If you’re transitioning from defence, you know how difficult it can be to build a career sometimes. However, you don’t need to worry because that’s exactly what military RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) is for!
This is a process where you convert everything you’ve learned in the military into something ordinary civilians can understand. In this article, the process of RPL will be discussed in detail, along with its eligibility. Without wasting any more time, let’s begin!
Process of RPL
Before you can get any qualifications from your military experience, you need to go through a set of steps to qualify. The usual assessment stage of military RPL has 3 steps.
- Confirmation of Experience
First, you need to make an initial deposit to the agency through which you’re doing this process. They will then ask you to present your capability against your selected qualification. You will be given a test that confirms you have the skills and knowledge required for that qualification.
To further confirm your experience, you will be asked for at least 2 references. A link of some sort will be sent to them to confirm everything you’ve tested for is true.
- Knowledge Demonstration
In this step, you will be required to make a deposit of payment again. Once you’ve demonstrated your abilities for your selected qualification, you’ll need to take another test. This test will be against the knowledge inside the actual qualification unit.
This test can be conducted online or physically in person, depending on the trainer’s requirements and your preference.
- Required Skills Evidence
Once you have demonstrated the required skills in the qualification unit, you’ll need to provide evidence. This may be pictures, videos, statements, etc. At this final stage, you’ll also be making a payment. The evidence provided will be for each unit within the qualification.
Eligibility For RPL
Anyone is eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) regardless of their qualifications. However, depending on what your selected qualification is, the payment will vary.
Some individuals wonder if they’re eligible for RPL even though they have skills but no qualifications. The answer is yes. RPL takes into account any skill or knowledge gained. It doesn’t matter where it came from.
As long as you can demonstrate your skills and knowledge, you can easily apply for RPL. Depending on how much you apply for, the time duration also varies. Your trainer will be able to give you an exact time frame.
How Difficult is RPL?
The most common question about RPL is its difficulty level. If you apply to a military RPL centre, you will be walked through most of its work. Your trainer will help you collect the evidence you need to submit and support you through the whole process!
Summing Up
Individuals who haven’t had the opportunity to gain formal learning are usually demotivated. They think they have no future since nothing supports their skills and knowledge. RPL is an excellent solution for people like that.
It gives military veterans opportunities they never thought possible. Other students are able to gain real-life experience as well as formal education with RPL. The benefits are countless. Applications for RPL are a great initiative started by the government, and no doubt it will undoubtedly continue to get better!
