What is vocational education & training?
VET qualifications and higher education qualifications
Am I entitled to Commonwealth assistance such as a HELP loan for a VET qualification?
What are articulation arrangements?
How can I move from one qualification to another?
What is recognition of prior learning?
Links and contacts
What is vocational education & training?
Vocational education and training (VET) provides skills and knowledge for work through a national training system. The system consists of a network of eight State and Territory Governments, the Australian Government, along with industry, public and private training providers that work together to provide nationally consistent training across Australia.
For information about how the National Training System works, visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website. 
Here you will find information about the Australian Qualifications Framework (AFQ) which shows the differences between a VET qualification and a higher education (university) qualification, and how they compare.
VET qualifications and higher education qualifications
Vocational education and training offers qualifications at the level of:
- Certificate I
- Certificate II
- Certificate III
- Certificate IV
as well as
- Diplomas
- Advanced diplomas
Diplomas and advanced diplomas are qualifications that can be accredited in either the Higher Education or VET sectors.
For information on higher education qualifications, see Qualifications & fields of education.
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Am I entitled to Commonwealth assistance such as a HELP loan for a VET qualification?
Yes. You may be entitled to Commonwealth assistance such as FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP if:
- you are undertaking a diploma or advanced diploma that is accredited as a higher education award, or
- you are a full fee paying student undertaking an eligible VET Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma qualification.
See also: Loans
VET FEE-HELP
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What are articulation arrangements?
Articulation arrangements are the formal agreement between two programmes, normally provided by different educational institutions, for admission to a course of study with advanced standing. These are formalised arrangements that may include the:
- transfer of credit including the recognition of prior learning
- admissions criteria
- combination or linking of study programmes.
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How can I move from one qualification to another?
Arrangements between VET and higher education sectors allow you to move from one qualification to another more efficiently and effectively, based on articulation and credit transfer arrangements.
See also: Guidelines on cross-sector linkages
An increasing number of articulation arrangements have been set up between registered VET providers and universities to assist with the move from an industry qualification to a higher education qualification, or to undertake combined awards.
A full list of universities that have entered into articulation arrangements is available on the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) web site .
See also: Credit transfer - for students
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What is recognition of prior learning?
Recognition of prior learning allows you to receive recognition and credit for the knowledge and skills you have gained previously, that meet the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of the qualification you are seeking credit for. This can include skills gained from:
- previous study
- work experience
- life experience.
Prior to or after enrolment with a higher education provider, you may be eligible to have your prior VET learning recognised through gaining credit for prior studies.
See also: Recognition of prior learning in Australia
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Links and contacts
To find out more visit DEEWR’s National Training System website for links and contacts.
Here you will find:
- information about state and territory government bodies, industry bodies and a list of contacts,
- access to the Australian Government’s training portal, and
- access to the National Training Information Service where you can search for specific:
- Training Packages,
- Qualifications,
- Courses,
- Units of Competency, and
- Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that are licensed to provide training in your state or territory.
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