Frequently Asked Questions
What about student selection, enrolment and orientation procedures?
What provision is there for language, literacy and numeracy assessment?
Can I get a replacement graduation diploma or Statement of Attainment if it is damaged?
Is Recognition of Prior Learning a good way to get a qualification?
What guarantee do I have that my qualification will be accepted?
Which qualification should I apply for? In principle, you are advised to apply for the next highest qualification after the one you hold in the relevant field. Your other skills and experience will also help determining the right program for you. If you have adequate training and experience, you could be recommended directly for graduate studies.
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What can I use my qualification for? It depends on the purpose.
ACAS qualifications are usually the normal employments qualification required in Australia in their field of study, although ACAS is not an employment agency and cannot guarantee you of future employment.
As government-accredited qualifications, ACAS qualifications will normally be acceptable for visa application purposes for Australian personnel moving abroad, depending on your profession and perhaps other qualifications. ACAS qualifications may be acceptable as professional qualifications depending on your organization or the registration requirements of the country in which you wish to use them.
What if I don't finish? You will automatically be issued with a Statement of Attainment for all satisfactorily completed units when you cease studies.
What about student selection, admission, orientation and enrolment procedures?
Selection: In general, ACAS is an open access institution, although some courses require satisfactory references for admission. In principle, admission is on the basis of meeting admission requirements, and is not competitive.
The application procedure is set out in a step-by step procedure. (Check it out)
Orientation procedures vary with the course and whether or not it is done on a campus. In any case, students should familiarize themselves with the policies provided on this website.
Enrolment means getting on the list for individual units, for which you should check with your branch.
What provision is there for language, literacy and numeracy assessment? Most ACAS courses require either fairly minimal literacy skills or postsecondary admission. The writing unit is available in order to bring advanced literacy skills up to postsecondary standard. Numeracy is not normally related to ACAS courses. Language units allow for language assessment in either English or languages other than English.
How much does the qualification cost? This will depend on the number of units you take, the local member college, and whether you take them by assessment only or by tuition. More
How long will it take to get my qualification? It will depend on the program you choose, how much advanced placement you get, how many units you must take, and how quickly you work.
Can I get into graduate studies? This will depend largely on the studies that you have already done, your credit-worthy experience, and to some extent, your general work experience. The rule is a Bachelor degree or its equivalent, and you may apply for equivalence. For example, if you have several years of professional experience, you should enquire.
What could I do after the Graduate Diploma? Contact ACAS staff as soon as possible if you wish to continue to a higher degree. It may affect your study options, because some options will normally be more appropriate than others.
Could I get more than one qualification? Yes, if you meet the admission requirements and the outcomes for each qualification.
Can I get a transcript? Yes. There are three kinds:
- The Statement of Attainment carries the accreditor's logo and is simply a statement that you have satisfactorily completed specific units.
- The Record of Achievement is an accreditor-mandated transcript that accompanies a qualification. It carries the accreditor's logo.
- Students may request a full transcript that carries all details of academic record, but does not carry the accreditor's logo.
Can I see my records? Enrolled students have access to the records in their own file.
What graduation date will be on my qualification? You are entitled to the qualification as soon as you have met all requirements. The date will be determined by the time from meeting requirements to the time office procedures are completed. If there is a delay, or if you urgently need a written statement to continue your studies, you may request a formal letter stating that you have complete all course requirements and that a qualification will be issued in due course .
Some ACAS member colleges hold formal graduation ceremonies, and will request that you wait until the graduation ceremony to receive your qualification.
Is the qualification verifiable? Yes.
Can I get a replacement graduation diploma or Statement of Attainment if it is damaged? Yes, but a fee will be payable. Your replacement document will be marked "duplicate".
Is this a good way to get a qualification? ACAS has lots of ways: classroom instruction, on-job training, and independent research.
Not every method is not ideal for everybody. For example, independent research best suits mature people who are fairly autonomous learners and need to do the research anyway, but need assistance, quality control, and a specific goal. Being on the field is the best place for doing field research.
Are there other accredited schools with similar programs? Many other schools now accept portfolios for credit. (In the vocational education sector in Australia, it is a condition of accreditation that schools will accept portfolios.) Some portfolio work may not be accepted for the entire qualification, some offerings may be limited, and some portfolio programs are prohibitively expensive.
What guarantee do I have that my qualification will be accepted? National regulations require other accredited training sector organizations anywhere in Australia to recognise accredited ACAS qualifications and statements of attainment.
Australian government universities also recognise some ACAS qualifications, but ACAS does not otherwise guarantee that its qualifications will be accepted by other institutions. More.
What if I need help? Advice, help and support is available. Direct personal contact with the appropriate staff member should be your first avenue:
- If in difficulty completing the application process, first contact a staff member. This may be the person in charge of admissions, your local director, or the Principal.
- If you get stuck pursuing your studies, contact your instructor or training supervisor. If this still does not meet your needs, contact your local director.
Students can graduate by mail, and ACAS will you mail the diploma. However, it is preferable to graduate in person. There is a risk that the diploma will be lost in the mail, in which case you would have to pay for a duplicate.
I have a question not answered here. Please carefully read the information first; your question is probably answered somewhere. If you do need to ask a question, please send an inquiry.