Setting up and registering your own domestic RTO or CRICOS RTO

The key to successfully starting and maintaining an RTO is to ensure you understand the compliance regulations set up by ASQA National Standards and Vocational & education Training Research. 

To be successful in your initial registration of your RTO, you must have an understanding of the Australian Vet Sector. In addition to understanding the Vet Sector, you must also know the National stands and regulations in relation to becoming a new RTO. Click here for a guide on how to become a Registered training organisation from scratch. Here are the steps that you need to take before applying for registration of your own RTO.

1. Familiarise yourself with the regulatory body, Standards and VET quality framework.
   
   The regulator for the VET sector in Australia is the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). ASQA handles education providers whether you are offering online courses, CRICOS for international students or face-to-face learning. ASQA govern the majority of training providers. Alternatively for state-specific training in Victoria you may report to the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority (VRQA). In Western Australia you may choose to report to the Training Accreditation Council (TAC).
   
   The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 are in-depth legations that new RTO owners need to read and understand to ensure their training follows all the rules inside the document. The document helps those that are looking to start a new Registered Training Organisation by covering the following topics: 
   
   • Marketing and Recruitment
     
   • Student Enrolment
   • Support and Progression for students
   • Training and Assessment
   • Completion
     
   • Regulatory Compliance and Governance Practice 
     
   • Fit and Proper Person Requirements
     
   • Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements, 
     
   • Data Provision Requirements
     
   In addition to the above requirements and having a grasp of your requirements in relation to the Standards for RTOs 2015, you must also be familiar with the VET Quality Framework in order to be successful in your initial steps in registering an RTO. The same process applies if you are working towards registering your RTO for CRICOS. 
2. Decide what courses, units and qualifications you want to offer and who your target market with be. Producing a Training and Assessment Strategy for each course and target market is a critical initial stage. This strategy gives you a plan and a pathway to follow. The decisions you make with your course delivery options will be based on the research you do in preparing your strategy document.
3. Complete a Business Plan and Financial Forecast
   
   Conduct your own research on the courses you plan to offer, the demand, the suitable pathways, the costs and the target market. How will you reach that target market. Who will your competitors be? What will your RTO offer that is better or different to others in the same space? Who are the key team members who will operate the RTO, and including the trainer/assessors? Once you can answer all of these questions, you will be able to devise a business plan and financial forecast. If the numbers do not stack up, then the business may not be viable. Do you have financial backing for it?
   
   You will be required to complete a Financial Viability Risk Assessment as part of the application for registration as an RTO. This should not be difficult, and simply an extension to the research and detail in your business plan.
4. Research the training and assessment resources that are available on the market to deliver your courses. Look at samples to help you understand the difference between compliance quality resources and non-compliant ones.
5. Prepare the policies and procedures of the organisation that will govern and guide the business operations from pre-enrolment through to student graduation and reporting. Your policies and procedures need to be compliant with NVR 2020 and legislation obligations.
6. Prepare a basic marketing plan, as an extension to your business plan. Consider what a potential student will be able to access, to learn about the course. This may include designing marketing flyers, a website, or a social media campaign, for example.
7. Conduct an RTO self-audit. By this stage the self-audit will prompt you with all other requirements for the RTO, such as enrolment paperwork and evaluation forms. Work through each phase of the student journey and finalise the documentation that you need for it.
8. Finalise your governance documents and Apply to ASQA for a new RTO registration and pay the required fees.

ASQA will contact you and conduct an initial audit to confirm if you are ready to start operating your own RTO and/or CRICOS business. It is recommended that you engage a consultant to assist with this process. As a guide, the cost to complete all of these requirements for up to 3 courses, complete the online application and communicate directly with ASQA, the cost is $12,850 plus GST