Applying for registration

You must apply for initial registration by using VETAB Online Services. The login page provides an Initial Application Guide to assist you with your application for initial registration as a training organisation as well as initial approval to provide courses to overseas students in NSW.

VETAB strongly recommends that you attend the RTO Workshops prior to lodging your application for registration. The workshops provide important information about the AQTF and the application process which will help you correctly prepare your application and avoid delays. Incomplete applications cannot be processed until all the correct information and evidence is provided.

Note: A self assessment tool for the AQTF Essential Standards for Registration is now available to assist applicants assess their compliance with the requirements of the AQTF. Download tool

Please check CRICOS aproval if you also wish to apply to be a registered provider on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Succeeding as an RTO requires considerable expertise and commitment. To provide more support for training organisations VETAB is:

  • Allowing new RTOs to a maximum of eight qualifications in their first year of operation.

If there are exceptional circumstances whereby you would like VETAB to consider initial registration of more than eight qualifications, please set out the reasons in a letter to the Director of VETAB and attach it to your support evidence to be forwarded to VETAB.

  • Providing a VETAB case manager to new RTOs during their first year of operation. Click here to view case management principles for new RTOs.
  • Ensuring the quality of application for qualifications from the TAA04 training package – these applications are being audited by a small specialist pool of auditors. Please submit a separate folder of support evidence for the TAA qualifications.

Please note that:

  • where significant non compliances are identified at desk or site audit, an application for initial registration will be refused.  For more information including examples of significant non compliances please see Initial Application Guide.

Note for Interstate RTOs: If you are an RTO currently registered in another state wishing to relocate the primary state of registration for your RTO to NSW you need to first write to Margaret Willis, the Director VETAB, seeking approval to do so. You need to state the reasons why you are seeking registration in NSW.

As you will need to apply for initial registration in NSW, please note normally only eight qualifications are allowed in the first year of registration. If you wish to have more than eight qualifications on your scope of registration, you need to write to the Director of VETAB seeking approval.

If the Director has agreed for your RTO to apply for registration in NSW, please follow the same steps outlined on the initial application process page for lodging an initial application. Note: in your application support evidence you need to provide a copy of your last audit report from the state you are registered in.

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