General Questions
Can I study individual units of competence?
No, you can only enrol in an entire course.
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Refunds
Refunds of fees are available and only to be initiated in line with NSPI policy and procedure.
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Refund Policy
Refund Policy NSPI will make a full refund of all fees paid should a course be discontinued. Should the learner desire to take an alternative course with NSPI, fees will be fully transferable to that course. In the event of a course for which the learner was enrolled being unavailable or no acceptable alternative course is available, fees are fully refundable. Should a learner cancel an enrolment with NSPI, the following conditions will apply regarding a refund of fees:
• The enrolment and skills assessment fees are non-refundable, accept under extenuating circumstances*
• No refunds or transfers will be given for cancellations or discontinuations after exclusion for unsatisfactory behaviour, except where extenuating circumstances prevail*
• All requests for cancellation or refunds must be made in writing and be accompanied with supporting documentation where necessary
• Normal processing time for a refund request is up to four weeks
• Confidentiality of learner information will be ensured
• Refunds will be paid within one (1) week of the claim being agreed *
Extenuating circumstances: Should a learner have to discontinue a course for legitimate reasons, such as sickness, exceptional family circumstances, a pro-rata refund may be given less a 10% administration fee.
NSPI recognises that there will be instances where people who have enrolled in training need to either cancel that enrolment or transfer to another training program. There may also be instances where employers of learners may elect to substitute another person in lieu of the original enrolment.
NSPI considers each instance of training cancellation, transfer or substitution on its merits; however NSPI has specific policy guidelines to cover these. Cancellations will be accepted only as per NSPI refund policy.
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What is RPL?
RPL is Recognition of Prior Learning, also known as skills assessment. In RPL, formal recognition of the skills you already posses is granted without you having to do formal training or study.
All knowledge and skills are recognised including previous study; work experience (paid and unpaid); and life experience like leisure pursuits or voluntary work.
In the Vocational Education and Training sector, when your knowledge and skills meet the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of the qualification for which you are seeking credit, skills assessment may result in a full qualification or a Statement of Attainment for partial completion.
NSPI uses RPL to assess each applicant's current knowledge and skills then determines if any Gap Training is required to meet the selected qualification's requirements.
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What is involved in the RPL process?
The process requires three simple steps:
- Submit an enrolment form. Each course has its own web page containing a link to its information sheet and its enrolment form.
- NSPI sends to you a Trainee Assessment Checklist. Complete the checklist and return it to NSPI with your portfolio of evidence for assessment. If required, your assessor can provide information on the type of evidence required.
- Once your portfolio of evidence is assessed, NSPI will notify you of your results and any further requirements like Gap Training and/or onsite assessment to demonstrate your skills.
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What is Gap Training?
Gap Training is offered to those individuals who may not have the evidence to prove their underpinning knowledge and skills in the units that make up their chosen course. Gap training involves reading the specially designed training materials and answering assessment questions, which are to be returned to NSPI for the assessor to mark.
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What is an on-the-job supervisor/mentor?
An on-the-job supervisor/mentor is a person who can provide support to the trainee. This person should ideally have skills and experience that reflect the qualification the trainee is being assessed in, or the equivalent qualification.
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Does NSPI issue licences to build swimming pools or spas?
No, NSPI is not a licensing authority. Attaining a Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Construction and Maintenance (or partial completion of) is just one step towards a licence. You need to ask your state's licensing authority what is required in your state to obtain a licence to build swimming pools and spas.
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How do I get a licence to build swimming pools and spas?
Contact your state's licensing authority and ask them the licensing requirements in your state.
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Do I need a licence to undertake commercial pool water maintenance?
You should check with your state health department and with the local authority under whose regulations you will be working. Some require formal qualifications; some are introducing licensing for water maintenance technicians. If you are in South East Queensland you can check out the ToolBox website under commercial swimming pools to find out more about council requirements.
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What will NSPI be looking for in my portfolio of evidence?
NSPI looks for evidence of tasks you do and how you do them. Your evidence must satisfy an assessor that it is authentic, valid, reliable, current and sufficient. Documentation that provides such evidence includes photographs of work, industry memberships, references, recorded information and workplace documentation, records of other relevant training courses you have attended and evidence from your employer of the tasks you have successfully completed.
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Why would I want to have my skills assessed?
You can gain a formal accreditation or a qualification that is nationally recognised. This may expand your career horizons and open new doors by assuring employers that you have the skills and knowledge they're looking for.
If you have experience working in the swimming pool and spa industry, even if you've never undertaken formal training, this assessment process can help you gain a recognised qualification.
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How quickly can I complete RPL?
How quickly you complete your RPL depends on your circumstances. If you have all the evidence you need at your finger tips you may only take a week or two. If you need to create evidence (such as photos of you undertaking certain jobs) or have to build up the evidence (say you haven’t been in the industry very long), it could take a few months or more.
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How long do I have to complete my training?
You have two years to complete your course before you have to re-enrol.
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Why do I have to do an on-site assessment?
On-site assessment validates your competency in the units being assessed. Because the courses run by NSPI are carried out via correspondence, an assessor may come on-site to watch you demonstrate some of the tasks and confirm your underpinning knowledge and skills.
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Accredited Specialist Questions
Will I have to renew my accreditation?
NSPI Accredited Specialists are required to renew their accreditation every four years.
You do not have to renew a Certificate III qualification.
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Who can apply for assessment?
Anyone who is currently employed in the swimming pool and spa industry can apply for assessment and/or training as an NSPI Accredited Specialist. You are required to demonstrate competency against industry standards. Otherwise, there is no set minimum level of experience or job position. However, you do require a mentor to assist you to become competent in any unit that you are not yet competent in.
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Certificate III Questions
Will I ever have to renew my accreditation?
You do not have to renew a Certificate III qualification.
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Who can apply for assessment?
You must be currently working in the industry and have access to an on-the-job supervisor/ mentor for each unit being assessed by NSPI. A supervisor/ mentor can assist you to develop the work skills and underpinning knowledge required to acheive competency in the units of this course. They will also be required to sign off on any practical assignments required.
NSPI courses require functional literacy and numeracy skills because they are delivered and assessed via correspondance .
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What are the advantages of doing the full Certificate III Training?
The main advantage is that in Queensland you can apply for all three swimming pool and spa licenses that require 30556QLD as their technical requirement. Here’s an example. Say your business currently specialises in the installation of fibreglass pools and the opportunity arises to quote on several domestic inground pools in a new estate. You can not do so if you only have a licence for installation. Or you’re wanting to expand from just concrete construction into also installing for a fibreglass spa company.
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What is the difference between Accredited Specialist in Commercial/Domestic Pool Water Service and 30663QLD Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Maintenance Technology?
The Accredited Specialist in Commercial/Domestic Pool Water Service is an industry-based course. It has been developed to meet the needs of those operators who service both domestic pools and commercial facilities. The Accredited Specialist is a ‘non-accredited’ course, which means that it is not recognised under The Australian Quality Training Framework. Units from this course can be used for RPL into 30663QLD Certificate III.
30663QLD Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Maintenance Technology is an accredited course under The Australian Qualifications Framework. It was designed for those who work primarily for commercially run pool and spa facilities. Because it is nationally recognised under AQTF units can be used for mutual recognition if the graduate decides to do more study.
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