Nationally Recognised · AQF Qualifications
Turn your years on the tools into a nationally recognised Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). No apprenticeship, no classroom — your work experience is assessed by an ASQA-registered RTO.
Trade RPL Explained
An RPL trade certificate is a nationally recognised qualification awarded on the strength of the work you have already done. Instead of repeating an apprenticeship, you show evidence of your skills — photos, references, invoices and job records — and a qualified assessor from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) checks it against the national units of competency.
If you meet the standard, the RTO issues exactly the same Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma an apprentice or full-time student receives. It is recognised in every state and territory and is often the first step towards a trade licence or builder licence.
Find Your Qualification
43 trade, construction and automotive qualifications available through RPL. Not sure which fits? Tell us what you do and we’ll match you to the right one — free.
Can’t see your trade? Tell us what you do — we check every qualification our partner RTOs offer.
Who It's For
RPL suits people who already do the work but don’t have the paperwork to prove it.
Years on the tools without finishing an apprenticeship.
Trade experience from overseas that needs Australian recognition.
Ready to step up to a Cert IV or Diploma for builder roles.
Need a qualification before applying for a state trade licence.
How It Works
We handle the paperwork and coordination. The RTO handles the assessment.
01
Tell us your trade and experience. We match you to the right qualification.
02
We guide you on the photos, references and documents that prove your skills.
03
A qualified assessor reviews your evidence and may hold a practical or phone interview.
04
The RTO issues your nationally recognised qualification and transcript.
Evidence Checklist
You won’t need everything below — most applicants combine 4–6 types. We’ll tell you exactly what works for your trade.
Qualification vs Licence
Not on its own. A recognised qualification is usually the first requirement — the licence itself is issued by your state regulator, often with extra experience, exams or insurance.
In NSW? We also handle the licence application — see our trade licence service.
Who Assesses You
KMH is an RPL consultancy, not an RTO. We prepare and manage your application; a registered training organisation assesses it and issues your qualification. These are some of the partner RTOs our clients are certified through:
Verify this partner RTO on training.gov.au →
Verify this partner RTO on training.gov.au →
Verify this partner RTO on training.gov.au →
KMH Training & Consultancy Australia is not a Registered Training Organisation. Qualifications are assessed and issued by our partner RTOs.
Cost & Timeframe
Typical Australian market prices for trade RPL. Your exact, fixed quote is confirmed in your free eligibility check — no hidden fees.
$2,800 – $3,500
Trade qualifications such as carpentry, tiling, painting, plastering and bricklaying.
$3,700 – $4,500
Supervisor and builder pathways, e.g. Building and Construction, Plumbing and Services.
$3,800 – $5,500
Senior building, project and technical roles.
Most applicants finish within a few weeks once their evidence is ready. Read more about RPL cost and how long RPL takes.
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Free, no-obligation eligibility check — we reply within 1 business day.
FAQ
Yes. If you have enough hands-on experience in your trade, an RTO can assess your skills through RPL and issue the same nationally recognised Certificate III an apprentice receives — without repeating the training.
It depends on the qualification and the RTO, but most Certificate III trade qualifications suit people with around 3 or more years of relevant work. A Certificate IV or Diploma usually needs supervisory or project experience as well.
As a guide, Certificate III trade qualifications typically cost $2,800–$3,500, Certificate IV $3,700–$4,500 and Diplomas $3,800–$5,500. You get a fixed quote after your free eligibility check.
Not on its own. Trade and builder licences are issued by each state’s regulator. A qualification is usually a key requirement, and some licences also need extra experience, exams or insurance. In NSW, KMH can also handle your licence application.
Common evidence includes photos and videos of your work, employer references, invoices or job sheets, payslips or ABN records, safety documentation and any tickets you hold. We help you choose the strongest combination for your trade.
Yes. The qualification issued through RPL is identical to one earned through training. It is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and does not state that it was achieved through RPL.
An ASQA-registered RTO assesses your evidence and issues your qualification. KMH is a consultancy, not an RTO — we manage your application and connect you with the right partner RTO, such as RTO 40055, 45254 or 41138.
If the assessor finds gaps, you may be offered gap training or a practical assessment for the missing units instead of starting over. You will know where you stand before you pay.
Yes. We help tradespeople across Australia, including NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT. Most of the process is completed online and over the phone.
Free Eligibility Check
Tell us your trade and years of experience. A KMH consultant will call you back with the right qualification, a fixed quote and an evidence plan — free and with no obligation.