Professional Development Courses

These are primarily non-accredited courses for students who need to learn a new skill or upgrade a current skill for work. Many of these courses are non-accredited as they are focused on developing and improving skills that students already have and use in their current role.

• If you want to - learn a new skill, update a skill or stand out from the crowd, a Courses Direct Professional Development Course can help you make it possible.
• Upon completion of your Course you will receive a Statement of Achievement, or you can request a Letter of Completion.
• Statement of Achievement - is awarded to students who have successfully completed all assignments in a short course.
• Letter of Completion - is awarded upon request to students who have successfully completed all assignments in a short course. To request a Letter of Completion, please email contact Student Services

Proficiency Award

This is a specialist qualification for people who already have a "foundation" knowledge of a subject; but wish to undertake limited, but more in depth specialised study in that field. Modules may be credited toward higher, accredited qualifications and help you fast track your studies.

Requirements
Completion of 3 related modules (combined nominal duration of 300 hours); PLUS 200 hours of work experience or industry meetings.

Recommended education level
A certificate or higher qualification of 200 hrs duration or more; or at least 2 years of appropriate industry work experience; or over 21 years of age.

Certificate (Cert)

This would be generally be considered equal to or higher than a trade level qualification.

Requirements
Completion of 6 modules (combined nominal duration of at least 600 hours).

Recommended education level
Year 10, or 1 year of relevant full time work following year 9; or over 21 years of age.

Advanced Certificate (Adv Cert.)

This would normally be considered equal to, or higher than a supervisory qualification.

Requirements
Completion of 8 modules (combined nominal duration of at least 800 hours); PLUS 100 hours of industry meetings.

Recommended education level
Year 11, or 1 year of full time work, following year 10; or a vocational certificate (of 600hrs); or over 21 years of age.

Associate Diploma (Assoc.Dip)

This would normally be considered appropriate training for lower levels of management or technician training.

Requirements
Completion of 14 modules (combined duration of at least 1400 hours); normally including Research Project I; PLUS 100 hours of industry meetings.

Recommended education level
Year 11, or 1 year of full time work following year 10; or a vocational certificate (of 600hrs); or over 21 years of age.

Diploma (Dip.)

This would normally be considered a management or professional qualification.

Requirements
Completion of 20 modules (combined nominal duration of at least 2000 hours) normally including Research Project I and II; PLUS 100 hours of industry meetings.

Recommended education level
Year 12; or a vocational certificate (of 600 hrs); or over 21 years of age.

Advanced Diploma (Adv.Dip)

This may in some situations be considered similar to a foundation degree or associate degree.

Requirements
Completion of 24 modules (combined duration of at least 2400 hours) including Research Projects I and II; PLUS 100 hours of work experience or industry meetings.

Recommended education level
Year 12 plus; or a vocational certificate (of 600 hrs); or over 21 years of age.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), is the formal acknowledgement of your current skills and knowledge, no matter how, when or where the learning occurred.

• Applications for RPL are based on whole competencies. Students can base their application on any combination of formal or informal training and education, work experience or general life experience.
• Credit can be obtained by completing a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) form BEFORE commencing your course.
• To apply for RPL, contact the Courses Direct on 1800 663 989 for an application form.
• Complete the form and submit it together with photocopied documentation.
• A nominal fee of $100.00 is charged for Certificate courses or $150.00 for Diploma courses, to make a standard RPL assessment. A higher fee may apply for more complex submissions involving large exemptions.
• The RPL fee will be deducted from the total cost of your course, plus discounts for any exempted studies, upon enrolment. However, if you complete an RPL and choose NOT to enrol in a course, this fee is non-refundable.
• You can only apply for RPL for a maximum 50% of our courses. RPL do not apply for 100hr courses.

Credit Transfer

Credit transfers recognises previous formal learning (e.g. university, other qualifications). It uses an assessment of the previous course or subject that you have achieved, to determine whether it can be credited to the new course in which you wish to enrol.

• The assessment determines the extent to which your previous course or subject is equivalent to the required learning outcomes of the desired qualification.
• NB: Different RPL & credit transfer policies may apply for courses offered under the AQFT standards and offered in conjunction with mentioned RTO's. Please contact our Course Advisors to discuss in greater detail.

To learn more about our Professional Development Courses, call our Course Advisors on 1800 663 989