Frequently Asked Questions

In 2009 our founders stepped away from their senior roles in the public education system and began the College for Adult Learning. They wanted to change the way we deliver adult education. Knowing the struggles that adult learners faced, we started with practical, outcomes-focused training solutions then created a learning model that allowed students freedom and flexibility while providing a strong support foundation. We know everyone is different. Different learning styles, levels of education, behaviours, perceptions and prior knowledge. We focus on providing a unique student experience, building on a supportive online learning environment, 24/7 access to course content so you can go at your own pace, and unlimited opportunities to connect with experienced industry professionals for mentorship and support.

We’re committed to igniting real change by inspiring one student at a time and giving them the power to shape their own world.

At CAL you are not just a student number, you are a person. You can contact us when you need to and always receive the support you need. All of our support team and coaches have the real-world experience and skills to help you achieve your goals.

When you study with CAL you will be backed by our Real Outcomes Guarantee. This guarantee is part of our ongoing work to support you as you take the next step in your career. Our team, assessments and feedback are all focused on helping you in your career, not just passing your course. Find out more about our Real Outcomes Guarantee →

You will receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment (SOA) acknowledging the completion of any nationally recognised units of competency, and upon successful completion of the program, a qualification testamur and record or results.

Each of our programs offers different tutorials and outcomes, you will also receive:

• A Nationally Recognised Diploma or Certificate IV
• Pathways to higher learning opportunities
• Recognition of Prior Learning for the skills you have already demonstrated
• Intensive, personalised coaching from leading Australian learning consultants
• Free access to webinars, tip sheets, and articles to keep you up to date with the latest strategies
• Discounts on other CAL programs and products
• Exclusive access to our Careers Hub
• Access to exclusive student discounts on Grammarly Premium, Microsoft Office 365 and many more
• A complimentary one-on-one career coaching call with our Career Coach
• The support you need as you take the next step in your career with our Real Outcomes Guarantee

The College for Adult Learning is a Registered Training Organisation TOID 22228 and all of our Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications adhere to the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). They are Nationally Recognised and internationally respected qualifications, issued on behalf of the Australian Government.

Our courses are 100% online and self-paced, so you can study on your own terms. Make your way through the units with clear tutorials, supporting content downloads, as well as regular checkpoints to test and strengthen your learning along the way. You’ll complete a combination of quizzes, written activities, and practical assessment tasks to demonstrate your skills.

As part of the assessments, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct a short roleplay via phone call or Zoom meeting with your Learning Coach. This is an innovative method to engage with your learning by acting out crucial situations you would encounter in the workplace, in a safe environment with an industry expert. You’ll be able to hone your new skills in real-time with your Learning Coach and get valuable feedback so you can confidently demonstrate your learning in the workplace.

Our generous 24-month initial enrolment period means that the whole online program can be taken at your own time, pace and convenience. The program includes unlimited access to regular feedback and personal assistance from our trained coaches and support teams.

You will need regular access to a laptop or desktop computer with the following:

• An adequate and reliable internet connection,
• At least the equivalent of Microsoft Office or Office for Mac, with word-processing capabilities and spreadsheets,
• A PDF Reader installed,
• Full permissions to install and access third-party software as required.

You will also need regular access to a laptop, desktop computer or device with an adequate camera to undertake video calls for assessments as required.

Typically, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer with the latest version of Chrome. Please check to ensure your device/s align with the system requirements for our major services:

• Brightspace D2L – Our Learning Management System (LMS) platform
• Zoom – Our video call platform
• Respondus – Our quiz assessment platform
• Vimeo – Our video embedding platform

Our students are required to be 18 years or older at the time of registration and demonstrate the required level of competency in English language, literacy and numeracy skills. If English isn’t your first language, you may be asked to sit an LLN test to ensure you are suitable to undertake the course.

Some courses may have formal entry requirements, please see the course guide or speak to a Learning Consultant for more information.

This really depends on your other commitments, your prior work experience, and the access you have to documentation that can validate your experience.

The volume of learning is defined by ASQA as a dimension of the complexity of a qualification. As Diploma and Certificate IV qualifications are competency-based, the number of learning hours a student must undertake to satisfy requirements for their qualification will also depend on a learner’s pre-existing skills and knowledge. As an example, for learners studying a Diploma qualification with no work experience, skills or knowledge, the volume of learning outlined by ASQA is usually between 1200 – 1400 hours. You can find more on the volume of learning in ASQA’s Users’ Guide to the Standards for RTOs 2015.

Our courses are completely self-paced, meaning you can study around your lifestyle. No strict deadlines, no inflexible classes to work around, no pressure to work to someone else’s schedule.

Depending on the time you commit and your learning style, studying part-time could see you complete the course in approximately 12-20 months or under depending on your selected course. You’ll have the freedom to study when it suits you with our generous 24-month enrolment period.

We have no restrictive intake periods, so you can start as soon as we’ve processed your course registration and official enrolment form. This is typically done in as little as two business days. We also have options to start your payment plan while delaying your course commencement date until you’re ready to begin studying within three months.

Dedicated After-hours Coaching support

Our coaches work late on selected nights of every week so we are happy to book in after-hours calls without hesitation. We have students across all time zones, so our Learning Coaches are conscious of accounting for time differences.

At CAL we don’t believe you should be put at a disadvantage because you’re not currently working.  After all, your course is designed to help you work in the fields you’re passionate about. Talk to your coach about accessing our handy case studies that you can use for your assessment instead of using your workplace as a base.

Some of our courses have workplace requirements where students will be required to have access to their own eligible workplace, or an eligible host workplace, to successfully complete their qualifications. If you are not in an eligible workplace, you must source your own host workplace that meets the requirements for the course. For more information regarding workplace requirements, please speak to our friendly Learning Consultants.

We specialise in adult education and support you through every step of your course.

You will receive thorough feedback for every unit that you submit, with no restrictions on resubmission attempts. We will work with you across as many resubmissions as necessary to demonstrate competency:

• If you’re almost there – we’ll outline any elements that need to be addressed.
• If you need more support – we’ll recommend that you book a coaching call to discuss the feedback and clear up any misunderstandings or misinterpretations before you resubmit.

You will receive either a ‘competent’ or ‘pending’ result. ‘If the result is pending you are given thorough feedback and guidance as to what is missing or what needs extra work. Then you can review and resubmit to achieve the ‘competent’ result. We allow unlimited resubmission attempts without cost or time restrictions so you can take your time to get it right.

There are no exams for the course. All assessments involve practical and job-ready applications based on your workplace or the case studies we provide.

There are different assessment elements, including interactive simulation and role-play activities. These activities are conducted with a Learning Coach and may need to be completed with others (e.g. coworkers, friends or family) in real-time through Zoom or in a pre-recorded video. Video assessments allow us to assess your interpersonal skills needed for management roles. This is an innovative method to engage with your learning by acting out crucial situations you would encounter in the workplace, in a safe environment with an industry expert. You’ll be able to hone your new skills in real-time with your Learning Coach and get valuable feedback so you can confidently demonstrate your learning in the workplace.

Our courses are completely self-paced, so you don’t need to keep up with a class or work to strict deadlines.

As a CAL student, you’ll receive an individual learning plan that is tailored to your study needs, this helps create structure and set guidelines to help you stay on track to complete your studies. We cater to adult learners and understand that life can sometimes get in the way, so if you find yourself falling behind, you can speak to our Student Support who will be able to advise you of all your options, revisit your learning plan, and help you get your study back on track.

All support is provided by CAL, you can book coaching calls when you need them as well as send through support requests to be answered by our Learning Coaches and Student Success Advisors. You can even get quick answers from our Live Chat with Student Support.

In addition, you’ll have access to our industry expert coaches and dedicated support through every step of your course, we also want to get you ready to advance in your career or help break into your industry. Our extra mentor services include:

• Advanced Career Planning Advice
• Exclusive access to our Career Hub
• Dedicated Career Coach to help get your resume job-ready

If you are a highly experienced professional and believe that you currently hold an extensive level of knowledge, competence and ability in your field, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which could reduce the time it takes for you to get qualified. You can RPL particular units or a whole course. To be successful in your RPL application, you will need to provide comprehensive evidence of prior work experience, including workplace documents, strategies that you have created. If you would like more information on RPL, please speak to one of our Learning Consultants.

Our students are extremely satisfied with their experiences

In a 2019 survey of our Diploma graduates:

93% would recommend CAL courses to others

96% achieved their primary study goal

90% rated the coaching they received as excellent

You can read our student case studies here.

Yes, our payment system is completely secure to ensure your details are confidential and safe.

We offer a discounted upfront deposit option to help you save up to 13.1% on the cost of a full payment plan. Our plans are designed to be accessible for students with different needs and to work around payroll schedules. That allows us to offer monthly, fortnightly and weekly plans. Generally, the shorter the overall plan, the more you save.

All payment plans have completely transparent instalments, and we don’t add hidden fees or use unpredictable interest rates.

We suggest selecting the best balance between the overall price and your personal budget needs. You have the freedom to change this payment plan if your circumstances change.

The second payment of your plan will be scheduled based on the instalment type you have selected and your preferred payment day. This will display at the checkout for you.

When selecting payment plan instalment options you have the option to enter the preferred day you would like your second payment and all recurring payments to be debited from your nominated account.

You can change your payment plan duration or frequency at any time after enrolment by contacting Student Finance. We will work with you to find a plan that suits your budget.

The College for Adult Learning’s obligations as an RTO include taking proactive steps to protect your fees. These protections exist to ensure that you can enrol with confidence. The principal protection which is provided to you is a pre-paid fee limit; CAL will never require you to pay more than $1,500 in advance and will never allow your advanced payment balance to rise above $1,500.

This fee protection mechanism applies to all students of CAL and complies with the Standards for RTOs 2015.

Once you have processed your payment you will receive two emails. The first is a confirmation email of your registration,t and the second is an email with a link and instructions to complete your official enrolment form.

We take the time to meet and understand our students so we can be confident when we create their learning path. But, if you find that the course is just not right for you, you can withdraw in the first 30 days. If you require further information on our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee please contact our Student Enrolments team on 1300 907 870 during business hours.