Yes, you can, provided you can prove you are competent in an industry-specific skill. This is known as Recognition of Current Competency (RCC).

• What is RCC?
• How difficult or easy is RCC?
• Who assesses RCC applications?
• What does RCC cost?
• What is the process?

What is RCC?

RCC (Recognition of Current Competency) is an assessment process for recognising the skills and knowledge you have already achieved and can demonstrate in the workplace.

RCC evaluates what people currently know or can do. It usually does not matter how, when or where you learned the knowledge and skills, as RCC is only concerned with whether you are currently competent or require further training.

How difficult or easy is RCC?

RCC is not always the easiest option. The process of gathering evidence for RCC is as robust and transparent as any other form of assessment. Sometimes collecting evidence is not as straightforward as it might seem – records get lost, details forgotten, people move on and it can be very time consuming. 

Evidence for RCC should be no more than five years old, but this is dependent on the particular skill and whether or not requirements in that area have changed over time.

On the other hand, if the previous experience is relatively recent and evidence is easily retrieved, the time spent compiling a portfolio may save many hours of assignment and other assessment activities. 

RCC may involve a combination of portfolio evidence plus direct observations or other supplementary tasks. The assessor must be confident that your skills are current.

Level six unit standards always require evidence of the knowledge and understanding of the theory that underpins practice. Evidence of this may include provided records of previous study, attendance at courses or workshops, or an interview with the assessor. You may be required to attend further training to up-skill in areas where evidence is lacking.

Who assesses RCC applications?

We have a pool of RCC specialist assessors who are trained in RCC methodology. Every RCC application is unique and subject to the availability of appropriately qualified assessors. Applications will not progress past Step 2 if there are no assessors available.

What does RCC cost?

The cost of RCC is the same as the cost of other work based assessment processes. There are no additional fees, but you must be signed up to an ITO training agreement before RCC can progress. 

What is the process?

Every RCC application is unique. Excellent planning, organisation and communication between you and your assessor is essential for a positive RCC experience. 

Below is information about the step-by-step process for RCC:

• Step 1 - Sign up to the ITO training agreement
• Step 2 - Meet and decide assessment options
• Step 3 – Map knowledge and experience to unit standards
• Step 4 – Review the RCC Evidence Plan and identify additional evidence
• Step 5 – Collect evidence
• Step 6 – Assess evidence
• Step 7 – Award credits

Step 1

Sign up to the ITO Training Agreement (trainee)

Sign up to a training agreement with the ITO by completing the Trainee Application Pack. The application pack includes a Recommended Assessment Plan that lists the unit standards that make up a national qualification.

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Step 2

Meet and decide assessment options (ITO)

You and an assessor meet to discuss assessment options, which could include RCC or the standard work-based assessment or a combination of both. The final decision will depend on your level of experience, the availability of evidence and whether an RCC assessor is available.

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Step 3

Map knowledge and experience to unit standards (trainee)

If there is a suitable assessor and the decision is made to progress with RCC, you will start the detailed mapping of previous knowledge, experience and supporting evidence onto the RCC Evidence Plan.

At this stage, you should be looking more closely at the unit standard to ensure  your evidence covers all the elements, performance criteria and range statements in each unit standard. 

Notes about evidence:

• Evidence is anything that proves you know something or can do something.
• The more direct the evidence, the better. Direct evidence is more reliable and therefore less is needed. Direct evidence is when something can be directly seen or heard (eg demonstrations, simulations or being observed carrying out a task in the workplace). For example, an observation of you interviewing a client is more reliable than an attestation from a third party.
• Indirect evidence can also be used, but more of it is needed to confirm competency. Indirect evidence can include attestations and testimonials, records of previous training and workshops, and samples of work. If using testimonials, the person should be attesting to your skills, not your character. Photos and videotapes can be used to supplement indirect evidence.
• The more recent the evidence is, the better, especially if you have not been working continuously in your present area of work. If in doubt, should contact the ITO.
• If there are gaps in the evidence, the assessor may need to observe you carrying out a task in the workplace. If the gap in evidence is knowledge-based, the assessor may interview you or recommend you enter into training.
• The best approach to matching evidence to experience is to think big. Think about major tasks or pieces of work that will demonstrate competency across multiple unit standards or parts of unit standards, rather than trying to match a piece of evidence to each unit standard. For example, you may have been involved in a project to develop policy. This may provide evidence for more than one unit standard (eg those requiring knowledge of legal structures, policy and report writing and perhaps integrating the Treaty of Waitangi into practice).

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Step 4

Review the RCC Evidence Plan and identify additional evidence (trainee and assessor)

• You and the assessor will meet to review the RCC Evidence Plan and, if needed, identify additional evidence that will be required. This could be in the form of further documentation, assessment in the workplace, attendance at courses or workshops, or through interviews with the assessor.
• The requirements will be documented onto the plan and timeframes agreed.
• If assessments are to be conducted, you and the assessor will arrange for these to take place.

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Step 5

Collect evidence (trainee)

• Gather all the evidence and compile it into a portfolio.
• This will include all written material, evidence of results of any training undertaken and the results of supplementary assessments and interviews, if applicable.
• Each piece of evidence should be labeled and cross-referenced to the unit standards it relates to.
• Send the portfolio to the assessor for marking.

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Step 6

Assess evidence (assessor)

• The assessor assesses all the evidence and decides if there is sufficient evidence to meet the requirements of the unit standards. ITO assessment guides will be used to guide the assessor’s decision.
• If required, the assessor notifies you of areas where there is insufficient evidence.
• The assessor completes the RCC Evidence Plan and notifies you of the outcome. The assessor sends the original of the completed RCC Evidence Plan to you and retains a copy.
• The assessor forwards results to the ITO on the Assessment Results Form.

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Step 7

Award credits (ITO)

• The ITO updates your records and lodges the results with NZQA.

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