VET

VET

VET allows students to work towards qualifications for all types of employment, and gain sector-specific knowledge and skills to assist their transition to further study and employment. Students who complete all or part of a VET course drawn from a training package or accredited course receive credit towards completing the VCE. VCE students typically undertake training at Certificate II or III levels.

There are 3 VET certificate types coded on VASS:

• VE1 – VET courses approved by the VCAA for delivery to secondary students. They are typically drawn from Certificate II and III levels with courses and UoCs packaged within VCE VET programs. VE1 certificates provide credit towards the VCE in the form of VCE VET units.
• VE2 – VET courses with training plans approved and registered with the VRQA for delivery as SBATs. Both VE1 and VE2 coded course types provide credit towards the VCE in the form of VCE VET units.
• VE3 – all other VET courses are contained within this certificate type. These courses offer block credit recognition towards the VCE.

Home schools must ensure that students are enrolled in the correct certificate type and receive accurate advice about eligibility for satisfactorily completing both the VET course and the VCE. The onus for reporting completion of VET courses lies with the registered training organisation (RTO).

Some VCAA-approved courses are available as both a VCE VET (certificate type VE1) and an SBAT (certificate type VE2) qualification.

If the VET course is not available on VASS, schools should contact the Student Records and Results unit for advice, or complete and add to VASS the Application for VET qualifications or General Education courses form (available as a VASS download) accompanied by information requested in the form.

Useful information

Useful information on VCE VET is available from the following sources:

• VET Quick Guide for VASS Administrators
• booklets for all VCE VET programs.

VET program summary

The following table provides details on each certificate type and the recognition available for each type of program.

This table provides details on each certificate type and the recognition available for each type of program.

Summary of VASS certificate types

VCE VET courses (certificate type VE1 on VASS) provide credit towards the VCE typically for Units 1–4, although some courses provide credit only at Units 1 and 2 or Units 3 and 4 levels.

VCE VET courses are continually being developed or revised. Refer to the VCAA Bulletin, the Senior Secondary Update or the VET section of the VCAA website for the most up-to-date information. A summary of VCE VET courses, containing qualification codes and titles, is available online in January each year. If changes are identified in the summary, a fully updated version of the program is available on the relevant VCE VET program webpage.

Programs offering a study score at Units 3 and 4 levels are indicated on individual VCE VET program webpages.

Assessing groups

Schools can select an assessing group when entering VET courses in VASS by indicating where the delivery of the course takes place.

For all scored VCE VET courses, assessing group data will be used for reporting on VASS and for statistical moderation.

An assessing group can be:

• a home school – a teacher from the school delivers and assesses the VCE VET course
• an RTO – students attend an external RTO for delivery of the VCE VET course
• a cluster group – students attend another school as part of a VET cluster for delivery of the VCE VET course.

School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

SBATs occur where a student is undertaking a vocational training program within a part-time employment arrangement. Each student enrolled in an SBAT is required to enter a formal training contract with the employer.

An SBAT comprises:

• enrolment in the VCE or VCE VM
• enrolment with an RTO in a structured vocational training program that leads to a vocational qualification
• part-time, paid work under an industrial agreement that recognises SBATs
• at least one timetabled day spent on the job or in training during the normal school week
• at least 7 hours of employment and 6 hours of training per week.

A student can undertake an SBAT only if the:

• VRQA has approved the training plan for delivery as an SBAT
• student is 15 years of age or over
• student is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
• student is in relevant employment
• principal or principal’s delegate has signed the training plan that confirms the student is enrolled in a nationally recognised course that can be undertaken as an SBAT.

Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that does not satisfy the school-based criteria will instead be undertaking a ‘part-time apprenticeship or traineeship’. This type of arrangement still provides credit towards the VCE if it is recorded on VASS as a VE2 certificate type.

All students can achieve a Unit 3–4 sequence from an SBAT by completion of 180 hours of UoCs at Certificate II or Certificate III level followed by completion of an additional 180 hours of UoCs in an SBAT where:

• the Certificate II traineeship provides credit for Units 1–4, such as that provided for VCE VET programs
• the SBAT is at Certificate III or above.

For the level of credit in the VCE, refer to the Certificate UoC structure report on VASS.

Transfer arrangements between VET certificate types

If a student wants to transfer from one course to another VET course with a different certificate type (for example, from the VE1 certificate type for SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation to the VE2 certificate type), the following procedure should be followed:

1. If the student is currently enrolled in the VE1 course, they should be withdrawn from the course before enrolling in the VE2 course.
2. A statement from the RTO should be obtained, listing the UoCs that the student has satisfactorily completed in the previous enrolment.
3. The student can now be enrolled in the VE2 course and then given a result of S (competent) for these UoCs completed while enrolled in the VE1 course.
4. The student should then enrol in the remaining UoCs, which are expected to be completed in the current year of the VE2 course.
5. The student should be awarded an S for any UoCs completed and N (not yet competent) for any UoCs not yet completed in the VE2 course.

Certificate type: VE1 and VE2 programs

The requirements for satisfactorily completing a VCE VET course are outlined in the relevant VCE VET program booklets. For VRQA-approved SBATs, the Certificate UoC structure report on VASS provides information on completion and credit arrangements.

Certificate type: VE3 programs

Satisfactory completion of a certificate type VE3 course is not calculated or reported on VASS. However, any training completed can contribute towards the student’s overall VCE. The RTO is responsible for issuing a statement of attainment or a certificate for training undertaken.

Duplication between courses

When a VCE VET program significantly duplicates the course content in other VCE studies or VET training in a student’s program, a reduced VCE unit entitlement may apply.

VCE VET units contribute towards satisfactorily completing the VCE only if there is no significant duplication between a VCE VET unit and a VCE study or other VCE VET programs. If there is significant duplication, students may enrol in the VCE VET program or VCE studies or other VCE VET programs identified; however, a reduction in credit towards the VCE will then apply.

In such situations, all satisfactorily completed VCE VET units will appear on the student’s Statement of Results. Course coordinators should refer to VCE VET program booklets for further information on the duplication between VCE VET programs and VCE studies or other VCE VET programs.

Duplication has been identified between VCE language studies and the VET Applied Language certificates where they are undertaken in the same language. Where a student is enrolled in both a VCE language study at Units 3 and 4 levels and the VET Certificate III in Applied Language in the same language, the VCE language study will be the only one to contribute towards satisfactory completion of the VCE. However, the results from the VET Certificate III in Applied Language will also be reported on the VCE Statement of Results.

Duplication between VCE VET programs and other VET courses available through block credit recognition will be considered when determining the amount and level of credit towards the VCE. If UoCs sit within the scored Unit 3–4 sequence of a VCE VET program, they will not be included in VE3 courses in the same industry.

Duplication of units of competency

Some UoCs may be included in multiple VET courses, for example, UoCs for First Aid. Where such duplication occurs, the student’s VASS record must record only one ‘S’ result for that UoC. RTOs are responsible for reporting unit outcomes for each UoC of the courses they deliver.

Contribution of VET to VCE

VCE VET and SBAT (VE1 and VE2) programs and VET (VE3) programs contribute to completion of the VCE in different ways. See Table 4 for a summary of the credit arrangements for each certificate type. Schools should also note that:

• Enrolment in a UoC automatically leads to enrolment in VCE VET units for VE1 and VE2 certificate types only.
• Schools can directly enrol students in or withdraw students from VCE VET units only by enrolment in, or withdrawal from, a UoC.
• As UoCs are completed, VCE VET unit completion is calculated automatically. The nominal hours for VCE VET units vary from program to program.
• In VCE VET programs where a study score is available (see Table 13), the contents of the Unit 3–4 sequence are prescribed and all prescribed UoCs in the sequence must be completed.
• In VCE VET programs where a study score is unavailable, students will receive credit based on the accrual of hours from that program. (Credit will be granted up to a maximum of 6 units.)

The level of credit for Certificate III courses is determined in relation to the AQF qualification level under which the UoCs are undertaken. See Table 4 for a summary of the credit arrangements for Certificate I, II and III courses.

Students who aggregate results from more than one VET course may be eligible for units of credit for all of their training, subject to completion of sufficient hours.

Block credit recognition

VCE VET programs and approved SBAT programs with full recognition in the VCE have predetermined credit. Credit for all other nationally recognised courses at and above AQF Level II is based on the block credit rules. Students must be enrolled in the VCE to be eligible for block credit recognition.

Other VET courses require enrolments in the VE3 certificate type on VASS. Schools should check the Certificate UoC structure report on VASS to confirm credit arrangements. See also Table 4.

Additional recognition arrangements for VET

Students may accrue units of credit achieved through UoCs undertaken that are not currently contributing to a VCE VET unit of credit at Certificate II level or above. These UoCs can be combined to form up to 2 VCE VET units of credit at Units 1 and 2 levels. A maximum of 180 hours from UoCs will be recognised across VET courses. These VCE VET units of credit will be reported as General units.

All students who want to achieve a Unit 3–4 sequence from VCE VET courses, other than the identified scored sequence, will be required to complete 360 nominal hours of training if they either:

• complete 180 nominal hours of training in any VET Certificate II or III followed by an additional 180 hours in the same industry in a single certificate enrolment in:
• a (VE1) VCE VET program that provides a Unit 3 and 4 sequence or
• a (VE3) VET course at Certificate III level

OR

• complete 180 nominal hours of UoCs at Certificate II or Certificate III followed by completion of an additional 180 hours in a single certificate enrolment in an SBAT where:
• a Certificate II traineeship provides VCE Units 1–4 credit
• the SBAT is at Certificate III or above.

Certificate IV and diploma enrolments

Schools seeking to enrol students in Certificate IV or diploma courses must seek prior approval from the VCAA, before students commence training. An application for approval form is available from the block credit recognition webpage. This approval process ensures that students are undertaking studies aligned to their future pathway and that courses are appropriate to their needs and capabilities.

Decisions regarding the award of units of credit to a student will include consideration of issues of duplication with their other studies.

Students who have completed training in VET before 2025

Students who completed training in a nationally recognised VET course before 2025 and have not previously had their details entered on VASS can include the course in their enrolment for the current year if the course is available on VASS. If it is not available on VASS, the school must submit an application to the VCAA.

Applications for credit in this way must be made via the form Application for credit towards the VCE and VPC (available as a VASS download), The application must be accompanied by principal-certified copies of statements of attainment or certificates or both. Original documents must not be submitted. Any credit granted will be displayed on a student’s record, which schools can view in the form of a Student full details report on VASS. The VCAA will report the credit granted on the VCE Statement of Results.

Structured Workplace Learning Recognition

SWL recognition is delivered as a VCE study design called Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET. Students must undertake Unit 1 before commencing Unit 2. Each unit involves at least 20 hours of scheduled classroom instruction and 80 hours of SWL placement.
Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET is available only for students who undertake:

• SWL in an industry aligned to a VCE VET course (VE1)
• an SBAT (VE2).

The award of satisfactory completion for a unit in Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET is based on whether the student has demonstrated the set of outcomes specified for the unit in the study design. Students need to undertake a minimum of 80 hours of SWL placement and must maintain a Workplace Learning Record related to the SWL placement for recording, authentication and assessment purposes.

See the Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET webpage for more information.