Qualification levels
Choose the best qualification level for you:
School sector
| Qualification level |
Distinguishing outcomes |
| Senior Secondary Certificate of Education |
- generic and subject specific knowledge and skills.
|
Vocational education and training sector, TAFE
| Qualification level |
Distinguishing outcomes |
| Certificate I |
- demonstrate knowledge by recall in a narrow range of areas
- demonstrate basic practical skills
- perform a sequence of routine tasks, given clear directions
- receive and pass on messages/information.
|
| Certificate II |
- demonstrate basic operational knowledge in a moderate range of areas
- apply a defined range of skills
- apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems
- perform a range of tasks where choice between a limited range of options is required
- assess and record information from varied sources
- take limited responsibility for own outputs in work and learning.
|
| Certificate III |
- demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge
- apply a range of well developed skills
- apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
- perform processes that require a range of well developed skills where some discretion and judgement are required
- interpret available information, using discretion and judgement
- take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning
- take limited responsibility for the output of others.
|
| Certificate IV |
- demonstrate understanding of a broad range knowledge base, incorporating some theoretical concepts
- apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems
- identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas
- identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources
- take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specific quality standards
- take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others.
|
| Diploma |
- demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas
- analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements
- transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations
- evaluate information and use that information to forecast for planning or research purposes
- take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters
- take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes.
|
| Advanced Diploma |
- demonstrate understanding of specialised knowledge with depth in some areas
- analyse, diagnose, design and execute judgements across a broad range of technical or management functions
- generate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level
- demonstrate a command of wide ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills
- demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within broad parameters
- demonstrate accountability for group outcomes within broad parameters.
|
| Vocational Graduate Certificate |
- demonstrate the self directed development and achievement of broad and/or specialised areas of knowledge and skills building on prior knowledge and skills
- initiate, analyse, design, plan, execute and evaluate major, broad or specialised technical and/or management functions in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts
- generate and evaluate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level
- demonstrate a command of wide ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills in complex contexts
-
demonstrate responsibility and broad ranging accountability for personal outputs
-
demonstrate responsibility and broad ranging accountability for the structure, management and output of the work of others and/or function.
|
| Vocational Graduate Diploma |
|
Higher education sector
| Qualification level |
Distinguishing outcomes |
| Bachelor degree |
- acquire a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, the underlying principles and concepts, and the associated communication and problem solving skills
- develop academic skills and attributes necessary to undertake research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from a range of sources
- develop the ability to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowledge and techniques learned, including in a professional context
- acquire a foundation for self directed and life long learning
- demonstrate interpersonal and teamwork skills appropriate to employment and/or further study.
|
| Graduate Certificate |
- broaden skills already gained in an undergraduate program
- develop vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area.
|
| Graduate Diploma |
- broaden skills already gained in an undergraduate program
- further specialise within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, or develop vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area.
|
| Masters degree |
- provide appropriate evidence of advanced knowledge about a specialist body of theoretical and applied topics
- demonstrate a high order of skill in analysis through planning and execution of project work or a piece of scholarship or research
- demonstrate creativity and flexibility to apply knowledge and skills to new situations. Solve complex problems and think rigorously and independently.
|
| Doctoral degree |
- carry out an original research project, or a project addressing a matter of substance concerning practice in a profession with a high level of originality and quality
- present a substantial and well ordered dissertation, non print thesis or portfolio, for submission to external examination against international standards.
|
For further information on these qualification levels visit the Australian Qualifications Framework website.
This page was last updated at 08-May-2013
