What is an RTO?

Registered training organisations

Registered training organisations (RTOs) deliver nationally recognised training in the Vocational Education and Training sector. To deliver this training, they need to be approved by ASQA.

RTOs are the only organisations in the Australian VET system authorised to:

deliver and assess nationally recognised training
issue nationally recognised qualifications and statements of attainment
apply for government funding to provide VET services.

More than 5 million students study VET each year. VET is the main way Australians upskill or reskill.

There are about 4000 RTOs in Australia, most of them are regulated by ASQA.

The national register includes a list of all RTOs.

Vocational Education and Training

VET provides students with relevant workplace specific skills and knowledge for a wide range of skilled work and occupations.

VET accredited courses and qualifications help students to:

get qualified for a new career
return or enter the workforce
upskill current qualifications
enter university.

Only organisations that are registered as an RTO and listed on the National Training Register can advertise, offer and deliver VET.

VET courses and qualifications

VET course qualifications include:

Certificate I, II, III and IV
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Vocational Degree
Vocational Graduate Certificate and Diploma.

If you are a student looking for a particular course, visit Your Career.

VET providers

There are a range of VET providers, these include:

technical and further education (TAFE) or similar public institutes
private providers
enterprise RTOs that deliver training to their staff
some schools and universities
professional or industry associations
not for profit community based adult education providers.

Delivering VET to overseas students

Training providers must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to teach overseas students who are in Australia on a student visa.

These are known as Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) providers.

Providers must be registered on both CRICOS and the national register to deliver VET courses to overseas students.

Providers who only teach English Language courses to overseas students (ELICOS) require ESOS registration only.

How RTOs are regulated

ASQA is the regulator for all providers delivering training in:

Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
New South Wales.

ASQA also regulates providers in Victoria and Western Australia if they offer:

any course (in-class or online) within ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA and TAS
courses to overseas students in Australia on a student visa.