Requirements for doing a Cert IV course online

Can you imagine someone trying to do a Certificate IV in Hairdressing without having had practice cutting people’s hair? Would you want a haircut from that person?

It’s the same with the TAE. Imagine getting a Cert IV in Training and Assessment without having experience training and assessing people!

Are you thinking of doing, or just recently enrolled in TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment online or by distance? This is for you (whether you’re doing the course with Accellier or not).

One of the tricky things about the doing Cert IV in Training and Assessment by distance or online is that it requires many skills to be applied, practiced and demonstrated with real people, just like in our hairdressing analogy above.

So how does someone complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment online or by distance?

There are three possible approaches here:

• Work or volunteer in a training organisation (the easiest way)
• Train people in an organisation that’s not primarily a training institute, but where you can train and assess people (e.g. training new employees, professional development)
• Establish your own simulated training environment (the most challenging, but not impossible way).

1. Work or volunteer in a training organisation (the easiest way)

This is ideal as you get access to real students to teach and assess, as well as having access to other experienced staff and established training systems.

The VET system thrives on experienced industry professionals training people. That’s what it’s all about. So training organisations are often willing to bring on highly experienced industry professionals as trainers under supervision (subject to meeting certain requirements – see this article).

2. Train people in a non-training organisation

Most good organisations value staff training and development. So if you want to get practice as a trainer and assessor, we find our client’s employers are often happy for them to implement training initiatives within their organisation by running staff development training programs inhouse. It benefits everyone!

3. Establish your own simulated training environment

This is the most challenging approach, but many of our graduates have done it successfully with very rewarding results. You can see in her video how one of our graduates, Marion, did this here.

To do this requires, in general:

• Finding a venue for training – this might be at home, church, school, or a community centre
• Developing a range of short training courses (these are all part of your TAE40122 projects anyway!)
• Recruiting volunteer students for you to train, support and assess.

What practical projects will I need to get my students involved in?

Regardless of how or where you apply the skills in this course, in your assessments you will be required to do the following things (these have been summarised):

• A series of 3 sequential group training sessions of at least 30 minutes each to a group of at least 4 learners.
• 2 different individual training sessions of at least 30 minutes each to a learner who is not part of the above group.
• Facilitate workplace-based learning for 1 learner on at least 3 different occasions, where each occasion must be of at least 30 minutes’ duration.
• 3 x 30 minute mentoring sessions with an individual
• Facilitate 2 online learning sessions with a group of 3 learners
• Assess 3 learners to see if they are competent

There are other assessments, but these are the major practical ones that will require a person doing the course online to involve others.

Can I find a provider who won’t make me do these things?

No.

The above requirements are based on national TAE Training Package competency standards. We have no flexibility on the requirements summarised above. All Certificate IV in Training and Assessment courses in Australia, regardless of where and how you do the course – TAFE, private, or otherwise – will have the same requirements.

Bear in mind the above are the assessment requirements. You will also need opportunities to practice your skills as a trainer. If you’ve never stood in front of a group of students before, you will need to get plenty of practice before undertaking the assessments. Of course, our program includes an abundance of tools and techniques to help you become a great educator, so if you’re willing and motivated, we’ll get you through it!

It’s your course, and we’re here to help

We don’t want to scare you off! But it is important we offer a realistic picture of what’s involved. And remember, you’re not on your own with this. While we can’t create the learning environment for you, we promise we will support you in your learning and assessment journey. You have to put in the work and overcome the challenges, but we’ll be there with you.

Tip: All throughout Australia there are hundreds of volunteer based education opportunities. Look within your community for volunteer organisations that hold training courses you can run. Look for community colleges, surf-life-saving clubs, Rural Fire Services, U3A branches, clubs such as Rotary and Lions, Toastmasters, CWA, Women and Men’s sheds, Schools, sporting, dance and martial arts clubs, theatres, community groups, chambers of commerce.

We have also had clients who have, through social media such as Facebook “buy, swap, sell” and other groups, Meetup, and LinkedIn groups, coordinated training courses for their TAE assignments.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way!