A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) is undertaken by a student who is enrolled in a senior secondary program (VCE, VCE VM or VPC) 

Regular school attendance is combined with at least one timetabled day per week spent on the job or in training during the normal school week.

An SBAT combines part-time, practical experience in the workplace with recognised, structured training from Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or TAFE. These arrangements are available for a wide range of jobs across industry areas including emerging technologies, health, hospitality, business, construction, engineering and community services.

SBATs must be endorsed by the school and meet the Department of Education’s SBAT guidelines.

An apprenticeship or traineeship is considered part-time if it is not integrated into the school timetable.

While part-time apprenticeships do not require school endorsement, they are still eligible for credit into the VCE, VCE VM or VPC if they are recorded on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS).

Note: There is no government funding provided to the RTO, either through Victorian Skills First or through school funding, to subsidise training associated with part-time apprenticeships and traineeships.

SWL helps students develop valuable skills and relate theory to a real-world work environment.

The experience complements the training undertaken at the school and with the RTO or TAFE. It provides context for:

• enhancement of skills development
• practical application of industry knowledge
• assessment of units of competency/modules, as determined by the RTO
• increased employment opportunities.

More information about SWL requirements can be found on individual VCE VET program pages.

SWL is mandated under the following situations:

• where a period of work placement is mandated for the award of the qualification, or
• where the Assessment Conditions from a Unit of Competency contains a statement regarding the requirement to demonstrate skills in a workplace.

SWL requirements are expressed in hours and weeks, and where possible should be spread across the duration of VET subjects.

Industrial agreements may stipulate the length of a working week in a particular industry. The industry requirements are to be adhered to, even if they differ from the VCAA recommendation.

The appropriate occupational or workplace health and safety unit of competency in each program must be undertaken prior to SWL, as outlined in Ministerial Order 1412.

For more information on SWL, visit the Victorian Government's Policy and Advisory Library website.

The SWL-R Study Design provides the formal framework and process for students to receive credit towards the VCE, VCE VM or VPC for structured workplace learning related to their VET studies.   

Visit the SWL–R Study Design page to find out more about delivering SWL Recognition for VET as a VCE Study Design and download the SWL-R Study Design document. 

Visit the Workplace Learning Records page to access these resources for all VCE VET programs.

VCE VET programs are developed with a reference group of industry and vocational professionals to include a predesignated program structure and defined credit arrangements. 

Credit for each VCE VET program is outlined in the respective Program Booklet, available for download on the individual VCE VET program pages.

Students can achieve a VCE Unit 3-4 sequence by completing a minimum of 360 nominal hours of training according to the following:

• Completion of 180 nominal hours in any VET certificate II or III, followed by an additional 180 hours in the same industry in a single certificate enrolment in:
  1. a (VE1) VCE VET program that provides a unit 3-4 sequence or
  2. a (VE3) other approved VET qualification at certificate III level

All students can achieve a Unit 3-4 from an SBAT by completion of 180 hours of Units of Competency (UoCs) at certificate II or III level, followed by completion of an additional 180 hours of UoCs in a single certificate enrolment in an SBAT where:

1. The certificate II SBAT provides VCE Units 1-4 credit.
2. The SBAT is at certificate III or above.

Students who complete VET qualifications that are not classified as part of a VCE VET program or as an SBAT may be eligible for credit towards their VCE, VCE VM or VPC through block credit recognition. 

Find out more about Block Credit Recognition.

VCE VET General units of credit are automatically calculated for students who have an overflow of nominal hours from Units of Competency (UoCs) undertaken in their VET certificates. Students can accrue credit towards the VCE, VCE VM and VPC at certificate II level or above.

The overflow accrues across certificates allowing students to be eligible for up to two VCE VET General units of credit at Unit 1 and 2 level (90 hours for each unit to a maximum of 180 hours).

In VASS, the overflow units are named VCE VET General units. Find out more about the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS).

Students can gain VET credit towards the VPC based on the nominal hours of completed UoCs:

• For every block of 90 nominal hours of completed UoCs in a Certificate I level qualification or above, one credit may be awarded towards the VPC.