Provide formal training for apprenticeships and traineeships

Roles and responsibilities 

Training is a responsibility shared by the training provider, employer and apprentice or trainee.  

As a training provider you’re responsible for giving formal training and assessment to the apprentice or trainee.

To do this you need to be registered, use the right training package and work on a Training Plan with the employer, and apprentice or trainee. These responsibilities are outlined on this page. Also see For VET training Providers and Logins for RTOs.

For employers, the responsibilities are listed on Training apprentices or trainees at work 

They include: 

• giving the apprentice or trainee workplace training  
• giving the apprentice or trainee time to attend your formal training  
• providing you (the RTO) training records to help with your assessment 

Apprentice or trainee's responsibilities are listed on Skills NSW  They must attend your formal training and make satisfactory progress as they work towards their qualification.  

Training Services is the government service responsible for vocational education and training in NSW.  

Registration and standards 

Training providers must be registered to deliver formal training to apprentices or trainees.  

To become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), see Become an RTO | Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) 

RTOs are listed on the national register at training.gov.au  

All types of training providers can apply to be registered including: 

• providers focusing on a single industry or a range of industries  
• public organisations or private organisations  
• adult and community education providers  

RTOs must comply with relevant standards There are auditing and reporting requirements.  

Funding for training 

To get funding to train, you must be a Smart and Skilled training provider 

Training packages 

To deliver an apprenticeship or traineeship qualification you need a ‘training package’. 

Training packages: 

• include competency units, listing of qualifications, and assessment guidelines. 
• are created by national industry bodies such as skills councils and major employers.  
• are assessed by NSW Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB)s for their suitability for apprenticeships or traineeships in NSW. 

Find training package information in: NSW Vocational Training Orders and Commissioner Information Bulletins, and qualification documents  

Supplement these with nationally endorsed training package materials.  

Training plan proposal 

At the start of the apprenticeship or traineeship, the Apprentice Connect Australia Provider will need to submit a Training Plan proposal to Training Services.  

This proposal will be done in consultation with you (the RTO), the employer and apprentice or trainee. The proposal will be confirmed by you, and include:  

• the vocation, qualification title, qualification level
• mode of delivery, and other preliminary training information 
• an undertaking to develop the Training Plan within 12 weeks of approval of the Training Contract

Training Plan

As an RTO, you’re responsible for working with the employer and apprentice or trainee on a Training Plan. This includes drafting the plan, showing them how to use it, recording progress, and providing assessment. 

You (the RTO) will need to develop the Training Plan within 12 weeks of when Training Services approves the Training Contract between employer and apprentice/trainee. 

The Training Plan will clearly define everyone’s roles and responsibilities.

The plan must:  

• be developed using the Training Plan proforma  
• support competency-based progression and competency-based completion of apprenticeships and traineeships 
• be regularly updated to reflect changes to formal and workplace training  
• be updated a minimum of every six months. 

See our Training Plan page for more.  

Discussing progress and making changes

Regularly consult with the employer on the apprentice or trainee’s progress. Employers may contact you with concerns about the progress of the apprentice or trainee. Some may question the relevance of the formal training to the work. Be ready to discuss any concerns. 

If you need to change the training plan consult with the employer and apprentice or trainee.  

If you need to update the training of apprentices and trainees to the current qualification contact Training Services  

If there’s any matter that may affect the successful completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship RTOs must notify Training Services See RTO Notification Process 

Reporting training progress

RTOs need to report data to Training Services on the apprentice or trainee's training progress if they are funded under Smart and Skilled.

If a funded apprentice or trainee withdraws from the training, it also must be reported to Training Services.

Completing training

As an RTO you play a key role in completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship.  

You may be asked to provide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for the apprentice or trainee.  

For competency-based completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship:  

• The apprentice or trainee must complete formal training and assessment to achieve required competencies  
• The apprentice or trainee must show they’ve met industry standards through workplace training.  
• You as an RTO must confirm with the employer that the apprentice or trainee is competent in the workplace.
• You (as an RTO) must report the completion of formal training to Training Services and issue the qualification to the apprentice or trainee. 
• To do this, you lodge data using the 'completions' functionality available through the RTO portal. If qualifications are funded under Smart and Skilled, this obligation is met by submitting data through eReporting. 

Training Services will confirm it’s complete and issue a Certificate of Proficiency to the apprentice or trainee.  

Also see Complete an apprenticeship or traineeship information page, and Completing a training plan in Policies and Procedures.

Other documents you may need: Employer Endorsement Addendum