Accreditation Explained

What Do All These Terms Mean?

All courses offered by SEEK Learning are nationally recognised, government-accredited or industry-approved; it's part of our commitment to quality. But there can be some confusion about what the different accreditations and related terms actually mean; the education sector is riddled with jargon and TLAs (three-letter acronyms!).

So here's an explanation of what the most common accreditation standards and terms actually mean, and why you can be confident that you're getting a high-quality education through SEEK Learning.

Common Accreditation Standards and Terms

• Accreditation
• Nationally recognised
• RTO (Registered Training Organisation)
• AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework)
• Higher Education Provider

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Accreditation

What is accreditation?

This term refers to the official recognition of a course by accrediting bodies in a state or territory. It indicates that academic quality and standards have been checked and verified.

Nationally Recognised

What is nationally recognised?

Most courses and qualifications offered through SEEK Learning are nationally recognised. This means that the courses meet the standards required by industry and the qualification you gain is recognised across Australia.

A course is nationally recognised if it is developed under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

RTO - Registered Training Organisation

What is an RTO?

Registered training organisations (RTOs) are Government-approved providers and assessors of nationally recognised training. This means simply that RTOs are recognised as providers of quality training, and are the only organisations that can issue nationally recognised qualifications.

What are the benefits for you?

Most SEEK Learning courses are delivered by RTOs, which means that the qualification(s) and skills you gain are of high quality and will be recognised by employers and other education providers across Australia.

AQF - the Australian Qualifications Framework

What is the AQF?

The AQF is a system that recognises and endorses qualifications in Australia. It covers schools, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education courses, ensuring the course design, units, projects, modules and assessment procedures are relevant and of a high standard.

The AQF is also responsible for policies covering transfers between institutions and recognition of prior learning (RPL) credits.

Courses that are accredited under the AQF and delivered by RTOs are nationally recognised.

What are the benefits for you?

Having a government-administered framework ensures that you can have confidence in the qualifications you receive. A course included in the framework ensures a high-quality standard and a recognised qualification.

The majority of SEEK Learning courses are AQF-accredited.

Higher Education Provider

What is a Higher Education Provider?

For an education provider to access government funding or grants - and for enrolled students to be able to get financial support - that education provider must be recognised by the government. Recognised educational institutions are called Higher Education Providers.

What are the benefits for you?

The quality and accountability requirements of Higher Education Providers offer you peace-of-mind. Importantly, in order for you to be eligible for government financial study assistance such as FEE-HELP, your education provider must be a recognised Higher Education Provider.

All undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered through SEEK Learning are delivered by Higher Education Providers. The only exception is the UK-based Edinburgh Business School (EBS), which is accredited under a different system.

Where to Next?

• For more information about accreditation or SEEK Learning courses, contact a SEEK Learning consultant.
• Browse the full range of SEEK Learning courses.