Training package development handbook guidelines

14. Specialisations in qualifications
14.1 Units of competency used in more than one qualification
Individual units of competency can be included in more than one AQF qualification—say at
Certificate III and at Certificate IV—to maximise flexibility. However, when packaging the same unit
of competency across two or more AQF qualification outcomes, developers must be sure that the
combination of skills and the workplace application reflect the requirement of the unit.
For example, a Certificate III and Certificate IV outcome may involve repairing a machine part. While
the worker with Certificate III may be repairing the same part, at Certificate IV the work may also
include diagnostics to determine the cause of the part failure. In that case, a new unit of competency
reflecting the higher order skills would probably be required.
There may be rare cases in the application of basic technical skills where there is no discernable
difference between the requirements at various AQF qualification outcomes. For example, basic
keyboarding may be part of a Certificate III qualification and an elective in a Diploma management
qualification. However, this is unusual—generally the complexity and responsibility at the higher
AQF outcomes need to be reflected and therefore use of the same unit of competency across
varying AQF qualifications is not appropriate.
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