‘RTO’ stands for ‘registered training organisation’. RTOs are registered by state and territory training authorities to deliver nationally recognised training—which means training that:
- is recognised by all RTOs throughout Australia
- is part of a Training Package that has been developed to meet the needs of a particular industry, and
- results in a qualification that is part of the Australian Qualifications Framework
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An RTO can be a government department or a private enterprise, and training does not have to be its core business—for example, Qantas is an RTO. Panel beaters, schools, TAFE colleges and beauty therapists are all examples of organisations that can be RTOs.
Find out more about what defines RTOs on training.com.au, the entry point for enterprises and employers seeking information on Australia’s vocational education and training system.
Only RTOs can:
- deliver nationally recognised courses and qualifications—the training RTOs provide is recognised and valued Australia-wide
- use the nationally recognised training logo on qualifications, statements of attainment and promotional material—an invaluable marketing tool
- have their business listed on the National Training Information Service —an established marketing channel where potential clients search for RTO services, and
- apply for Australian Government and state/ territory government funding.
Find out more about the benefits of being an RTO on training.com.au.
The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) comprises two sets of standards that ensure the high quality of vocational education and training services in Australia. These standards are set out in two publications:
To become an RTO, and maintain RTO status, you must meet the requirements of the twelve standards set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.
The agencies that process your application must comply with the Standards for State/ Territory Registering and Course Accrediting Bodies.
Find out more about the AQTF on training.com.au .
If you want to become an RTO, you need to declare the courses, qualifications and other services you want to deliver. This is called your ‘scope of registration’.
So, the first step is to visit the National Training Information Service for a list of endorsed Training Packages and accredited courses and qualifications, and to decide which qualifications or courses you want to deliver.
Find out more about registering as an RTO on training.com.au .
You’ve probably got questions like:
- How much does it cost to become an RTO?
- I can’t find a suitable accredited qualification or course—how do I go about developing my own?
- If I become an RTO, what qualifications do my staff need to deliver nationally recognised training?
training.com.au contains a great deal of information about what’s involved in becoming an RTO, but your best source of information is your state or territory registering/ course accrediting body, as they will be processing your application for registration.