RPL explained: turn your years on the job into a qualification

27 October 2026 · Stark Institute

Plenty of people on building and civil sites have years of experience and no formal qualification. That gap starts to matter when you want a licence, a supervisor role, a pay rise or a job with a bigger contractor. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is how you close it.

What RPL is

RPL is an assessment, not a course. Instead of sitting through training on things you already know, you show an assessor evidence that you can do the work to the industry standard. Where you meet the standard, you are awarded the units. Where there are gaps, you only train in those units.

The result is the same nationally recognised qualification as someone who studied it from day one.

What counts as evidence

• Photos and videos of jobs you have worked on
• A reference from your employer or supervisor
• Tickets, licences and short course certificates
• Payslips or a résumé that show how long you have worked in the trade
• A practical observation or conversation with the assessor

You do not need all of these. Your assessor will tell you what is missing and help you fill the gaps.

Who it suits

RPL works best if you have worked in the trade for at least a couple of years and can show it. At Stark Institute it is available across building and construction, business and project management qualifications, including the Certificate III in Carpentry, the Diploma of Building and Construction and the Diploma of Project Management.

Some Queensland building qualifications can also be done through a Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) skills assessment and gap training program with a small co-contribution, if you are eligible. See Funded Courses 2027.

How to start

1. Do the free RPL check. It takes a few minutes.
2. Talk to our team about which qualification fits your experience.
3. Gather your evidence with your assessor’s help.
4. Complete your assessment and any gap training.

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