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Recognised participation type time limits for ACCS (transition to work)
Table 1
Recognised participation type | Time Limit |
Looking for work | Life time limit of up to 26 weeks |
Paid Work (including unpaid work) | Life time limit of up to 26 weeks |
Vocational training | Life time limit of up to 52 weeks full time or up to 104 weeks part time |
Other non-vocational programs | Life time limit of up to 52 weeks |
Study | Secondary course Up to 104 weeks for full time study or up to 208 weeks for part time study Preparatory course Up to 104 weeks for full time study or up to 208 weeks for part time study Certificate II / Certificate III / Certificate IV / Diploma / Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree Up to 104 weeks for full time study or up to 208 weeks for part time study for each level of the AQF Bachelor Degree Up to 156 weeks for full time study or up to 312 weeks for part time study Bachelor Honours Degree / Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma Up to 104 weeks for full time study or up to 208 weeks for part time study |
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
Table 2
Category title | Description |
Australian Qualification Frame Work (AQF) | For ACCS (transition to work) an approved course between the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) levels 2 to 6 (for example Certificate II to Advance Diploma) does not need to be: - provided by a Vocational Education and Training Student Loan (VSL) Approved Provider
- provided by a Scholarship approved Institution, or
- regarded as a VSL Approved Course
For ACCS (transition to work), although an institution may not be approved for: - VSL and/or
- Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
An institution is regarded as approved if they: - are a registered Training Organisation (RTO) for AQF levels 2 to 6
- can be verified via the National Register of Vocational Education and Training (VET) on training.gov.au
For courses at the AQF Level 7 or above (Bachelor Degree or higher), verification of an approved institution can be substantiated on the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency's website under the National Register of Higher Education Providers. |
Undergraduate Certificate | The Undergraduate Certificate is a higher education qualification of 6 months duration that may be used to transfer into an existing qualification at AQF levels 5, 6 or 7. It qualifies individuals with knowledge and skills for further study, professional upskilling, employment and participation in lifelong learning. Undergraduate Certificate qualifications are not located at a particular level in the Australian Qualifications Framework, however, they cover AQF levels 5, 6 or 7. The Undergraduate Certificate may be used to continue into an existing qualification at AQF levels 5, 6 or 7 and are assessed based on the most beneficial outcome for the customer. |
Study levels of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for ACCS (transition to work)
Table 3
AQF Level of study | Qualification Type | May be eligible for ACCS (transition to work) |
N/A | Senior Secondary Certificate of Education | Yes |
N/A | University Enabling Course | Yes |
1 | Certificate I | No |
2 | Certificate II | Yes |
3 | Certificate III | Yes |
4 | Certificate IV | Yes |
5 | Diploma | Yes |
6 | Advanced Diploma | Yes |
6 | Associate Degree | Yes |
7 | Bachelor Degree | Yes |
8 | Bachelor Honours Degree | Yes |
8 | Graduate Certificate | Yes |
8 | Graduate Diploma | Yes |
9 | Masters Degree | No |
10 | Doctoral Degree (PhD) | No |
5, 6 or 7 | Undergraduate Certificate | Yes |
Study recognised participation type and time limit scenarios
Table 4
Item | Scenario |
Study Breaks | Peter is studying a two-year course with mid-year and end of year semester breaks. Peter will be taken to be participating in a study recognised participation type from the start of the course through until the end of the course, including the mid-year semester breaks and the first end of year semester break. |
Allowable time: Ten Year Rule | Grace has attained a Certificate IV that is less than ten years old. Grace can receive ACCS (transition to work) to study at the Diploma level or above. Liza has attained a Certificate III on 30 July 2008. As the ten year period concludes 30 July 2018, Liza meets ACCS (transition to work) study requirement rules for a Certificate II no earlier than 31 July 2018. |
Step Up Rule | Scenario 1 Bob is currently studying a Certificate II full time. So far, Bob has used 36 weeks of the available 104 weeks for full time study at the Certificate II level, and now has a balance of 68 weeks to use for further full time study at the Certificate II level. Once Bob has completed the Certificate II, or used the balance of 68 weeks, Bob will be unable to access ACCS (transition to work) to study at the Certificate II level (unless the skill shortage exemption applies). Scenario 2 Maggie has studied a Certificate IV that is less than ten years old. Maggie has never received JETCCFA or ACCS (transition to work). Maggie enrols in a Certificate III for a different subject. As Maggie has already studied at a higher level, and the Certificate III is a step down in study and is not on the Skill Shortage List - Australia, Maggie is not eligible for ACCS (transition to work). Scenario 3 Melanie has enrolled in a University enabling course, however has previously completed a Certificate IV, which is less than ten years old. As the Step Up Rule does not affect the preparatory course, Melanie is eligible for ACCS (transition to work). |
Exception to Step Up Rule - Skill Shortage Exemption | Jemma has attained a Certificate IV in the last ten years. Jemma enrols in a Certificate III which leads to studying towards an occupation which has a national shortage on the Occupational Shortage List. As Jemma's study leads towards an occupation with a national shortage on the Occupational Shortage List, Jemma will receive ACCS (transition to work) for up to 104 weeks for full-time study in the Certificate III. Jemma can only study a lower level towards an occupation with a shortage on the on the Occupational Shortage List once. Note: the Occupational Shortage List is used to determine if there is a skills shortage for the relevant occupation. Starting with the national level shortage, (then in descending order of level), a state/territory shortage where the customer resides and then, where appropriate, the regional level shortage. |
Exception to Step Up Rule - Six Week Rule | Ann's highest level of education in the last 10 years had been a Certificate II. Anna enrols in a diploma course but finds it too demanding and withdraws from the course after four weeks. Anna then enrols in a Certificate III. The step up rule is not applied because Anna withdrew from the diploma within six weeks. Anna will be able to receive ACCS (transition to work) for up to 104 weeks for full-time study in a Certificate III. If Anna enrols in a further diploma level course, the available balance will be reduced by the four weeks Anna has already accessed ACCS (transition to work) for that level of study. |
Studying at a higher or lower level | Jane starts studying a Certificate III full time. After 26 weeks, Jane stops studying a Certificate III and starts studying a Diploma full time. Once Jane has started studying at the Diploma level, Jane must continue to study at the Diploma level or above to continue to be eligible for ACCS (transition to work) (unless the six-week rule applies). |
Transferring courses at level | John starts a Bachelor of Education full time, which has a 156-week time limit. However, 4 weeks into the course John decides to transfer to a Bachelor of Primary School Teaching. As John has used 4 of the 156-week limit for this level of study, there is 152 weeks remaining for John's Bachelor of Primary School Teaching. |
Impact of JETCCFA on study time limit | Melanie studied but did not complete a Diploma course in 2010. To be eligible for ACCS (transition to work), Melanie is required to study at the Diploma level or above. As Melanie received JETCCFA assistance to study at the Diploma level for 26 weeks in 2010, the ACCS (transition to work) allowable time period to study at the Diploma level of 104 weeks will be reduced by the 26 weeks Melanie has already received JETCCFA assistance. This leaves Melanie with an available balance of 78 weeks of ACCS (transition to work) to study at the Diploma level. |
Satisfactory progress | Scenario 1 Although Jack has been attending classes, Jack fails the first semester subjects. Jack has not met the minimum pass requirements to continue the course. Jack would no longer be able to use this recognised participation type to quality for ACCS (transition to work). Jack's recognised participation type would need to be updated to see if Jack will remain eligible for ACCS (transition to work). Scenario 2 Although Jill has been attending classes, Jill fails the first semester subjects. Jill meets with the course provider and discusses options for semester two. Jill is advised that Jill will meet the requirements to continue to study in semester two, if Jill also participates in a study support program. Jill enrols in a study support program, and continues to participate in the course. At the end of semester two, Jill has passed three of the four subjects and can provide proof of progression in the form of: - an academic transcript showing results for the year, and
- notification from the course provider - this was provided to Jill at the end of semester one. It confirms the course provider's support for Jill's continued study which was dependent on enrolment in the study support program.
Jill continues to be eligible for ACCS (transition to work). |
Matrix of study courses and eligibility
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Matrix of study courses and eligibility for ACCS (transition to work)
Approved recognised participation type time limit scenarios
Table 5
Item | Description |
Job search | Scott applies for ACCS (transition to work) for a job search recognised participation type, and receives ACCS (transition to work) for four weeks until taking a summer job for 12 weeks. Scott then applies for ACCS (transition to work) for a job search recognised participation type for another six weeks. At that stage, Scott has used ten weeks of job search under ACCS (transition to work) and can access another 16 weeks in the future if needed. |
Training | Belinda does a six-week vocational training course; and will have used six weeks of the available 52 weeks for a vocational training recognised participation type. Belinda will have a balance of 46 weeks to use for further vocational training recognised participation types. Once the balance of 46 weeks has been used, Belinda will not be able to access any further ACCS (transition to work) for vocational training. |
Receiving another ACCS payment | Laura is granted ACCS (transition to work) for 26 weeks. After 12 weeks, Laura experiences a financial hardship event and is granted ACCS (temporary financial hardship) for a period of 13 weeks. Laura would receive ACCS (transition to work) for 12 weeks, ACCS (temporary financial hardship) for 13 weeks, and then Laura could reapply for ACCS (transition to work) for the remaining 14 weeks of the recognised participation type time limit, as long as Laura is still undertaking the recognised participation type. |
Most Beneficial Recognised Participation Type Principle | Georgie is working and studying a Certificate III, and has selected both recognised participation types in the ACCS (transition to work) application. As study has the highest time limit, Georgie's recognised participation type will be recorded as study and a 104-week time limit will apply. |
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