Training package developers

Depending on the industry sector, licensing can be complex for the developers of training packages for use nationally. Licensing requirements that apply to vocational education and training vary between states and territories and can be subject to frequent change.

Training package developers must consider occupational licensing and other regulations concerning the training packages and units of competency being developed. National and state and territory licensing authorities and regulators are important stakeholders for the vocational education and training sector, and should be identified and consulted during the development process.

To ensure licensing requirements are met, developers should:

  • map licensing requirements against training packages in a clear and transparent way (adding an appendix if there is a lot of information)
  • ensure that the training requirements of regulators issuing occupational licences are clearly identifiable in units of competency where relevant
  • ensure the packaging rules of qualifications do not impede licensing requirements
  • report any difficulties in engaging licensing authorities, or achieving agreement with regulators to Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as soon as possible so that the National Quality Council can be advised out of session
  • advise DEEWR of issues emerging relating to lack of mutual recognition across state and territory regulatory authorities concerning qualifications or occupational licences
  • target licensing authorities in any marketing and information dissemination for the training package
  • where feasible, and in conjunction with DEEWR, pursue the formalisation of arrangements concerning the use of the training package with national and state and territory regulatory authorities via a memorandum of understanding or letter of agreement.

Acceptance by licensing authorities

In developing and reviewing national training packages, the DEEWR aims to encourage Industry Skills Councils to produce qualifications or units of competency capable of meeting occupational licensing requirements established by regulators.

Progressively, this is shifting to a position of acceptance and endorsement by occupational licensing authorities that full qualifications or units of competency from a qualification are one pathway to meet the occupational licensing requirements.

These expectations should be balanced against what is achievable in aligning training packages with licensing requirements.

Training Package developers should be aware that often legislation or regulations will need to be amended to effect the recognition by licensing regulators of units of competency.

Accordingly, a partnership approach should be established with licensing authorities as early as possible to ensure meaningful dialogue. If such a dialogue cannot be established it will limit the ability of licensing authorities to facilitate the change to legislation or alternatively mean that the VET system can not deliver the training and assessment to meet licensing requirements in the most efficient and effective manner by regulators and industry.

To progress this, committees established to support training package development and review processes should include a representative from relevant national and/or state and territory licensing and regulatory authorities.

Training package advice

The Training Package Development Handbook details the policy which has been developed around training packages and occupational licensing requirements. In general, the policy states that all units of competency within a training package should state whether it addresses a regulatory or licensing requirement.

The Handbook makes numerous mentions of the relationship between licensing or regulatory and training packages. Find out more about specific Training Package Development Handbook policy on licensing and regulatory requirements. 

This page was generated on 13 October, 2009