The Impact of the BSB Update on Other Training Products and Transition Requirements

The big news of recent weeks has been the release of the new BSB Business Services Training Package. According to the National Register, there are 3296 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who are registered to deliver some sort of training component out of the BSB training package (search conducted 27/11/2020). That result doesn’t mean there are 3296 RTOs delivering full qualifications from BSB, but they may have a BSB unit of competency implicitly included on their scope as an imported elective, a stand-alone unit, an accredited course, etc.

Image by Alicja Colon

This means that 3296 RTOs are looking at whether they need to put a transition arrangement in place to move to new units, skill sets or qualifications. But does everyone need to transition within 18 months for all BSB units? The short answer is no, they don’t. So, let’s explore the long answer.

When there is an update to a training package and new units, skill sets and qualifications are released we look to the transition requirements under Clauses 1.26 and 1.27 of the Standards for RTOs 2015. I’m going to put an explanation around the transition requirements into BSB speak.

• ✔️ If you are delivering a full qualification from the BSB training package you need to transition within 18 months (extension granted on the usual 12 months). You will need to comply with the new packaging rules that are provided.

• ✔️ If you are delivering a skill set from the BSB training package you need to transition within 18 months, including complying with the new packaging rules that are provided.

• ✔️ If you are delivering a stand-alone unit from the BSB training package you need to transition within 18 months.

So far, pretty straightforward in following the transition requirements, however, here is where the confusion often sets in.

• ❌ If you are delivering a non-BSB qualification and it includes a now superseded BSB unit as either a core unit or a named elective in the packaging rules – you do not transition to the new unit(s). You must continue to deliver the named version of the unit until such time that the packaging rules are updated.

• ❌ If you are delivering a non-BSB skill set and it includes a now superseded BSB unit – you do not transition to the new unit(s). You must continue to deliver the named version of the unit until such time that the packaging rules are updated.

• ✔️ If you are delivering a non-BSB qualification and you have chosen to import a now superseded BSB unit as one of your “you can choose three units from any other training package” then you do transition to the new unit.

Essentially – if it is listed and named, you do the version that is listed and named. If it is your choice to pull it in, then you need to pull in the current version of the unit of competency (look for the green Current Status on TGA rather than the red Superseded status).

This information is included on ASQA’s website in explaining the BSB 7.0 transition.

Previous Case Example

This ruling became most prominent in discussions in 2014 with TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. A couple of units from the training package were updated to the streamlined model, including TAELLN401A Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills being updated to TAELLN411 Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills. People were wanting to do the new unit as part of their qualification as they could see what was coming, and why wouldn’t you want to get the latest version of a unit?

RTOs who were delivering the Cert IV could not, however, deliver the new unit and had to continue with the old unit. The Industry Skills Council at the time (IBSA) did respond to the demand to have the new TAELLN41 unit added to the packaging rules on TGA. Having a look at the versions of the qualification:

1. Version 1: 31 May 2010 – has TAELLN401A only

2. Version 2: 12 October 2011 – has TAELLN401A only

3. Version 3: 1 May 2014 – has TAELLN401A and TAELLN411

4. Version 4: 2 May 2014 – clarified that RTOs could deliver TAELLN401A OR TAELLN411

The reason why Version 4 indicates RTOs could deliver only one or the other, and Version 3 didn’t stick, is because these units are equivalent. Therefore, the risk of credit transfer from one to the other (and not really meeting the requirements of the qualification because the unit outcomes were duplicated).

Conclusion

Overall, when a unit is a listed core or elective, whether it is equivalent or not, it will be up to the relevant Industry Reference Committee to decide if the new version of a unit is suitable for the qualification or skill set it is packaged in. Until then, we continue to deliver what is listed as that is what was endorsed.