Entry into courses run by Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) or private providers do not necessarily need to be based on year 12 qualifications or previous study/qualifications. Private RTO's run many courses that are aimed at students that have not completed secondary school and do not have any formal prerequisites.
Private RTO's are responsible for setting the pre requisites for the courses they offer provided they meet the qualifications standard under the Australian Qualification Training Framework (AQTF). This results in entry requirements varying greatly between training providers. Speak to the course coordinator to identify any pre requisites that you need to meet in advance for example:
- attaining year 10 or 11 qualifications (including English and Mathematics)
- sufficient literacy and numeracy skills
- access to an internet connection and computer
- passing a police criminal record check
If you don't have the presumed knowledge for the course that you are interested in studying try exploring bridging programs, introductory and preparatory courses to obtain this knowledge. These courses are run by most university and TAFE institutes in addition to some private training providers. They are a great way to obtain or refresh your knowledge on specific subjects that you need to know as a pre requisite to undertaking tertiary study.
Refer to Worksheet 2 - Finding a course that is right for you (worksheet 2 as text 27KB or worksheet 2 as PDF 85 KB) to assist you identify the questions that you need to ask a course coordinator.
For further information see preparatory and bridging programs.