5 Common RPL Challenges and How to Overcome Them

In 2024, Australia is experiencing a high demand for professionals with advanced IT skills. According to the 2023 Skills Priority List by Jobs and Skills Australia, 36% of occupations assessed are in shortage, with a significant demand for professionals in the IT industry.

Unfortunately, some IT professionals lack the qualifications to secure higher-level positions. This is where Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can help — an assessment process used by educational institutions (like Lumify Learn) to assess the knowledge and skills that an individual has gained outside of formal education and training.

But while RPL is a path for many individuals looking to advance their IT career, their journey through this initiative isn’t without its challenges. In this blog, we will discuss common issues that RPL candidates normally face, and how they can overcome them. We will also talk about how Lumify Learn can make the RPL process easier.

What are Some Common RPL Challenges Candidates Face Today?

1. Portfolio of Evidence Confusion

For an RPL candidate to demonstrate that they have the right prior experience and education, they need to create a compelling portfolio of evidence. However, many face the problem of not knowing what types of evidence to gather and how to present them properly to demonstrate their competency.

A well-rounded portfolio can include:

• Resumes: listing the skills you have used, and the tasks completed in each role.

• Job descriptions: This can be a current job description or prior job description for a role performed in the last 3 years.

• Workplace documents: Include examples of projects you've completed, reports you've written, presentations you've delivered, emails or other work products that highlight your expertise.

• Performance reviews/evaluation: Performance feedback from managers can provide valuable third-party validation of your skills and achievements.

• Third-party employer reports: letters of recommendation or testimonials from colleagues, team leader, or clients can offer additional support for your claims.

• Certificates: Include any certifications, training courses, or professional development activities you've completed that are relevant to the qualification you're seeking.

When creating a portfolio, candidates should make sure to select evidence that directly demonstrates the required skills and knowledge. Moreover, they should follow an organised format that assessors can easily navigate. For example, candidates can follow a chronological order highlighting their career progression or group evidence by area of relevance such as a section for cyber security, another for project management, another for system support and administration.

Remember that RPL assessors are looking for quality evidence, not quantity. It’s better to provide a few strong pieces of evidence that clearly demonstrate your competency than to overwhelm assessors with excessive but weak evidence.

2. Time Constraints and Work Life Balance

The RPL process, specifically the evidence-gathering phase, can be time-consuming. Additionally, candidates often find themselves juggling their professional and personal life at the same time, which can be overwhelming and leading them to abandon their RPL efforts altogether.

To overcome these challenges, it’s important for candidates to implement time management strategies. For instance, they can develop a detailed schedule that allocates specific time blocks for work, personal commitments, and RPL activities. They can also make use of calendars, to-do lists, and project management platforms to stay on top of tasks and deadlines. Finally, they must remember to set realistic timelines and allow for flexibility to accommodate unexpected events.

Once they take advantage of these assessment options and implement the right time management strategies, RPL candidates can go through the RPL process better and increase their chance of having their prior skills and knowledge recognised.

3. Fear of Rejection

People have experienced being rejected at least once or twice in their life. This can usually have a profound impact on a person’s confidence and well-being, and influence how they approach new challenges, such as the RPL process.

Candidates might fear, for instance, that they might not have enough prior skills and knowledge to successfully meet the requirements of the qualification they applied for. Or they might be anxious because the portfolio of evidence that they submitted might not be sufficient.

This is why RPL candidates must ensure that they have built a strong portfolio of evidence (as discussed earlier). They should also focus on their strengths and seek guidance and feedback from mentors, colleagues, or industry professionals.

Speak with your RPL assessor to discuss the evidence you have and be honest about any gaps in your skills that can’t be mapped to the study units' criteria. The assessor will evaluate the gap identified and suggest alternative approaches to demonstrate competency, whether it can be covered through a question-and-answer interview assessment or whether you need to complete the practical exercise. Being open and honest is key.

4. Knowledge Skills or Gaps

Even if an RPL candidate has extensive experience or has submitted an extensive portfolio of evidence, they may find it challenging to match their skills with a qualification’s specific requirements. This mismatch can result in confusion and doubt and even hinder the RPL process, leading to potential delays or even abandonment of the application.

Instead of viewing this problem as a setback, RPL candidates can view this as an opportunity to grow and learn new things that can help them improve their RPL application. Identifying these gaps also allows candidates to seek additional training or education to close them, which then enhances their qualifications and makes them a more competitive professional in the job market.

The good news is that Lumify Learn offers gap training to students who lack certain skills and knowledge to become eligible for a certain qualification. This training is already included in the course fees, so they can more efficiently acquire the necessary competencies.

5. Financial Considerations

Some candidates may feel deterred to pursue their RPL application because of the costs associated with the program. This includes assessment fees, lost income, and additional study materials.

However, it’s important to remember that the long-term benefits of obtaining RPL can outweigh the initial costs that a candidate will incur. In fact, by studying with Lumify Learn and reducing the units they need to take through RPL, students can save as much as $2,280, which they can use for other educational expenses, professional development, or personal savings. As such, this can make the pursuit of further education feel more accessible and less burdensome financially.

Climb the IT Ladder Today with Lumify Learn’s RPL Program!

At Lumify Learn, we are committed to helping you bridge the gap between your experience and formal qualifications. That’s why we offer a comprehensive RPL program designed to validate your current knowledge and skills and fast-track your path to certification. This program has three simple steps:

1. FREE RPL Consult: Chat with one of our course advisors about your experience, skills, and goals. They will then help you determine the right qualification for you.

2. Evidence Gathering: Your dedicated advisor will help you compile an extensive portfolio of evidence. This could include evidence of past work in the IT industry, past statements of attainment or qualifications, and letters of reference.

3. RPL assessment: After you submit your portfolio of evidence, our assessors will review it and give you a chance to present it to an assessor during a recognition interview via Zoom.

Our RPL process is done completely online and over-the-phone, so you can complete your application from the comfort of your home or anywhere you prefer.

Start your IT journey with Lumify Learn today! Contact us today to learn more.