VET is distinct, as it is focuses on teaching practical skills that will help you:
Studying VET in Australia is beneficial because it offers:
VET courses are organised by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), which ensures that the qualification being studied is nationally recognised. As a VET student, you can be assured of high-quality education and job training.
RTOs include Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes (for example, TAFE SA) and private colleges (including specialised colleges such as technical colleges). Some universities may offer VET courses in addition to other higher education courses. You can find a full list of registered RTOs in Australia on the My Skills website.
RTOs that wish to offer their courses to international students must also be registered with the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). You can find a full list of CRICOS-registered providers on the CRICOS website.
CRICOS allows the Australian Government to monitor and assess the education offered to international students and ensure that it is always of a high quality.
Those completing a VET course can achieve any of the following levels, all of which are accredited to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards.
If you’re looking for an introduction to a new field, are looking to update your skills or haven’t studied in a while, a certificate is the perfect place for you to start.
These courses offer the basic knowledge, skills and training required in a specific industry. Put simply, the higher the certificate number, the higher the level of skill you will have when you graduate.
With a Certificate I, you will have knowledge and skills for initial work, while a Certificate IV will give you the practical and theoretical skills for more specialised skilled work.
Certificates vary in length from six months to two years, meaning they’re great if you want to jump straight into work.
If your goal is to specialise in a field or move into a more senior role in your industry, then a diploma may be perfect for you, as it provides you with a more thorough knowledge in your area of study. A diploma will prepare you for industry, business and paraprofessional careers.
A diploma can also be used as a pathway to further study, including a Bachelor’s degree. Some diplomas may allow you to transfer credits to another higher education course, giving you a head-start and shortening the length of your degree.
Diplomas usually take one to two years to complete with full-time study.
The biggest difference between a diploma and an advanced diploma is the extra time it takes to complete the more advanced learning. An advanced diploma is also an excellent pathway into a Bachelor’s degree.
Advanced diplomas take between 1.5 to two years of study to complete.
Many VET providers also offer English language courses, meaning you can develop your English language skills while preparing yourself for the workforce. These can be shorter courses lasting four weeks, to longer, more involved courses lasting 48 weeks. You can read more about learning English in Australia.