Recognition of Prior Learning · RTO #45799
Laboratory RPL: have the skills you already have assessed
Already working in a lab? Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assesses your real experience against a nationally recognised qualification. A qualified assessor decides from your evidence. RPL is not guaranteed.
Qualifications available through RPL
Three qualifications, one free first step
Your RPL fee depends on your experience and evidence. Start with the free eligibility check, call 1300 931 628, or email us, and we will confirm your fee in writing before you enrol. Gap training is included, and we never take your full fee up front.
Is your employer paying? Ask for a company quote. Funding rules are separate: see government-funded lab courses.
How it works
RPL in four steps, and the first one is free
Free eligibility check
Answer a few questions below. It costs nothing and there is no obligation. We reply by email.
Map your experience
We match the work you already do against the nationally recognised units, and tell you which qualification looks like the best fit.
Gather your evidence
You provide evidence from your real lab work, and a supervisor answers a few questions about what you do. We guide you through what is needed.
Assessment and qualification
A qualified assessor decides from your evidence. Where there are gaps, gap training is included. Your fee is confirmed in writing before you enrol, and the balance is paid once your assessment is finished, before you receive your qualification.
Who it suits
People who already do the work
RPL is for people who work in a laboratory now, or did within the last 12 months, and have someone who has seen their work. It is not suited to people who have never worked in a lab, student-visa holders or under-18s.
The Diploma has an entry requirement, which we check with you. Already hold some MSL units? Tell us in the form and we record them as credit transfer first.
What counts as evidence
Real records from your work
- Your CV and proof of your current or recent lab job
- A supervisor who has seen your work and can answer a few questions
- Your own bench sheets, calibration or test records (with other people’s details removed)
- Optionally, competency records from the accredited lab you work in
A CV on its own is not enough. Where evidence is missing for a unit, gap training is included.
Free eligibility check
Tell us about your lab work
A few short questions, then your details. It costs nothing, and you do not have to go ahead. Our team will reply by email. This is an indication only: a qualified assessor decides.
Laboratory RPL: your questions answered
What is RPL?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a formal assessment of the skills and knowledge you already have from work, training or experience. You provide evidence of your competence and a qualified assessor decides whether it meets the requirements of each unit in the qualification.
Will I definitely get the qualification through RPL?
No. RPL is not guaranteed. A qualified assessor decides each unit from your evidence. Where a unit is not yet met, gap training is included in your fee. The free eligibility check is there so you know where you stand before you pay anything.
How much does laboratory RPL cost?
Your RPL fee depends on your experience and the evidence you already have, so we quote it for you. Start with the free eligibility check call 1300 931 628, or email [email protected], and we will tell you the fee for your situation. It is confirmed in writing before you enrol, so you know the full cost first. We never take your full fee up front: part is paid after your assessment. Gap training is included. If your employer is paying, ask for a company quote. See our Fee Administration and Refund Policy.
Who is laboratory RPL for?
People who work in a laboratory now, or did within the last 12 months, and have a person who has seen their work. For example long-serving lab technicians, sample preparation and field staff, and people who learned on the job. It is not suited to people who have never worked in a lab, student-visa holders or under-18s; the workplace-based course is a better fit for them. Take the free eligibility check.
Is an RPL qualification the same as studying the course?
Yes. RPL leads to exactly the same nationally recognised qualification (e.g. MSL40122) and Statement of Attainment, issued by Melbourne Tech Institute (RTO #45799). Only the way your competence is assessed is different.
How long does RPL take?
It depends on how much evidence you already have and how long it takes you to gather it. We do not promise a timeframe. After your eligibility check we will tell you what to expect for your situation.
What if I have gaps in my evidence?
That is common. Where your evidence does not fully cover a unit, gap training is included in your fee, so you can still complete the qualification without redoing the parts you have already shown.
Can I get credit for units I already hold?
Yes. If you already hold MSL units from another registered training organisation, tell us in the form or send the statement of attainment. We record those as credit transfer first.
Is there an entry requirement for the Diploma?
Yes. The Diploma of Laboratory Technology has an entry requirement, which we check with you in your eligibility check.
Is government funding available?
Government funding may be available for eligible students and employers in ACT, TAS & SA, but funding rules are separate from RPL. Check funding & eligibility →
Find out if RPL fits your lab experience
The check is free and there is no obligation. Want the full overview first? See all our laboratory courses, or RPL for your whole team.