School to TAFE NSW
If the time has come for you to leave school and you want to continue your study, improve your skills and embark on a fantastic career, TAFE NSW courses and qualifications can help you on your path to success.
- Options if you are aged under 17
- Options if you have completed your HSC
- Options if you are a registered home schooled student
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Looking for real world skills and experience to help you get the job you want? Check out our Schools Ambition webpage to explore our degrees, diplomas and courses.
Are you aged under 17?
NSW law requires you to complete school up to Year 10 and then to continue in either education, paid employment, training or a combination of these until you reach the age of 17.
Completing Year 10
By completing Year 10, you will allow yourself greater opportunity for further education, additional training and work experience later in life. Your options include :
- Stay at school to complete Years 11 and 12;
- Do a TAFE NSW delivered Vocational Education and Training (TVET) course while at school;
- Do a full-time course at TAFE NSW or other Registered Training Organisation (RTO);
- Take up an apprenticeship or traineeship;
- Get a full-time job; or
- Undertake a combination of work and study that adds up to a full-time workload.
Young people seeking approval to attend TAFE NSW
There have been quite extensive changes to the previous processes associated with approving students under the age of 17 into TAFE NSW.
As per the 2009 amendment to the Education Act 1990, young people must remain at school until they complete Year 10 or reach 17 years of age – whichever occurs first. In exceptional circumstances, young people may seek approval to complete the equivalent of Year 10 of secondary education at TAFE NSW.
To seek approval, please complete the relevant form.
Full-time VET qualifications
If you have completed Year 10, you are eligible to study for a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification at TAFE NSW. We offer an extensive choice of over 1200 courses, with many requiring little or no previous experience or access to the workplace.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Apprenticeships and Traineeships combine paid work and structured training. They allow you to learn a trade or workplace skill, and receive a nationally recognised VET qualification.
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAs and SBTs) combine paid work with structured training and school, so you can also gain your HSC.
Options for after completing your HSC
If you have completed, or are about to complete, your Higher School Certificate (HSC) then TAFE NSW can offer you:
- Full-time and part-time courses, within a huge range of career areas, to give you the workplace skills and qualifications employers are looking for.
- Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses that may provide credit towards a university degree.
- Apprenticeships and traineeships, which combine formal studies with work and on-the-job training.
- Pre-apprenticeship short courses that can give you the skills you need to help you enter the workforce.
Credit for your school studies
Some of your school subjects can give you credit towards your TAFE NSW qualification. This means you may be able to decrease the number of units and study time required to complete your course.
School subjects that may be recognised include:
- TVET studies (i.e. nationally recognised units from Training Packages or Accredited Courses)
- HSC subjects developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority. These subjects include a range of industry areas and you will need to show that you have successfully completed them in the last five years. You will also need to discuss with TAFE NSW staff what credit they may grant towards your desired course.
You may also be able to use your previous study and other evidence of your knowledge, skills and experience to gain Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for credit towards your course. With RPL your formal and informal learning are individually assessed to see whether you can meet competency standards.
Courses to match your skills
Although TAFE NSW course selection is not based on an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), different courses at TAFE NSW have different entry requirements. Many have few or no prerequisites, while others require previous training or qualifications.
Home schooled students seeking to study at TAFE NSW
Registered home schooled students can study at TAFE NSW. Certificates of Home Schooling Registration are issued by the NSW Education Standards Authority.
From 1 January 2017, registered home schooled students that meet the Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria are eligible for subsidised training under Smart and Skilled.
To enrol in a course contact us.
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Get help choosing the right study option for you
Whether you’re looking for hands-on, structured, training or the ability to learn in your own place at your own pace, TAFE NSW is here to help you choose the right study option. We know every student has unique needs, that’s why we help combine different learning models and tailor the delivery to suit you.
Our friendly Customer Service Centre support staff can help you with any questions you might have about our on-campus, online or distance study options.