Issuing testamurs and statements of attainment - Print version - PDF (452KB)
Sample documentation templates are included for:
- testamurs that may be issued by an RTO to certify the completion of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications;
- Statements of Attainment (SOA) that may be issued by an RTO to certify the completion of skill sets or accredited courses in, or partial completion of VET qualifications; and
- records of results issued by an RTO to accompany the testamur.
It is important to read this Fact Sheet in conjunction with the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy.
Relevant clauses from the Standards for RTOs:
Testamurs and SOAs must be issued in line with the Standards for RTOs which outline:
Clause 3.1
The RTO issues AQF certification documentation only to a learner whom it has assessed as meeting the requirements of the training product as specified in the relevant training package or VET accredited course.
Clause 3.2
All AQF certification documentation issued by an RTO meets the requirements of Schedule 5.
Clause 3.3
AQF certification documentation is issued to a learner within 30 calendar days of the learner being assessed as meeting the requirements of the training product if the training program in which the learner is enrolled is complete, and providing all agreed fees the learner owes to the RTO have been paid.
Clause 3.6b
The RTO meets the requirements of the Student Identifier scheme, including; ensuring that it will not issue AQF certification documentation to an individual without being in receipt of a verified Student Identifier for that individual, unless an exemption applies under the Student Identifiers Act 2014.
What are graduates entitled to?
In line with the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy, graduates who have achieved all requirements for the award of an AQF qualification are entitled to receive the following certification documentation:
- a testamur, and
- a record of results.
Students who complete part of the requirements of an AQF qualification in which they are enrolled such as individual units of competency, skill sets, and accredited short courses are entitled to receive a Statement of Attainment (SOA).
Delivered in a language other than English
If any part of the qualification has been delivered and/or assessed in a language other than English, a statement that this has occurred will be included on the testamur and the record of results. If individual units have been delivered and/or assessed in a language other than English, a statement that this has occurred will be included on the SOA. This does not include the use of another language to develop proficiency in that language.
This does not preclude the use of languages other than English for the delivery and/or assessment of a program of learning for individual units or leading to a qualification provided that the level of English language proficiency is appropriate for the intended use of the qualification.
Security
Sufficient information must be provided on a testamur and SOA to ensure that the documentation is able to be authenticated and to reduce fraudulent copying and use. More information on how to protect your certification from fraud is available in Clauses 3.1-3.4 of TAC’s Users’ Guide.
Customisation
RTOs may customise certification documentation to meet their needs, provided all required information is recorded.
For example:
- Testamurs and SOA can include additional information, such as the name and/or logo of a third party involved in the training and assessment. Such information must be accurate and not introduce confusion about which organisation is issuing the certification.
- SOA can include additional information to certify completion of an identified skill set.
The order and placement of the required information on each document is dependent on an RTO’s own design and style guidelines.
Not to be included
- In accordance with the Student Identifiers Act 2014, RTOs must not include the student's unique student identifier on a statement of attainment or testamur.
- The AQF logo must not be used on:
- Records of results;
- Statements of Attainment;
- Testamurs or graduation statements for non-AQF qualifications.
- A trainer or assessor cannot sign a testamur or statement of attainment. The AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy requires that testamurs and statements of attainment include the authorised signatory. In most cases, that is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO is able to delegate that authority, however, there needs to be a formal delegation of that authority.
Issuing testamurs and record of results
The AQF provides for a range of pathways to the qualifications in the vocational education and training sector. For example, a qualification may be gained as a result of work-based training, institution-based training, a combination of work and institution-based training, recognition of prior learning and further training as necessary. Prior learning may include training and courses undertaken outside the AQF and informal learning gained through work or other life experience.
The testamur for all AQF qualifications issued will identify the qualification as an AQF qualification either by the words ‘The qualification is recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework’ or the use of the AQF logo, but not both. The AQF logo or these words must not be used on certification documentation for non-AQF qualifications. Full conditions of use can be found on the AQF website.
In line with Schedule 5 of the Standards for RTOs, RTOs must meet the requirements of the AQF for issuing a testamur in addition to the following requirements:
a) the name, RTO code and logo of the issuing organisation;
b) the code and title of the awarded AQF qualification;
c) the TAC logo; and
d) the Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) Logo in accordance with the current conditions of use contained in Schedule 4.
The following elements are to be included on the testamur as applicable:
a) the State Training Authority logo (only where use of the logo is directed by State Training Authorities, e.g. with funding contracts);
b) the industry descriptor, e.g. Engineering, only where this is included in the qualification title on the national register;
c) the occupational or functional stream, in brackets, e.g. (Fabrication) only where this is included in the qualification title on the national register, or is allowed for in the qualification packaging rules for specialist streams;
d) where relevant, the words, ‘achieved through Australian Apprenticeship arrangements’; and
e) where relevant, the words, ‘these units/modules have been delivered and assessed in followed by a listing of the relevant units/modules.
Please note that a record of results is not an official AQF document and therefore cannot include the NRT, TAC or AQF logos. There is no set way on how to provide a record of results, however an example has been provided.
Issuing statements of attainment
Statements of Attainment (SOA) will be issued to students who have completed units of competency, skill sets, or a short course accredited by a VET regulator, which does not meet the requirements of a full AQF qualification.
The SOA must be in a form that ensures it cannot be mistaken for a testamur for a full AQF qualification.
In line with Schedule 5 of the Standards for RTOs, RTOs must meet the requirements of the AQF for issuing a SOA in addition to the following requirements:
a) the name, RTO Code and logo of the issuing organisation;
b) a list of units of competency (or modules where no units of competency exist) showing the national code and full title for each unit of competency;
c) the authorised signatory;
d) the TAC logo;
e) the NRT Logo;
f) the issuing organisation’s seal, corporate identifier or unique watermark;
g) the words ‘A statement of attainment is issued by a Registered Training Organisation when an individual has completed one or more accredited units/modules’.
The following elements are to be included on the SOA as applicable:
a) the State/Territory Training Authority logo (only where use of the logo is directed by State/ Territory Training Authorities);
b) where relevant, the words, ‘these units / modules have been delivered and assessed in <insert language other than English> followed by a listing of the relevant units/modules.
Partial completion of a qualification/accredited course:
Where a student has completed units that form part of a qualification/accredited course, and that qualification/accredited course is on the RTO’s scope of registration, the following words should be used - ‘These competencies form part of [code and title of qualification(s)/ course(s)]’.
Accredited short courses:
Students who have completed an accredited ‘Course in’ which does not hold an AQF level, the words, ‘These competencies were attained in completion of [code] Course in [full title]’ should be used.
Skill sets
For students who have completed a skill set, the following words can be used as applicable:
- ‘These competencies were attained in completion of the [Skill Set Title]’;
- ‘These competencies were attained in completion of the [Skill Set Title] established by the [Name of Industry Body/Regulator/Government Agency]’; or
- The suggested wording for the skill set may be specified on the national register training.gov.au.
For example, the suggested words for the Statement of Attainment in training.gov.au for the TAESS00011 - Assessor Skill Set are: These units from TAE Training and Education Training Package, when used with relevant vocational competencies, meet industry requirements for assessors.
