Do you have work experience but no qualification to show for it? Do you want to avoid having to learn what you already know? If so, then RPL may be for you.
What is RPL?
RPL stands for Recognition of Prior Learning. It’s a process that allows individuals to receive recognition and credit for the skills and knowledge they have acquired both inside and outside the classroom. It validates the the expertise people have gained from previous courses and even life experiences. This process can help you avoid having to study what you already know.
There are two types of RPL; Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) and Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).
RPCL (Recognition of Prior Certified Learning)
As the name suggests, Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) recognises qualifications or certificates that you may have gotten in the past. If you’ve completed a course that has a lot of overlap with the course you want to do, you can apply for RPCL. This means that we’d acknowledge that you’ve learned this information before and you won’t have to study the same things all over again.
RPEL (Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning)
Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) recognises the practical experience you have gained through employment, volunteering, and other life experiences. It essentially bridges the gap between practical experience and formal education. Maybe you feel that you have acquired great skills and knowledge from work experience but don’t have any qualifications to back them up. RPEL can validate this knowledge and experience and help you on your way to achieving your qualification without having to start from scratch. RPEL can lead to access to a programme, exemptions from particular modules, and academic credits.
So what does the RPL process look like?
If you want to go down the RPCL route and have your previous qualifications recognised so you don’t have to relearn something you studied before, you can provide us with the details of the course you completed. We will then check how closely it matches the modules on your chosen course and, if it is the equivalent to a module on your chosen course, you won’t have to go through studying that module again.
If you have life or work experience that you feel is relevant to the course you want to study, you can apply for RPEL. We will provide you with an RPL Assessment Brief which will ask you to put together a portfolio about different elements of your experiences to make sure that your experience and knowledge aligns with what is covered in the module. If successful, you will be exempt from having to study that module and your experience can actually earn you marks towards your final grade.
Example: Business Betty
This is Betty. She has been working in HR for 3 years. She started at the company as an office administrator and, when an opening came up in HR, her manager asked her to step in. She was happy to give it a go and really enjoyed learning on the job. She has developed a real passion for business and is determined to continue her career in this field. However, there’s one problem: Even though she has all the knowledge and experience, she doesn’t have a formal qualification. This means that climbing the ladder may be more difficult for her as she is competing with others who do. She decides to take matters into her own hands and do a Business Management course.
She notices that one of the modules is Human Resources Management. Rather than studying things she already knows, Betty contacts Forus Training and they get the RPL process started. She is sent the RPL Assessment Brief which asks her to provide a portfolio of her experience showing her understanding of the different topics covered in the HR module. She submits her portfolio with her CV, a reference from her manager, and provides examples from her work experience. It’s clear that she has the knowledge in HR so her RPL Application is approved and she is exempt from having to study the HR module, meaning she can focus her attention on areas she is less familiar with. Go Betty!
Why not get in touch today and harness the power of your life experience?
