Understanding the Compliance Requirements for 2025 Standards for RTOs

Case: Student Record Retention
An RTO recently completed training for a group of students and is planning to delete all student assessment records to free up storage.
Question: What is the minimum duration for which the RTO must retain these assessment records?

Case: Misleading Job Outcomes
A marketing officer created a brochure that states, “This course guarantees employment upon completion.”
Question: What compliance breach does this statement represent?

Case: Third Party Promotion
A third-party education agent advertises a course on behalf of an RTO but doesn’t mention their third-party role.
Question: What must the RTO ensure in this case?

Case: Student Identifier Not Verified
A student provides their USI during enrolment, but the RTO does not verify it.
Question: What is the compliance risk here?

Case: Certification Issuance Delay
A student completes all assessments and pays the full course fee, but the RTO delays issuing the certificate for 60 days.
Question: By when must AQF certification documentation be issued?

Case: Expired Course Still Enrolling
An RTO continues to accept new enrolments into a training product that was superseded 14 months ago.
Question: What is the maximum allowable enrolment period for superseded training products?

Case: NRT Logo Misuse
An RTO prints the Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) logo on its staff business cards and promotional pens.
Question: Is this permitted under the 2025 standards?

Case: Marketing Third-Party Service Delivery
An RTO delivers part of its course through a subcontractor but fails to mention this in its marketing material.
Question: What has the RTO failed to comply with?

Case: Prepaid Fees Protection
An RTO collects $2,500 upfront from each student without any protection mechanism.
Question: What must an RTO do when collecting prepaid fees over $1,500?

Case: Misleading Training Outcome
An RTO advertises that a course leads to licensure without confirming with the state industry regulator.
Question: When can an RTO claim a training product leads to a regulated outcome?

Case: Public Liability Cover Lapse
An RTO’s public liability insurance policy lapsed two months ago, but training continues.
Question: What is the compliance issue here?

Case: Statement of Attainment Design
An RTO issues a Statement of Attainment missing the NRT logo.
Question: What mandatory element is missing?

Case: Change in CEO Not Notified
An RTO appoints a new CEO but fails to notify the VET Regulator.
Question: By when must the RTO notify the VET Regulator of material changes?

Case: Third-Party Contract Lacking Clarity
An RTO signs a vague verbal agreement with a third-party training provider.
Question: What must a third-party agreement include?

Case: Annual Declaration Missed
An RTO fails to submit its annual compliance declaration.
Question: What is the consequence of missing this obligation?