The purpose and forms of RPL

RPL is a valuable mechanism for recognising the skills acquired by persons who were denied opportunities for formal education by the Apartheid system and opening access for them into further learning and career advancement.

People could request formal recognition for previous learning achievements for a variety of reasons, including:

• Gaining access into a formal learning programme;
• The award of credits for learning achievements;
• The award of a qualification for learning achievements; and/or
• Serving as a basis for further learning and development.

There are two main forms of RPL which reflect these different purposes.

• RPL for access: RPL can provide an alternative access route into a programme of learning for those who do not meet the formal entry requirements. Applicants would submit evidence that they have sufficient prior learning to enable them to enter the programme. For example, a cook with no formal cookery qualification but many years’ experience working as a cook should be able to enter a relatively advanced cookery programme without having to first complete an elementary cookery qualification. In this case, the cook would not be awarded any credits for prior learning.
• RPL for credits: Credits can be awarded for a unit standard or unit standards, or towards a qualification or part-qualification registered on the NQF. For example, the same cook mentioned above, may be registered for a cookery qualification, and would apply for RPL for credits for some of the unit standards in that qualification. The previous learning would then be assessed and the cook would receive credits for those unit standards. The cook would then not have to complete the sections of the programme that cover those unit standards.

The RPL process provides the opportunity for persons to provide evidence of their knowledge and skills in some way so that they can be formally recognised. The evidence can be in many forms, for example it could be documents, photographs, practical demonstration of skills, or testimonials from persons who are in a position to confirm the achievements, such as a supervisor.

RPL must be conducted through a structured process that includes:

• An applicant identifies the registered unit standard/s, part-qualification or qualification for which recognition will be sought and collects and compiles evidence of competence acquired against these.
• The applicant submits the evidence to a training provider (e.g. a college or university) that offers a programme that covers the areas for which RPL is sought, or to an institution that provides RPL services.
• The evidence of prior learning submitted by the candidate is measured against the outcomes (including knowledge, skills and other competencies) in the registered unit standards, modules, etc.
• If the evidence is insufficient, the candidate receives guidance and counselling on further evidence that is required and collects or generates such evidence.
• The evidence submitted is formally assessed to determine its validity, authenticity, currency and sufficiency against the outcomes in the registered unit standards, modules, etc.
• If the evidence submitted meets all the applicable requirements, the credits are awarded for the unit standards, part-qualification or qualification.

It is important to note that training providers, such as universities, are not legally obliged to award RPL. Most training providers have internal RPL policies that guide their decisions on awarding credits or qualifications.