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Home > Career and education pathways > Qualification levels > Key features and outcomes

Key features and outcomes

Each qualification provides skills specific to that qualification. Select a level below for information on the outcome of study, or view by:

School sector
Vocational education and training sector

We have also built links with many universities to give you more options for further study. Find out how you can progress through and around higher education in a different way to the traditional school to TAFE or school to university route by visiting pathways to university.

School sector

Qualification level Distinguishing outcomes
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
  • generic and subject-specific knowledge and skills
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Vocational education and training sector

Qualification level Distinguishing outcomes
Certificate I
  • demonstrate knowledge by recall in a narrow range of areas
  • demonstrate basic practical skills, such as the use of relevant tools
  • perform a sequence of routine tasks, given clear directions
  • receive and pass on messages/information
Certificate II
  • demonstrate basic operational knowledge in a moderate range of areas
  • apply a defined range of skills
  • apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems
  • perform a range of tasks where choice between a limited range of options is required
  • assess and record information from varied sources
  • take limited responsibility for own outputs in work and learning
Certificate III
  • demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge
  • apply a range of well-developed skills
  • apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
  • perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement are required
  • interpret available information, using discretion and judgment
  • take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning
  • take limited responsibility for the output of others
Certificate IV
  • demonstrate understanding of a broad-range knowledge base, incorporating some theoretical concepts
  • apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems
  • identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas
  • identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources
  • take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specific quality standards
  • take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others
Diploma
  • demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas
  • analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements
  • transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations
  • evaluate information and use that information to forecast for planning or research purposes
  • take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters
  • take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes
Advanced Diploma
  • demonstrate understanding of specialised knowledge with depth in some areas
  • analyse, diagnose, design and execute judgments across a broad range of technical or management functions
  • generate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level
  • demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills
  • demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within broad parameters
  • demonstrate accountability for group outcomes within broad parameters
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This page was last updated at Wednesday, 17-Oct-2007 11:28:20 EST
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