SHB30516
Certificate III in Barbering (RPL)
Australian Residents
Recognition of Prior Learning
Working as a barber without a barbering qualification? Get your barbering skills certified through Recognition of Prior Learning.
Duration
Approximately 1 month from the initial interview to practical assessment
What is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?
RPL is the acknowledgment of skills and knowledge obtained through learning achieved outside the formal education and training system and includes work and life experience.
RPL recognises any prior knowledge and experience and measures it against the qualification in which candidates are enrolled. The individual may not need to complete all of a training program if he or she already possesses some of the competencies taught in the program.
To apply for an RPL of a complete qualification, you will need to demonstrate a minimum of 3 years of current full-time industry experience.
SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering Qualification
This qualification reflects the role of barbers who use a range of well-developed sales, consultation and technical skills and knowledge to provide a broad range of barbering services to clients. They use discretion and judgement to provide client services and take responsibility for the outcomes of their own work. This qualification provides a pathway to work as a barber in any industry environment, usually a barbershop or salon.
RPL Timeline
It is expected that the RPL process should take no longer than one month from the initial interview to practical assessment. This timeline is dependent on the candidate being prepared and organised with all the required documentation and the successful completion of the Theory Assessment.
Information you need to understand
It is important that you understand the following terms and conditions to assist you with your RPL application.
Competence is the demonstration of skills and knowledge that you have gained through life and work experiences as well as any training that you have successfully completed that can be matched against a set of industry performance standards referred to as units of competency. These units are grouped together to form a specific industry qualification, within the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).
Each unit of competency is divided into elements (a set of activities that lead to an overall achievement or demonstration of competence). Each of these elements is further broken down into a set of performance criteria which give a more detailed description of the skills and knowledge you need to be able to demonstrate.
Matching your evidence against each of the elements/performance criteria will help you to reach your qualification more quickly.
Please note that the Barbering Qualification in WA is a Class A Qualification.
What this means for RPL candidates in WA is that once the RPL assessment process has commenced, no skill gap training can be provided to candidates without entering into an apprenticeship.
If skill gaps are identified, the candidate will need to enter into an apprenticeship with their employer to complete the units of competence that have been assessed as Not Competent.
How to prepare for your RPL assessment
In order for your skills to be formally recognised as part of a national qualification, Assessors must make sure that you (the candidate) have the required skills and knowledge to meet the industry standard as specified in the SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering Training Package.
You must be involved in the RPL process so that all the experience, skills and knowledge you have gained over time can be correctly identified and suitably demonstrated. This evidence is gathered and used in recognition of all or some of the units for the qualification you wish to gain.
All assessment requirements will be discussed with you in advance and you will be given the opportunity to ask questions and clarify requirements. Being prepared for the assessment process and knowing what you need to provide can save you valuable time and ensure that the RPL assessment is as simple and stress-free as possible.
Here are some tips to make the application process and interview easier for you:
- Your Assessor will ask you to talk about your work roles and your employment history;
- Bring a copy of your résumé. You might like to write down any work you have done in the past (paid or unpaid) and where this took place;
- If you have certificates from any training courses you have completed relating to the barbering qualification, bring along either certified copies or the originals to the interview with the Assessor and they can make a copy of them to include in your evidence;
- Bring along any other documentation that you think would support your claim that you have done this work over a time period.
The following is a list of some of the documents you can provide as examples of your work history:
- Overseas Barber/Hairdressing Qualification or Statement of Attainment;
- Certificates of Participation for Barbering/Hairdressing courses that you have attended;
- Portfolio of work;
- Employer references (with contact phone number and email address);
- WH&S/OHS Certificates;
- Business or Management Qualifications or courses that you have completed;
- Sales and merchandising courses or qualifications;
- Any other source of training that you feel may be mapped to a unit of competence in the SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering Qualification;
- CV/Resume;
- Workplace appointment diary;
- Workplace training records;
- Membership of relevant professional associations;
- Hobbies/interests/special skills outside work;
- References/letters from previous employers/supervisors;
- Barbering/hairdressing awards;
- Any other documentation that may demonstrate your trade or industry experience or support your claim.
Depending on where you have worked and what the work may have included, you may or may not have documentary evidence. Do not be put off if you do not have documentary evidence, as the Assessor will work with you during the assessment process.
- Think about who you would consider to be your workplace contact or referee.
- Is your employer happy to support your aim to become qualified?
- Would you feel comfortable if the Assessor contacted your current workplace or previous workplace/s to validate your skills and spoke to your supervisor/s or employer/s?
- You will need to supply the contact details of work referees who can confirm your skills in the industry.
- Think about who the best person to confirm your skill level would be.
- Think about current or recent supervisors or employers who have observed your work and who would be able to confirm your previous work skills and experience. The Assessor will need to contact them.
You can speak with your Assessor about other ways you can show your skills and knowledge in barbering. These could include letters from employers, records of any training courses or professional development sessions attended, employers or clients in related industries or government agencies, acknowledgements, workplace forms (as long as there are no confidentially issues) or any other relevant documents.
Confidentiality Issues
It is important that sensitive information is not included as part of your Supporting Documentation. You may need authorisation from your supervisor to use some of your evidence, so it is always best to check the privacy and confidentiality policies of the organisation. Client names should be deleted, and financial figures or other personal details should be blacked out and made unidentifiable.
The Seven Steps in the RPL Assessment Process
Once Taylorweir has provided you with the information you need to apply for RPL, you need to follow these seven steps in order to complete the process.
Step 1
Initial Interview
60 minutes
No Charge
Taylorweir will invite you in for an initial interview so that we can ascertain whether you would be a successful candidate, this interview will take approximately one hour. During this time, we will go through the steps with you and ensure that you understand the process and the conditions you must fulfil to complete a successful RPL. This will also allow for an initial assessment of your experience and a check to see whether you can demonstrate the required skills and knowledge. Before you decide to apply for RPL we need to assess your current competence for one or several units of competency or for the complete qualification.
Some important points to remember for the interview.
Be prepared to discuss:
- Your previous barbering work experience;
- The roles you had in your previous barbering positions;
- The responsibilities you had in the job roles.
Make sure to keep it relevant to the barbering qualification and show some evidence of your accomplishments in the job. If you do not believe that you have any suitable evidence, then you should discuss your options during this time. It is important that you let us know if you are currently enrolled in a training course relating to this qualification and that you intend to apply for RPL on the nominated units you have selected so that the required documentation can be processed and your application can go ahead. It is at this stage that a decision will be made whether you are able to proceed to the next step or whether you need to undergo further training.
Step 2
Self-Evaluation
$2,000 prior to this Self-Evaluation step
Complete the candidate information and self-evaluation forms provided with as much information of your previous work experience as you can.
You must be able to provide evidence against the elements/performance criteria for the relevant unit/s of competency. It is not enough to simply state that you possess the skills and knowledge required. You must be able to demonstrate competence.
This is your opportunity to provide as much proof as you can of the variety of experience you have had. You should supply examples of your work history if you have any. You may or may not have documentary evidence available. This should not deter you from seeking RPL, as your Assessor will work with you throughout the RPL process.
You will also need to supply the contact details of work referees who can confirm your skills in the industry.
By asking your supervisor to complete their part of your self-evaluation, they will be providing valuable evidence confirming the work experience, skills, and knowledge you have demonstrated in the performance of your work duties. You will also be provided with a list of suggested evidence that you could use to demonstrate that you are competent in a particular unit or units of competency. This list is a guide only. If you have other suitable evidence to support your claim for RPL then you are encouraged to share this with your Assessor.
Once you have completed the self-evaluation, make an appointment for an interview and enrol for RPL.
Step 3
Enrolment and RPL Interview with the Assessor
An interview with an Assessor will be organised for you. They will review with you the information and supporting documentation you have provided and match up your skills to the units/subjects in the qualification.
During your RPL interview, your Assessor will discuss with you, your self-evaluation and any evidence you have provided. It is at this point that you will be able to identify any previous work experience and discuss this with your Assessor.
During this conversation, you will be required to answer questions relating to your work experience. This questioning forms part of the assessment, as it will identify your current knowledge and skills regarding the area of industry in which you are applying for recognition.
A date will be made for you to either come to Taylorweir for your Practical Assessments or for the Assessor to assess you at your workplace.
Step 4
Completion of Theory Assessment
If the decision is made that you will be a suitable candidate for RPL, you will be given a Learning Manual of all the units that you will be assessed on to take home and study and the Theory Assessment Book to complete and submit prior to the Practical Assessment.
Step 5
Provision of Further Supporting Evidence
Prior to the Practical Assessment, your Assessor will need to confirm your previous work experience with someone (such as your supervisor or employer) who can vouch for your skills over a period of time. They will contact the referees you have provided as part of the candidate information.
Your Assessor may ask you to give your selected workplace contacts or previous employers the Third-Party report to complete. Authentication of these reports by the Assessor would then be required.
Step 6
Practical Assessment of Your Skills
In the workplace or at Taylorweir
$2,000 prior to the Practical Assessment
Your Assessor will organise with you and your employer to conduct a practical skills test at your workplace (if appropriate) or at Taylorweir.
This is your opportunity to demonstrate your level of competence on a practical level. The assessment will focus on the skills required in the work activities which relate to the barbering qualification in which you are applying for recognition.
Your Assessor will identify the skills they want you to demonstrate by asking you to complete certain tasks. A list of tasks will be given to you prior to the practical assessment so as you can source suitable clients to complete the tasks.
Step 7
After the Assessment
After the assessment, your Assessor will advise you of the units of competency you have successfully completed. You will also be advised whether you have gained the full qualification or if gaps have been identified during the recognition process. If you do have skill gaps, these may be addressed through entering an apprenticeship to undergo additional training to gain the full qualification.
If you have any questions during the RPL process, you should contact your Assessor.