Advanced Standing Guidelines & Application Procedures
What you need to know before applying
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
For students applying on a set precedent basis. (Applicable to Credit Transfer only)
For students applying on a non-set precedent basis. (Applicable to Credit Transfer only)
Certification of Supporting Documentation
Advanced Standing Appeals Process
What is Advanced Standing?
Advanced Standing refers to a type of student status: the status of a student who has been granted credit for the completion of previous study (Credit Transfer) or demonstrated knowledge acquired elsewhere (Recognition of Prior Learning).
All adult learning organisations have their own practices, procedures and guidelines for Advanced Standing so it is important that you read this section on the AIPM’s Advanced Standing system before submitting your application.
What you need to know before applying
- Students can only apply for Credit Transfer/RPL for up to 50% of the overall qualification for which students are undertaking. i.e.:
- For the Graduate Certificate (4 subject course): no more than 2 subjects
- For the Graduate Diploma (8 subject course): no more than 4 subjects
- Partial credit for a subject is not available (i.e.: students cannot gain credit for a particular assignment within a subject).
- Students are able to gain credit transfer on incomplete qualifications. As long as students have completed a subject, and this subject fits the criteria (see Applying for Credit Transfer- Criteria section), then credit may be awarded.
- Credit transfer/RPL can not be awarded based on subjects which have previously been completed through credit transfer/RPL.
- Students must be enrolled in an AIPM course to submit an application.
- The AIPM is unable to give an exact turnaround time for applications. However, turnaround time will be reduced if applications follow the AIPM Advanced Standing guidelines and application procedures.
AIPM Entry Points
The Graduate Diploma award, and the Graduate Certificate make up an articulated set of courses and credit is given in the higher level course for the subjects completed in the lower level course. The Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership is structured in two parts, part one being the nested Graduate Certificate in Applied Management (AIPM 601) and part two being the four AIPM701 subjects. Standard course completion entails students first completing AIPM 601, consisting of four subjects, as shown in the table below (Click for larger image):
A second entry point is available to selected students, providing students have previously satisfied the requirements of AIPM 601 or a recognised equivalent. Generally, Advanced Standing for students entering the course at entry point 2, will be assessed on an individual basis. Previous study which shows equivalence to AIPM601 will need to be demonstrated by students.
Pathways to Advanced Standing
The AIPM offers Advanced Standing through two pathways depending on the subject students are seeking Advanced Standing for. These pathways are Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer refers to the student’s previous study, and assesses its equivalence to the study which students are seeking to claim the award of credit for.
AIPM Subjects Available Through Credit Transfer
The subjects available through Credit Transfer are:
AIPM 601 S1: Foundations of Strategic Management (Graduate Certificate)
AIPM601 S4: Contemporary Issues in Public Safety and Emergency Services (Graduate Certificate)
AIPM701 S1: Contemporary Leadership (Graduate Diploma)
AIPM701 S2: Politics, Power and Policy Development (Graduate Diploma)
Advanced Standing Precedents Register
The AIPM Advanced Standing Precedents Register has been set up to enable newly enrolled students to access a catalog of subjects which have previously been recognised by the AIPM, and used for credit transfer into AIPM courses.
It is recommended that students view the online Precedents Register prior to submitting an application (www.aipm.gov.au [under Academic Programs > Advance Standing]) to determine whether you are applying on a set precedent, or a non-set precedent basis.
Applying for Credit Transfer - Criteria
To receive Credit Transfer for an AIPM subject, students must show evidence of previous tertiary study which fulfils the following criteria:
- RECENCY: Previous qualifications gained over 10 years ago are no longer valid, unless the student can show to the AIPM Advanced Standing Committee that the content and learning outcomes of the course are still relevant to the subject(s) which students are seeking credit for.
- RIGOUR: Previous study should be at the same level (or above) as the subject, student’s are seeking to gain credit for. In this instance, previous study is required to be at a post-graduate level.
- RELEVANCE: Previous study should be in a similar discipline as the subject for which students are seeking credit.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL refers to the individual’s previous learning, and assesses the relevance of non-formal and informal learning to the subject for which students are seeking to claim the award of under RPL.
AIPM Subjects Available Through RPL
There is one AIPM subject offered through RPL:
AIPM601 S4: Contemporary Issues in Public Safety and Emergency Services (Graduate Certificate)
Students applying for RPL are required to show a portfolio of evidence which indicates their competence against the learning outcomes of the relevant subject. (AIPM601 S4 – Contemporary Issues in Public Safety and Emergency Services)
The Learning Outcomes for this subject are as follows:
- Identify contemporary public safety and emergency service issues which impact on organisational objectives
- Recall and present research of contemporary public safety and emergency service organisational issues
- Analyse and critique multiple perspectives and arguments from contemporary organisational issues literature
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the variety of stakeholders and theoretical views within modern public safety and emergency service agencies with regard for policy development, operational effectiveness and service delivery
- Identify organisational strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities relevant to contemporary issues
- Demonstrate the complexity of multi agency relationships within the public safety and emergency services environment
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of citizen centric service (designing of services from user’s point of view rather than of the government department’s)
This portfolio may include examples of work place experience, professional development, knowledge, skills and training which show learning in the field of contemporary industry issues. Relevant material should include:
- Certificates/transcripts of completed professional development and training courses which show capability against the subject learning outcomes;
- A written statement making a claim for RPL based on the students relevant experience against the subject learning outcomes; and
- A resume which illustrates the students relevant experience against the subject learning outcome
This information MUST be submitted with the Advanced Standing application form.
Supporting Documentation
All Advanced Standing applications require some form of supporting documentation. Depending on the basis of the application however, students are required to provide varying degrees of documentation.This is set out below:
For students applying on a set precedent basis.(Applicable to Credit Transfer only)
Applying on a set precedent basis means that the subjects completed through previous study have already been recognized by the AIPM Advanced Standing Committee so these students will therefore be guaranteed Credit Transfer for the relevant subject they are seeking credit transfer for.
Supporting documentation need only, therefore consist of a certified true copy student transcript(s)/academic record(s) which show:
- The subject titles of the completed study
- The grades achieved for completed study
- The subject codes for the completed study
Students who are unable to produce a certified transcript must provide a statutory declaration to substantiate their claim.
For students applying on a non-set precedent basis. (Applicable to Credit Transfer only)
Applying on a non-set precedent basis means that the previous study completed by the student has not yet been recognized by the AIPM Advanced Standing Committee as a pathway for Credit Transfer.
This may be because this particular qualification has not previously been put forward in an application, or it may be that the area of study in question, has not been assessed as equivalent to AIPM subjects.
Supporting documentation in this instance needs to consist of a certified true copy student transcript(s)/academic record(s) AND documentation which provides a subject outline and learning outcomes of the previous study. The AIPM Advanced Standing Committee will determine the relevance of previous study.
Students who are unable to produce a certified transcript must provide a statutory declaration to substantiate their claim.
Students applying for RPL must attach supporting documentation in the form of a portfolio, as detailed in the above section: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Certification of Supporting Documentation
All certificates/transcripts submitted as part of an application MUST be certified as true copies.
Do not send in your originals. For auditing purposes, we must keep the documents you send to us.
What is a certified true copy?
A certified true copy is a photocopy of the original document that has been certified by an appropriate person as being ‘A True Copy of the Original’. Copies of certified copies are not acceptable. (i.e.: faxing or emailing the certified copy makes it void).
The certifying officer must:
- Write on the copy: ‘This is a true copy of the original’; and
- Sign the document; and
- Print the following details: name, address, contact telephone number, profession or occupation and date verified; and
- Affix the official stamp or seal of the verifier’s organisation on the copy, if the organisation has such a stamp.
People who may certify supporting documentation
In addition to police officers:
- A person who is currently licensed or registered under a law to practice in one of the following occupations:
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Legal practitioner
- Medical practitioner
- Nurse
- Optometrist
- Patent attorney
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist
- Trademarks attorney
- Veterinary surgeon
- A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner (however described); or
- A person who is in the following list:
- Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
- Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
- Bailiff
- Bank officer with 5 or more continuous years of service
- Building society officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
- Clerk of a court
- Commissioner for Affidavits
- Commissioner for Declarations
- Credit union officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:
- in a country or place outside Australia; and
- authorised under paragraph 3 (d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
- exercising his or her function in that place
- Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
- in a country or place outside Australia; and
- authorised under paragraph 3 (c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
- exercising his or her function in that place
- Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association
- Finance company officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Holder of a statutory office not specified in another item in this list
- Judge of a court
- Justice of the Peace
- Magistrate
- Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
- Master of a court
- Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
- Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
- Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
- Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:
- an officer; or
- a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 with 5 or more years of continuous service; or
- a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act
- Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants
- Member of:
- the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or
- the Parliament of a State; or
- a Territory legislature; or
- a local government authority of a State or Territory
- Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
- Notary public
- Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public
- Permanent employee of:
- the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
- a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or
- a local government authority;
- with 5 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this list
- Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made
- Police officer
- Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
- Senior Executive Service employee of:
- the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
- a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority
- Sheriff
- Sheriff’s officer
- Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution
Advanced Standing Committee
The AIPM Advanced Standing Committee is made up of the Director, Academic Programs, Team Leader,Faculty Support and Faculty Administration Manager.
For set precedent applications, and RPL awards, the Team Leader, Faculty Support has the authority to sign off all Advanced Standing awards. This must be witnessed by another member of the Committee.
For non-set precedent applications, the Director, Academic Programs, in consultation with the other committee members, evaluates, reviews and authorises any award given. After consideration, these non-set precedents populate the register of set precedents.
Advanced Standing Appeals Process
Students who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their application, are able to appeal the decision made by the Advanced Standing Committee.
In this instance, applications are forwarded to the Executive Director of the AIPM who will review the application and make the final decision.
Advanced Standing Inquiries
All inquiries regarding Advanced Standing should be directed to:
Faculty Administration
Ph: +612 9934 4744
Fax: +612 9934 4827
Email: faculty@aipm.gov.au
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