Q. How do I enrol in a course?
All you need to do is contact the training provider directly. Most providers need you to call them directly to find out more about the course. They will also give you the price of the course over the phone and send you any additional information along with an enrolment form.
Some providers give you the opportunity to register for the course online, but make sure you have all the information you need about the course before you enrol. Things you need to know include:
- Where the course is conducted
- How much the course costs
- How long does the course go for
- What are the qualifications of the presenters
- What happens if you can’t complete the course.
Q. There doesn’t seem to be any providers in my area. What do I do?
While the Skills Alliance is continually adding to its Training Provider register, it is not an exhaustive list of all providers in Queensland. To search for all training providers visit www.training.gov.au. This site provides you with a national register of training providers and products.
You may also want to look through your local newspaper, especially in the careers section. Many providers will advertise their courses here.
Another good way of finding a great provider is to talk to other people who have completed the same course you want to do. Find out about their experiences with their training provider. Nothing beats word of mouth.
Q. I’m not sure what course to do. Where can I go for help?
Talk to your local employers. They will be able to give you some information about what qualification they require in order to employ somebody.
There are also peak organisations for each of the industry sectors who may be able to help you. They are:
You can also give us a call at the Skills Alliance; we are happy to help!
Q. What’s the difference between a Qualification and a Course?
A qualification is nationally recognised and can only be issued by a Registered Training Organisation. An example of this is a Certificate IV in Fitness. Many employers will require you to have a qualification in the industry before they will employ you.
A course/workshop or seminar on the other hand is often not accredited and may not lead to a qualification. Any provider can offer a course, workshop or seminar. People usually attend these for information needs.
Q. Certificate III, Certificate IV, etc – it all sounds very confusing.
We agree. It can be confusing!
Below is an overview of what will be expected of you in the workplace with each level of qualification.
- Certificate I - This level of qualification would prepare you to perform a defined range of activities, most of which may be routine and predictable.
- Certificate II - This level of qualification would prepare you to perform in a range of varied activities or knowledge applications where there is a clearly defined range of situations and where the choice of actions required is usually clear. At this level there is limited complexity in the range of options to applied.
- Certificate III - This level of qualification would prepare you to select, adapt and transfer skills and knowledge to a new environment and provide technical advice and some leadership in the resolution of specific problems. This would be applied across a range of roles in a variety of situations, with some complexity in the extent and choice of options.
- Certificate IV - This level of qualification would prepare you to cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of situations, most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance are involved when organising activities for you or others, as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine nature.
- Diploma - This level of qualification would prepare you to cover planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications. These applications would be across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination.
Q. What job can I do with these qualifications?
The Skills Alliance Careers Portal provides all kinds of information on jobs and careers in fitness, sport and recreation.
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