How to choose an RTO?

How do I choose an RTO?

You want to do a Diploma – how do you choose an RTO to take you through this qualification? Choosing a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is difficult – and price does not help you as it is not a guide to quality. But there are some items you can check off to help you.

How do I research an RTO?

Your Career the Australian Government website is a good friend here. It is not particularly easy to drive is but very useful if you take your time. Type in the Diploma or other qualification you are interested in and Your Career will list all the RTOs that deliver your qualification. You can even search for online learning or within your geographical radius. RTOs tend to specialise in specific areas and so this search filters out many of the thousands of RTOs for you. For example, The Australian Qualifications Institute specialises in Business, Leadership and Human Resources – searching for Diplomas in this area will filter out all other  Diplomas. Very useful as you will not want those RTOs that specialise in mechanical engineering or butchery.

Most of the information on Your Career is taken from the formal government website training.gov.au and it is reasonably accurate and only lists legitimate RTOs. What is not always accurate are the prices as these are loaded by the RTOs themselves. Sometimes the price is low but you may find it is for RPL or online only. So when you start contacting RTOs question them on the price. If you are seeking low fees, you are best to look at online options. If you need a class to keep you motivated be prepared to pay a bit more.

Reviews: Before contacting RTOs have a look at their reviews – remembering that some very good small RTOs may not have many reviews  but you would expect some. Also check Training.gov.au check your RTO does not have a non-compliance issue highlighted against them. Having a non-compliance places can put serious doubts across an RTO.

Select a few of the lower fee options from Your Career and contact them with questions about fees, instalment plans, course content, how they deliver the training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Be aware there are a few RTOs that spend big on marketing and very little on support and  delivery.

Can I get Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) from an RTO?

What is important at this stage is to have someone counsel and guide you to the selection of an appropriate course and to make sure you have access to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) options if you are experienced in the area. As a condition of registration an RTO MUST offer you  RPL, however many RTOs will counsel you out of it with lines like – “oh its easier just to study the course”. Do not accept this line if you believe you have experience which may give you RPL.

In terms of fees a condition of an RTO’s registration is that, should you withdraw, you get a refund for any units you do not commence – make sure this is in writing somewhere and that they do not  give you a bit of all units at the beginning of your course so they can claim you have commenced all units and are therefore provide a refund should you need to withdraw.

Who should I talk to about my course?

IMPORTANTLY try to speak to a qualified teacher at the RTO before you enrol – not a frontline administrator or marketer. Make sure they understand your needs and that these will be addressed. Ask about  instalment plans such that you can pay for a unit at a time. That way you can feel comfortable you are not over committing. Some RTOs include Micro-credentials which allow you to build towards a Diploma unit by unit.

Make your Choice!

After talking with a real live educator and having selected your course be bold and take the plunge – Enrol! Study will always be of benefit – it is not just about the piece of paper – it is about learning new skills, even for experts it holds that ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’. You will always learn something even if it is just filling in some knowledge gaps.

Australian Qualifications Institute, an RTO specialising in Business, leadership and HR, offers a comprehensive list of micro-credentials in these areas. Build your skills using micro-credentials and, if you choose, build those skills to a Nationally Recognised Diploma. Get in touch with Australian Qualifications Institute at enquiries@aqi.edu.u for personalised counselling in broadening your framework of skills with micro-credentials.