Eligibility
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) must meet the following eligibility requirements to be approved as a VET provider:
- Be a body corporate whose principal purpose is, or is taken to be, to provide education;
- Be an RTO as listed on the National Register (training.gov.au formerly the National Training Information Service (NTIS));
- Be financially viable and likely to remain financially viable;
- Carry on business in Australia with central management and control in Australia;
- Offer VET accredited diploma and advanced diploma courses* with VET credit transfer arrangements and/or VET accredited graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses;
- Be a member of an approved tuition assurance scheme, or hold a guarantee or an exemption from tuition assurance requirements; and
- Have administrative procedures and capacity to meet reporting requirements.
*Bodies corporate with registration in a Reform State or Territory (currently Victoria), will not have to meet the requirement to have a VET Credit Transfer Arrangement in place in order to be approved as a VET provider. For further information refer to the Information for Victorian RTOs and HEPs page.
Useful Publications
RTOs that are considering applying must meet legislative requirements in relation to tuition assurance, credit transfer arrangements, student policies and procedures for fairness and equal opportunity, academic and non academic grievance, refund and re-crediting of a FEE-HELP Balance. Optional Templates for use as required are located on the Useful Publications page. Further, RTOs must read and understand the requirements related to VET FEE-HELP in the following handbook and legislative guidelines:
- VET Provider handbook
- VET Provider Guidelines
- VET FEE-HELP Guidelines
- VET Administration Guidelines
Note: All of the above publications can be located on the Useful Publications page.
Application
RTOs seeking approval as VET Providers to offer VET FEE-HELP should complete the Application Assistance Pack (the Pack). The Pack can be found on the Useful Publications page.
Completing the Pack will assist the Applicant:
- with compiling the information and documentation needed to submit an online application for approval as a VET provider (via the VET FEE-HELP Information Technology System (VITS)).
- with the timely assessment and finalisation of the application
When completing the application in VITS, RTOs should follow the step by step VITS user guide – the VET FEE-HELP IT SYSTEM (VITS) Electronic Information Guide Version 7.0. This guide is also located on the Useful Publications page.
Note: All information requested by VITS must be completed and required documentation, including the completed Application Assistance Pack, must be attached before submitting a VET provider application.
If you would like to know more information about the Application Pack or the application process, (including lodging the application in VITS) please log your enquiry with TSEnquiries@deewr.gov.au.
Financial Viability
The financial viability requirements are set out in the VET FEE-HELP Financial Viability Instructions – for Applicants.
This document is located on the Useful Publications page.
Tuition Assurance
RTOs applying to become VET providers are not required to meet the VET tuition assurance requirements upon application. However, RTOs will still be required to demonstrate they meet requirements immediately prior to their approval as a VET provider. Securing VET tuition assurance arrangements can be a lengthy process and applicants are advised to begin making their arrangements as soon as possible once they have submitted their VET provider application.
The Applicant is required to provide a Statement of VET Tuition Assurance. Statement of VET Tuition Assurance Template is located on the Useful Publications page.
Courses
Only VET courses at the diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma level are eligible VET courses of study for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP. To be an eligible course for which students can access VET FEE-HELP assistance, the course must also meet the VET credit transfer requirements.
VET Credit Transfer Arrangements
VET Providers must ensure that at least one VET credit transfer arrangement is in place for each diploma or advanced diploma course for which the Applicant wants to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance. Graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses do not require an approved credit transfer arrangement.
Certain bodies corporate are exempt from meeting the VET credit transfer requirements, in order for a body corporate to be exempt, it must:
- Have Registration in a Reform State or Territory and offer a diploma or advanced diploma in a Reform State or Territory. Please note that currently only Victoria is a Reform State/Territory for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP.
DEEWR will assess each VETcredit transfer arrangement using the following credit levels as a guide:
- 50% credit for an advanced diploma when linked to a 3 year Bachelor degree;
- 37.5% credit for an advanced diploma when linked to a 4 year Bachelor degree;
- 33% credit for a diploma when linked to a 3 year Bachelor degree; and
- 25% credit for a diploma when linked to a 4 year Bachelor degree.
A VET Credit Transfer Arrangement template is located on the Useful Publications page.
Submitting an Application
There are three sections that comprises a VITS application
- Provider Details
- Courses and
- Supporting Documentation
You must complete all three sections, in the order listed before you can submit your application. After you complete each section, VITS will confirm the section is complete.
VITS will confirm when the application has been successfully submitted. All submitted applications will be sent to the DEEWR. Once applications are submitted they can no longer be updated in VITS, incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
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