Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is for those who want to use what they already know to get a recognised QQI award.

QQI stands for Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and they are the legal body who give out awards to learners.

RPL stands for Recognition of Prior Learning. Prior learning is all your learning that has taken place up until now in school, through courses, at work, in your community, your family and your social life.

Through Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of FET we can support you in getting recognition for this learning by helping match your skills and knowledge to a QQI award.

In applying for recognition and validation with us, you can work at your own pace in your own time and you do not have to attend a course. You may have to go into your local College of FET campus to meet with the people helping you apply for RPL. RPL is done by building an RPL Portfolio.

Your RPL portfolio is proof you’ve already met the industry and/or education standards. It involves gathering evidence over time, like letters, photos, or videos, showing your skills and experiences. All types of evidence can be considered, and you will be given help to come up with ideas and given advice on what to do to get this evidence.

You will have a dedicated RPL Mentor who will guide you through your RPL application by:

• Explaining all the steps and what you must do
• Giving you advice about what evidence to collect and how to do it
• Helping you identify any learning gaps and filling those gaps.

They are also the link between you and the RPL Assessor. This is the person who will grade your finished portfolio.

Developing an RPL portfolio means putting all your evidence of your past learning together into one place. This means that you will do some or all of the following:

• Go to workshops or short classes when your Mentor thinks this is needed
• Go to meetings with your Mentor when asked to
• Gather evidence of your skills and experiences
• Do some writing about your experiences and what you have learned from them (this is called Reflective Writing).

This varies from person to person depending on circumstances. Your mentor will give you timelines, but it will take a lot less time than doing the course and remember, you will be working at your own pace.

If you have a lot of experience from any area of your life, then you will probably be suitable as long as this experience is related to an award.

If you are not suitable for RPL your local College of FET campus will give you advice and guidance on what to do next including other ways to get a recognised award.

• FREEPHONE: 1800 70 70 77 to speak to a member of our Information, Recruitment and Guidance Support Service (IRGSS)
• Email coursechoices@lcetb.ie
• You can also drop in and meet a member of the IRGSS at one of our Information Hubs in Limerick and Clare:

LIMERICK

College of FET, O’Connell Avenue Campus, Limerick City, V94 W651

CLARE

College of FET, Ennis Campus, County Clare, V95 KT95

1. You will be given an RPL application form which you will fill in and return to us (we will help you with this).
2. We will check your application to make sure you are suitable for RPL.
3. If you are, your RPL Mentor will contact you to meet and to guide you through the steps including setting up meetings and workshops.
4. Don’t worry if this all takes some time. We will contact you whether you are suitable or not.

Remember, you can opt out any time before registration or during the process. Just speak to your RPL Mentor if you need any extra support. They are there to help.