Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers
Do you have the trade experience and skills but not the qualification?
You could be eligible to have your trade skills and previous work experience recognised to fast-track you through your fee-free*, nationally recognised trade qualification.
Enrolments for 2023 have now closed. Register your interest for future Trade Pathways qualifications.
* Eligibility criteria apply.
Training is subsidised by the NSW Government.
Eligibility criteria
- be 21 years of age or older
- be currently working in the industry associated with the training qualification or have a minimum of 2 years' work experience in this industry from the last 5 years
- currently be working in the industry if undertaking an MEM (Engineering) or FBP (Baking or Cake and Pastry) qualification
- not be a registered apprentice or trainee, or had been for the last 6 months
- live or work in NSW
- be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
- must be able to complete by 30 May 2024.
Note: The program is not a recognition process for overseas qualifications.
Good job prospects
There's hight demand for skilled trade workers. With federal and state governments increasing funding for major infrastructureprojects, trades workers can expect the industry to boom. So you'll have great job prospects and stability.
Need for skilled workers
The NSW Government aims to increase the number of skilled trades workers as there is a real skills shortage in the specific trade industries listed under 'Qualifications'. So there's never been a better time to get skilled up!
Learn skills you can use anywhere
Be trained in skills that are transferable across Australia. So no matter where you live, employment prospects are excellent.
Questions
If you have any questions about the program, please contact TradePathways@tafensw.edu.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
The program is not intended to be used to undertake a recognition process for an overseas qualification. If a student meets the current Trade Pathways Program eligibility criteria, including a minimum of two years’ employment in the trade, and evidence of a minimum 12 months’ employment in the trade in Australia, they may meet the eligibility.
No. Anyone who has completed a trade related qualification previously and would like to ‘renew’ an old qualification does not qualify under this program. The Trade Pathways Program is for unqualified trades workers with experience on the job, who want the opportunity to gain a qualification through Recognition of Prior Learning and fee-free gap training.
RPL considers the skills and abilities you've already learned in your industry, as well as the knowledge you've accumulated from study and work experiences. An RPL review process recognises your existing skills and experience to earn units of credit towards a formal qualification.
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are mandated to recognise an individual’s skills and training from previous experiences under the Australian Qualification Framework.
The list of funded trade qualifications for Semester 1, 2023 will be released in January 2023.
The Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers Program is offered predominantly via distance education, online.
If you can provide evidence for all units of competency within the qualification, the course can be offered completely online. However, you may need to attend face-to-face training at a TAFE NSW campus for any identified practical gap training where you are unable to provide sufficient evidence.
Step 1: Register your interest for the Trade Pathways Program using the enquiry form.
Step 2: If eligible, apply for a place in your chosen course, you will be contacted in 2023 once the enrolment links are open.
Step 3: Complete the course assessment and final approval with teaching staff, this may be a conversation with your teacher or an RPL course assessment screening form to determine the required units of competency for RPL, credit transfer or gap training.
Step 4: Provide the required evidence. Once enrolled you will be provided a welcome pack and RPL Toolkit, for each unit provide RPL evidence or undertake gap training where necessary.
Step 5: Once deemed competent for each unit within the qualification you will be issued with your certificate and transcript.
The entire RPL process can be completed within weeks, depending on the amount of evidence you need to present, and time taken to gather the evidence. If you are required to undertake gap training, for units of competency you are unable to provide evidence for, the course will take longer.
The types of evidence typically presented for RPL include certification, licenses, and professional memberships. Portfolio, photographs, videos, log books and even diary entries are also accepted. Third party information, such as references from previous peers and employers can also be used.
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers Program, please refer to tafensw.edu.au for information regarding enrolment in trade qualifications for 2023. Or call 131 601 to discuss alternative training options.