ASQA (the Australian Skills Quality Authority).
An organisation that is not registered may offer training or assessment services, but cannot issue nationally recognised qualifications.
Benefits of becoming a registered training organisation
Becoming a RTO gives you
- recognition as a quality trainer under the AQTF
- eligibility in NSW to tender for government funding through the Approved Providers List
- access to a wide range of resources, information and contacts
- access to professional development workshops for staff
- the right to seek approval to train overseas students (CRICOS).
Need help deciding?
Attend a workshop to help you decide or learn about what standards apply.
How to register
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the organisation that approves and registers training organisations. Instructions and forms can be found on their website.
ASQA - the Australian Skills Quality Authority
ASQA was established to ensure a nationally consistent quality vocational training market.
ASQA- approves and register training organisations
- approve training courses
- approve RTOs to training overseas students
- conduct audits on RTOs.
VETAB (the Vocational Education & Training Accreditation Board)
VETAB was the regulatory authority in NSW up to 30 june 2011. Its powers and authority have been transferred to the national regulator - ASQA.
Training packages
Training Packages are sets of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills. Training packages help create structure for training courses. The packages
- are industry based
- detail the qualification framework (what certificates, what levels)
- map occupational pathways
- detail general and specific units of competencies
- list contributing organisations and associations, and more...
The NSW Training Market and the Approved Providers List (APL)
The NSW Training Market refers to that part of the NSW vocational training industry that is publicly funded. This excludes TAFE which is funded separately. To access State funding RTOs must be on the Approved Providers List (APL).
