Qualifications certify what a person has achieved through study, training, work and life experience. Because Australian qualifications are nationally recognised, they are portable. Employers and training organisations throughout Australia understand what a particular qualification means, what you have learnt and what your skills are. It is important to be familiar with the range of qualifications offered by TAFE NSW and to understand how the qualifications link together.

The AQF

The AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) is a nationally agreed framework which identifies the qualifications available in three sectors of education: schools, vocational education and training, and higher education.

AQF qualifications are used throughout Australia and have been developed in conjunction with both industry and the community. They help you move through and between different education levels and systems by specifying and standardising the outcomes achieved.

Each qualification is based on the level of outcome and not on the length of the course. For example, some Certificate IV courses are quite short but have as an entry requirement the completion of a related Certificate III course.

In NSW, the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) is the recognition authority that accredits VET courses. All AQF courses offered by
TAFE NSW are nationally recognised.

The following table orders AQF qualifications under the sector mainly responsible.

Qualifications awarded at TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW awards Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificates I to IV, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas.
TAFE NSW also offers accredited short courses and provides Statements of Attainment when students complete units of competency that are part of a qualification.

TAFE NSW offers non-AQF courses that lead to a TAFE Statement. For more detailed information see TAFE NSW courses – an outline.

TAFE NSW Testamurs and Transcripts

If you successfully complete a nationally accredited (AQF) or NSW accredited course, or a TAFE PLUS accredited course, you will receive a TAFE NSW Testamur.

Your testamur is an official security-protected certificate showing the qualification you attained. Be aware of false certificates! Always check for the following security features which are part of every certificate: a unique number, state crest watermark, embossed seal and printed background.

As you complete each stage of a course you will also receive a transcript setting out your results.

TAFE PLUS Attendance Certificates

If you complete a non-accredited TAFE PLUS course, you will receive a TAFE PLUS Attendance Certificate. These do not carry the accreditation status of a testamur, but do officially recognise your attendance. Each TAFE PLUS Attendance Certificate has a unique number, a silver foil logo and an embossed seal for security purposes. You will also receive a transcript.

The National Code

A National Code is assigned to each nationally accredited course or qualification to ensure recognition throughout Australia. National Codes are indicated in the course descriptions in the Courses & Careers section.

To meet specialist or local needs, TAFE NSW also offers a range of non-accredited courses. These do not have a National Code.

Standards

What you learn at TAFE NSW, and how you learn it, measures up to rigorous national standards. The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is a set of nationally agreed standards which ensure the quality of vocational education and training services throughout Australia. The AQTF makes sure Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and the qualifications they issue are recognised throughout Australia.

TAFE NSW Institutes are RTOs and have ISO 9001:2000 certification. This status highlights the ongoing commitment of TAFE NSW to quality management and continuous organisational improvement in order to provide better training outcomes for students.

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