About VET
When you finish school there are many different paths you can choose to get to where you want to go. If you decide you want to do further study, VET is a great option.
Top 5 reasons to try VET:
1. VET gives you up-to-date training
VET courses are designed and updated with help from industry –
the employers who may be your future managers. Courses are up-to-date and directly related to specific jobs and careers. In addition, they equip you to meet the changing demands of the work place, while allowing you to get ahead in your career.
2. VET choices are endless
The variety of courses offered in VET are endless and exciting – in over 30 broad study areas, from Agriculture and Natural Resources, Computing and Information Systems to Hospitality.
3. VET gets you ready for work
When you leave school, VET courses can teach you practical skills and knowledge so that you perform well on your first day on the job. VET can also increase your job choices down the track.
4. VET is a stepping-stone on the path to your career
VET is an ‘open ended’ way to gain qualifications and to advance your career. In some study areas there may be pathways to University. Discussions with a VET will clarify pathway requirements.
5. VET is an affordable option!
VET is free of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), so you avoid deferred debts.
A tuition fee is charged by the VET courses and charges may also be made for personal-use items such as tools of the trade, student services fees and take-home goods. Concessions and exemptions are available depending on eligibility.
Types of courses available
In VET you can study either on-campus, or off-campus. Off-campus courses are also called ‘distance learning’ or ‘flexible learning’. These courses give you the same qualifications you would receive if you studied full-time on-campus. It is also possible to have a mix of on-campus and off-campus studies.
VET qualifications are in the form of Certificates (four levels) and Advanced Diploma courses, all of which are fully nationally accredited to qualify people for all kinds of jobs. The level at which you enter your career may depend on the VET qualification you receive when you finish your course and the position you obtain.
Credit transfer, pathways and articulation
Some VET courses offer pathways and links between qualifications – for example from a Certificate IV to a Diploma – enabling you to get credit for subjects you’ve already completed. This is called ‘credit transfer’ and can reduce the length of time you study. It may also reduce your study costs.
VET can be used as a pathway into degree courses offered by universities and vice versa. You can begin your studies at VET, obtain credit for the work you’ve done, then apply for university admission. Many university students also look to VET to gain vocational training once they have finished their degree – as a way of improving their employment prospects.
Recognition of prior learning
Where formal credit transfer arrangements do not exist, it can still be possible to get recognition for previous study or relevant work/life experience. You can ask the VET provider for an assessment. This may result in the allocation of credit for some subjects/units of the course.
