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Block credit recognition

To be eligible for credit through block credit recognition students need to be enrolled in the VCE or VCAL.

Credit is available for full or partial completion of a nationally recognised qualification or state-accredited curriculum.

Students should only be enrolled in units of competency they expect to complete in the current year.

From 2019, qualifications providing credit towards the VCE or VCAL through block credit recognition appear on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) with the certificate type VE3. Previously, these qualifications appeared on the VASS with the certificate type VFE.

How credit is determined

Credit is based on achieving units of competency. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level of the relevant qualification determines the level of credit.

From 2019, the VE3 certificate rules for the award of credits towards the VCE are:

  • Certificate I qualifications do not provide any credit into the VCE.
  • Certificate II qualifications provide credit at VCE units 1 and 2 level only. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 1, 2, 1 and 2 up to a maximum of six VCE units.
  • Certificate III qualifications provide credit at VCE units 1 to 4 level. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 1, 2, 3, 4, 3 and 4 up to a maximum of six VCE units.
  • Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications that are pre-approved by the VCAA provide credit at VCE units 3 and 4 level. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 3, 4, 3 and 4 up to a maximum of four units.

Students who aggregate results from more than one VET qualification may be eligible for credit for all of their training if they have completed enough hours.

Duplication issues with other studies or VCE VET programs are taken into account when awarding credit.

Determining credit towards the VCAL

  • Ninety nominal hours of completed units of competency from a Certificate I qualification provide one credit towards a Foundation or Intermediate VCAL program.
  • Ninety nominal hours of completed units of competency from a Certificate II qualification or higher provide one credit towards a Foundation, Intermediate or Senior ​VCAL program.
  • Duplication issues with other studies or VCE VET programs are taken into account when awarding credit.

VCE credit examples under the revised block credit arrangements

The following example uses two typical qualifications to show the VCE credit differences between the previous block credit rules and the rules that came into effect from 2019.

SIT30516 Certificate III in Events

Previous block credit arrangements (effective until 2018)
  • VCE units 1, 3, 4, 3, 4
  • Core: 6 UoCs – 157 hours
  • Electives: 7 UoCs – 346 hours
New block credit arrangements (effective from 2019)
  • VCE units 1, 2, 3, 4, 3
  • Core: 6 UoCs – 157 hours
  • Electives: 7 UoCs – 346 hours

SIR30216 Certificate III in Retail

Previous block credit arrangements (effective until 2018)
  • VCE units 1, 2, 1, 3
  • Core: 8 UoCs – 255 hours
  • Electives: 5 UoCs – 165 hours
New block credit arrangements (effective from 2019)
  • VCE units 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Core: 8 UoCs – 255 hours
  • Electives: 5 UoCs – 165 hours

Students who started training in 2018 or earlier

If a student started training in 2018 or earlier, the following VFE certificate rules apply:

  • Attainment of units of competency at AQF level II provides credit at VCE units 1 and 2 level, subject to completion of a minimum of 90 nominal hours for each VCE unit.
  • Attainment of units of competency at AQF level III and above provides credit at VCE units 3 and 4 level, subject to completion of a minimum of 90 nominal hours for each VCE unit.
  • A VCE unit 3–4 sequence will be awarded on satisfactory completion of a minimum of 180 nominal hours, according to the rules outlined in the previous points.

Students who have completed training in VET/FE prior to the current year

Students who have completed training in a nationally recognised VET/FE qualification prior to the current year but have not had their details entered onto the VASS, need to apply to the VCAA through the Victorian school at which they are enrolled.​​​​

High-level VET qualifications undertaken as part of the VCE/VCAL

Credit into the VCE or VCAL

As Certificate IV or Diploma qualifications would normally only be undertaken following completion of lower level VET qualifications, credit for any approved training at Certificate IV or higher is restricted to two units 3 and 4 sequences towards the VCE or four credits towards the VCAL per certificate enrolment. This decision applies to any VET qualification at Certificate IV or higher where the enrolment is made on VASS from 1 January 2017.

Approval process

To get approval for VCE or VCAL students to undertake Certificate IV and Diploma level VET qualifications:

  1. complete the application form
  2. email it to vet.vcaa@education.vic.gov.au
  3. ensure the VCAA receive it by the end of Term 3 so it can be approved for the following year
  4. do not begin any training in the qualification before approval is given.

Read the high level VET qualification process and how to fill out the application form.

ATAR contribution

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) may award VCE students, who receive a units 3 and 4 sequence through block credit recognition, a fifth or sixth study increment (10 per cent of the lowest study in the primary four-scaled studies) towards their ATAR. The increment is awarded by VTAC. Apprenticeships and traineeships may be eligible for credit towards their VCE through block credit recognition. VCAL credit is based on the same principle.

​For further information regarding credit into the VCE or VCAL or the approval process into the VCE or VCAL, contact the VCAA.

For information on the ATAR, visit VTAC.