Seasoned workers who do not have a qualification are now unlocking new possibilities through Kangan Institute's Skills Recognition process. Skills Recognition, or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), formally assesses an individual's existing skills and experience against a nationally-accredited qualification, reducing the number of training units they have to undertake and ultimately helping them gain the certificate or diploma in less time and less money. Jonathan Saad, who currently runs his own landscaping, garden maintenance and renovations business with six staff, is looking to Skills Recognition as a means of expanding his growing business. "I've had a lot of experience, about 25 years. I was working on a building site at a young age with my father so I learned a lot of the tricks of trade but I never had any proper qualification," he said. "I chose to do RPL to further my education and to also expand my business. I needed to have the proper certification in order to get tenders with councils or commercial properties." The business owner is completing a number of gap training units to achieve the Certificate III in Carpentry. He also finished his Certificate III in Landscape Construction RPL with Kangan Institute last year and is booked in to complete a traffic controller course as well as the Certificate III in Parks and Garden. Skills Recognition is also a popular option for people who have had some training but have not completed their course. Site supervisor Brett Johnson's journey in the building industry began with an apprenticeship which he did not have an opportunity to complete. He found full-time work, gained experience over the past ten years and is now looking to achieve a Certificate III in Building and Construction to further his studies and solidify his career prospects. "I've always wanted to complete my course to further my studies and go into the Certificate IV in Building and Construction. At the same time, Steve McGuire (Building and construction RPL coordinator) contacted me about the RPL program, which worked out perfectly as it gave me the opportunity to still work and complete what I need to complete," he said. "It's definitely a lot easier than coming back and slogging it out again when you're trying to manage work and sometimes family." Maintenance and carpentry worker Joe Hovenden agrees - he partially completed an apprenticeship five years ago and is now looking to finish the qualification through Skills Recognition. "The RPL process was pretty straight-forward - they (Kangan) contacted me, organised an interview and after that the training and enrolment. They structure it around your work so it's not going to cut into too much of my working hours, which is quite good," he shared. "I'd definitely recommend this RPL process to others - there are a lot of guys who are like me, working as carpenters but do not have the qualification. You can get away with it, but if you're looking at a future of expanding your business, it's definitely a good thing to have." Kangan Institute's Skills Recognition team works with individuals and businesses to assess skills, organise gap training (if necessary) and award qualifications. To find out more visit our Skills Recognition page or our Skills Recognition (carpentry) page. You may also like to check out our building and construction accredited courses and CIC short courses.