Eligibility for the award of the VPC
A student is awarded the VPC when they have satisfactorily completed a combination of units that meet the VPC minimum requirement.
A VPC unit is satisfactorily completed once all the modules within that unit have been completed. Satisfactory completion of a module is based on the teacher deciding that the student has demonstrated achievement of the learning goals specified in the module. Students can only be awarded the unit upon satisfactory completion of all modules within that unit. Evidence of achievement of a learning goal must be ascertained through a range of assessment activities and tasks. Teachers must develop courses that provide appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate satisfactory completion.
Schools report a student’s result for each module to the VCAA as S (satisfactory) or N (not yet complete).
Students can include other curriculum in their VPC learning program, such as VCE units, VCE Vocational Major units and units of competency from nationally recognised VET, to meet the VPC minimum requirement.
Minimum requirement
The minimum requirement for the VPC is satisfactory completion of 12 units, which must include:
- at least two units of VPC Literacy (or units from the VCE English group, including VCE Vocational Major Literacy)
- at least two units of VPC Numeracy (or units from the VCE Mathematics group, including VCE Vocational Major Numeracy)
- at least two VPC Personal Development Skills units
- at least two VPC Work Related Skills units.
The remaining four units may include other curriculum, such as VCE units, VCE Vocational Major units and units of competency from nationally recognised VET.
Certification
The student receives their certificate and a Statement of Results after successfully completing the VPC. The registered training organisation (RTO) provides the official VET statements of attainment or certificates for successful completion of VET units of competency.
Students who enrol in the VPC and do not complete the full certificate receive a Statement of Results that lists their completed units and recognises their partial completion of the certificate.
Program options
A VPC program can contain a combination of:
- VPC units
- VCE and VCE Vocational Major units, including SWL for VET
- units of competency from nationally recognised VET.
VCE units
All VCE units successfully completed provide credit towards the completion requirements of the VPC.
VET units of competency
Successful completion of 90 hours of VET units of competency from a nationally recognised VET qualification at Certificate I level or above provides one unit of credit towards the completion requirements of the VPC. Incomplete units of competency do not contribute. Units of competency can accrue across multiple VET certificates.
Structured workplace learning recognition for VET
Structured workplace learning (SWL) for VET provides students with the opportunity to integrate on-the-job experience with secondary study. It is delivered as part of the VCE, VCE VM or VPC.
SWL provides:
- enhanced skill development
- practical application of industry knowledge
- assessment of units of competency
- enhanced employment opportunities
- the opportunity to complete workplace learning recognition through reflecting on their experiences in the workplace.
Students who undertake SWL and complete the assessment requirements for SWL recognition may achieve credit towards the VPC.
SWL recognition is available for students who undertake:
- at least 80 hours of SWL in an industry aligned to the VCE VET program they are enrolled in
- a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT).
- Satisfy the Outcomes of Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the VCE Structured Workplace Learning Recognition for VET study design
Students are eligible for up to two units of credit for SWL recognition towards the VPC.
Atypical VPC programs
Students with credit from VCAL
Students who transitioned from the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) to the VPC in 2022 or 2023 received credit for completed VCAL units. Students will not be excluded from enrolling in any VPC units, regardless of which VCAL units they have previously completed. However, students cannot receive credit for a unit where they have already received credit for an equivalent unit.
VCAL units will no longer be available for delivery from 2024 onwards.
Students with credit from the VCE
Any VCE, VCE VM or VET unit that has not already contributed to the satisfactory completion of the VCE may contribute to satisfactory completion of the VPC.
Student transfer and credit from interstate studies
Nationally accredited studies that correspond with the individual VPC curriculum designs, including aims of the studies and satisfactory completion requirements, and that a student has completed before they enrolled in the VPC, may contribute to the award of the VPC. Students must apply to the VCAA for credit.
Adult students returning to study
There are no formal VPC entry requirements for adult students returning to study, and no variation in course requirements based on the age of a student. Adult students should be flagged on VASS at the time of enrolment.