Student Risk Guide: What to Check Before You Enrol
Essential verification steps to protect your investment and career outcomes.
1. Verify RTO Registration Status
Before enrolling with any training provider, check their current registration status on the official National Register (training.gov.au).
- Confirm the RTO number matches official documentation
- Check the scope of registration covers your specific qualification
- Verify there are no current sanctions or conditions
2. Review ASQA Compliance History
Search for the provider on the ASQA website to see if they have been subject to recent regulatory actions, sanctions, or investigations.
3. Understand Course Duration
Be wary of providers offering:
- Unusually short completion times (e.g., diplomas in under 6 weeks)
- "Fast-track" or "express" qualifications that bypass standard assessment requirements
- Promises of qualification completion without active participation
4. Assess Assessment Integrity
Ask prospective providers:
- How do you verify student identity during online assessments?
- What plagiarism detection and AI-checking tools do you use?
- Are assessments supervised or proctored?
- How do you ensure work submitted is the student's own?
5. Check Licensing Recognition
If your qualification is required for professional licensing:
- Confirm with the relevant state licensing authority that the RTO's qualification is recognized
- Ask for recent examples of graduates who successfully obtained licensing
- Verify the qualification code matches licensing requirements
6. Review Refund and Cancellation Policies
Before paying:
- Get refund policies in writing
- Understand what happens if the RTO loses registration mid-course
- Check if there are cooling-off periods
- Verify tuition protection arrangements (TPS or equivalent)
7. Read Current Student Reviews
Look for patterns in recent reviews:
- Search independent review platforms, not just the provider's website
- Pay attention to complaints about assessment quality or support
- Check social media and student forums for unfiltered feedback
8. Verify Marketing Claims
Be skeptical of providers who:
- Guarantee job placement without conditions
- Promise "government-funded" courses without eligibility checks
- Use high-pressure sales tactics or time-limited offers
- Make unrealistic claims about completion times or effort required
Red Flags to Watch For
Warning Signs
- Provider is not listed on training.gov.au
- Recent ASQA sanctions or investigations
- Diploma completion times under 6-8 weeks
- No verification of student identity or work authenticity
- Publicly available assessment answers
- Provider refuses to provide detailed course information
- Aggressive marketing or high-pressure enrollment tactics
What to Do If You're Already Enrolled
If you're currently studying with a provider facing regulatory action:
- Contact the provider immediately for clarification on your qualification status
- Check training.gov.au daily for updates to their registration status
- Document all communications with the provider
- Contact ASQA's student enquiry line if you cannot get clear answers
- Explore transfer options to alternative RTOs
- Seek legal advice if you've paid significant fees