Fact sheet 149: Credit for previous experience or service
Apprentices and trainees may apply to the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts for credit for previous service or experience related to an apprenticeship or traineeship. A claim for credit usually occurs when a person commences or recommences in an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Credits for previous service are applied against the nominal term of an apprenticeship or traineeship at the time of registration of a training contract. Any credit that is applied reduces the balance of the nominal term to be served and subsequently affects the nominal completion date.
Previous experience may also allow the apprentice or trainee to receive credit transfer and/or recognition of prior learning for competencies achieved. More information on these processes can be obtained from a supervising registered training organisation.
Credit for previous experience in Queensland as a registered apprentice or trainee will be granted where the apprenticeship or traineeship calling nominated in the new training contract is aligned with the calling for which the apprentice or trainee was previously registered. Any 'time' credit allowed is applied to the nominal term of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
It is the responsibility of the employer, the apprentice or trainee, and the supervising registered training organisation to negotiate a training plan, establish the training entry or re-entry point, and the training to be completed.
The employer must be familiar with the industrial instrument that applies to the apprenticeship or traineeship in question, to ensure that the relevant wage entitlement is paid.
Should the parties to a training contract be unsure about employment conditions or wage entitlements, they should contact Wageline on 1300 369 945 or visit the Wageline website.
Irrespective of any time credits allowed against the nominal term, the apprenticeship or traineeship may be completed at any time after the employer, the apprentice or trainee and the supervising registered training organisation agree that the training has been completed, and a qualification has been issued by the supervising registered training organisation. Please refer to Fact sheet 138 on the Completion process for apprenticeships and traineeships for further information.
The employer and apprentice or trainee may also apply for an extension of the nominal term of the training contract if the apprenticeship or traineeship will not be completed by the nominal completion date. Fact sheet 143 Extension of nominal term of an apprenticeship or traineeship is available from the department's website for further information.
Where a person claims to have achieved all of the required competencies of a trade calling, but a certificate of completion for an apprenticeship does not support this claim, that person may be eligible to apply for recognition of work or training.
A person who has been working in a trade for a minimum of six years full-time-after the age of 21 years-may apply for recognition of work or training. The time criteria of six years may be reduced by work experience and training obtained as a registered apprentice, or by some other relevant formal training. Recognition of work or training applies only to those occupations recognised by the department.
Further information can be obtained by phoning Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210.
For recognition in electrical and engineering occupations, contact Trades Recognition Australia on 1300 360 992.
Any of the parties to the training contract may object to the amount of credit claimed or granted. A written objection must be provided to the local regional office of the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts within 14 days of the notification of the credit being granted. Notification is usually in the form of a letter, sent by the department to confirm the registration of the training contract. This letter identifies the nominal completion date.
The written objection must include:
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the reasons for the objection
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the amount of credit claimed by the apprentice or trainee, or the amount of credit the employer is prepared to grant.
Other situations where credit may be claimed include:
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Credit for previous experience as an interstate apprentice or trainee
For information regarding credit and recommencements of apprenticeships or traineeships in Queensland after serving part of the apprenticeship or traineeship interstate, please refer to Fact sheet 123 Interstate apprentices and trainees.
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Credit for previous service as an overseas apprentice or trainee
Credit is not applied at the commencement of the apprenticeship or traineeship in cases of this nature. The training contract will be registered and allocated the appropriate full nominal term for the trade calling or traineeship occupation. Recognition of prior learning may apply and the parties to the training contract have the opportunity to complete the apprenticeship or traineeship once all of the required competencies are achieved.
Mutual recognition arrangements exist between Australia and New Zealand. Further information on these arrangements may be obtained by contacting the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts 1300 369 935.
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Credit for completed qualifications related to the apprenticeship or traineeship
Where an apprentice or trainee has completed another course-such as an associate diploma-prior to commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship, credit is not applicable and the training contract will be registered and allocated the appropriate full nominal term for the occupation.
Recognition of prior learning may apply and progression will occur according to the time-based or competency-based wage progression program applicable to the specific apprenticeship or traineeship.
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Credit for completing a pre-vocational course
More detailed information can be found in Fact sheet 110 Pre-vocational credits.
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Credit for completing a pre-vocational course for hairdressers
More detailed information can be found in Fact sheet 125 Pre-vocational credits for apprentice hairdressers.
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Credit for service in an apprenticeship or traineeship where a training contract was not registered with the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts
In these cases, credit is not granted. The training contract will be registered and allocated the appropriate full nominal term for the occupation.
Recognition of prior learning and/or credit transfer may apply and progression will occur according to the time-based or competency-based wage progression program applicable to the specific apprenticeship or traineeship.
Contact Apprenticeships info 1800 210 210 or Training Queensland 1300 369 935
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