What Is The Australian Qualifications Framework?

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the policy which specifies the standards for regulated Australian education and training qualifications. While the AQF specifies or ‘puts forth’ the standards, regulatory authorities maintain the standards by authorising course providers to issue a qualification, regulating training and assessment.

The framework itself is largely formed around 10 levels of descriptive criteria, with the formal qualifications aligned to their appropriate levels:

AQF Level	Criteria	Qualification
Level 10	Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.	Doctoral Degree
Level 9	Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.	Masters Degree (Research) Masters Degree (Extended) Masters Degree (Coursework)
Level 8	Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.	Graduate diploma Graduate certificate Bachelor honours degree
Level 7	Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.	Bachelor’s Degree
Level 6	Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.	Associate Degree Advanced Diploma
Level 5	Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.	Diploma
Level 4	Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning.	Certificate IV
Level 3	Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.	Certificate III
Level 2	Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning.	Certificate II
Level 1	Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning.	Certificate I

The 10 levels of qualifications listed above are the Australian tertiary education (post-school) qualifications. Australian tertiary education can be divided into two sectors, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education.

The certificates and diplomas are the VET qualifications. The regulatory authority for VET qualifications is the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). VET qualifications are typically delivered by Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

The degrees are the Higher Education qualifications. The regulatory authority for Higher Education qualifications is the Tertiary Education Skills and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Higher Education Qualifications are typically delivered by universities.

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)

The Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) is also an AQF qualification, however, it does not have an AQF level. This is the graduation qualification awarded to students in Australian high schools, typically for completing years 11 and 12. However, in some states, adults may be awarded this qualification through a TAFE college or other provider. Graduates at this level will have knowledge, skills and values for diverse pathways to further learning, work and effective participation in civic life.

Useful Links

To read more about each of the Australian tertiary qualifications, click here.
To read more about Australian tertiary education, click here.
To read more about the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), click here.
To read more about the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), click here.
To read more about TAFE, RTOs and universities, click here.

References

ACACA The Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities, “Senior Secondary Certificates“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Government, Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), “About ASQA“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Government, “Higher Education“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Government, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), “What we do“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Government, “Vocational Education and Training“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Qualifications Framework, “AQF Levels“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Qualifications Framework, “AQF Qualifications“, retrieved 01/08/18
Australian Qualifications Framework, “What is the AQF?” retrieved 01/08/18