Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students

Priority VCE VET programs

The VET certificates included as part of the VCAA’s VCE VET programs are nationally recognised qualifications and approved by the VCAA as most suitable for school-aged students to develop the skills and knowledge needed for specific industries. They provide an opportunity for students to receive credit towards their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), including the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), or the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). Select VET certificates also offer scored assessment options in Units 3 and 4 of the VCE.

The VCE VET programs are organised into 14 industry areas, including 6 priority areas that reflect Victorian skills shortages, government priorities and industry growth areas. Schools are encouraged to work with VET providers and their VET cluster to offer students access to at least one VET certificate from each of the 6 priority industry areas:

• building and construction
• community services and early childhood education
• digital technologies
• health
• hospitality, events and tourism
• renewable energy and engineering.

The other 8 industry areas may also have high student or local community demand. For a list of VCE VET programs and certificates in the VCE VET industry areas refer to VCE VET subjects.

Students may also undertake other VET certificates, not included as part of the VCE VET programs or school-based apprenticeships or traineeships, which may provide credit towards their VCE through block credit recognition. For further information refer to Block credit recognition.

For further information about the VCE VET industry areas refer to VCE VET subjects.

VET credit arrangements

VCE VET credit rules

Students enrolled in the VCE (including the VCE Vocational Major) can gain credit for their senior secondary certificate by undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Credit will be available for full or partial completion of a nationally recognised qualification or state accredited curriculum.

The maximum amount of credit a student can achieve in any single VET certificate over the course of their senior secondary studies is 6 VCE units which is approximately 540 hours of successfully completed VET (units of competency).

Many certificates within the VCE VET program can be fully completed within 2 VCE units (approximately 180 nominal hours), 3 VCE units (270 nominal hours) or 4 VCE units (360 nominal hours). However, this may be subject to individual student circumstances.

There are some VCE VET qualifications that require more than 4 VCE units or 360 hours and some may require more hours to complete than credit rules currently allow. Please see the individual VCE VET program booklets for the specific time requirements for each program.

Some certificates within the VCE VET programs can be undertaken as scored options. When this option is accessed, students will receive a study score for this certificate which will directly contribute towards their ATAR as with any other VCE subject. For further information on the VCE VET units with scored assessment, refer to the VCAA’s VCE VET units with scored assessment in 2025. The VCAA’s website and the VCE and VPC Administrative Handbooks provide important information for VET delivered to school students. Information includes:

• credit toward the VCE and VPC, including VCE VET General units of credit for overflow hours: VET in the VCE, VCE VM or VPC
• credit for VET certificates not included in the VCE VET programs: Block credit recognition
• scored assessment options for VCE VET: VCE VET programs scored assessment
• minimum requirements of VET towards completion of the VCE Vocational Major: VCE Administrative Handbook – Eligibility for the award
• VET credit towards the VPC: VPC Administrative Handbook – Eligibility for the award

The Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre’s website also provides information about the contribution of VET to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank: ATAR and Scaling Guide.

VET and the Victorian Assessment Software System

The Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) is an online service. Data is recorded on a central database. All VCE and VET providers enter and use this data to enrol students and record results.

To attract VET targeted funding, schools must enter accurate details of all VET enrolments on VASS by the enrolment deadline. For all important administrative dates for students enrolled in the VCE and VPC refer to the VCAA’s Administrative dates and scored assessment schedule.

For further information on targeted VET funding, in relation to VASS, refer to VET Delivered to School Students funding.

The VCAA website provides further information on using VASS. This information includes:

• Using the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) – for details on how to access VASS using different web browsers
• VET Quick Guide for VASS Administrators (PDF) – for information on setting up a VET program, enrolling students into a VET program, entering student VET results and producing VET reports
• VCE Administrative Handbook – for details on how to code VET certificates in VASS

Contact the VCAA’s Student Records and Results Unit at student.records@education.vic.gov.au for assistance.

VET qualifications on VASS are coded as either:

• VE1 – the certificates are part of the VCE VET program. These are approved by the VCAA and provide credit towards the VCE in the form of VCE VET units.
• VE2 – the certificates are approved by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) for delivery as a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT). Both VE1 and VE2 coded course types provide credit towards the VCE in the form of VCE VET units.
• VE3 – these are all other VET certificates not covered by the VCE VET program, including Certificates IV and above that are approved by the VCAA as suitable for delivery to secondary school students. These courses offer block credit recognition towards the VCE.
• For further information , refer to the VCAA’s VCE Administrative Handbook – VET.

Full or partial completion of a VET qualification

Undertaking VET in senior secondary is another option in the array of study choices for students as part of their senior secondary studies. School students who successfully complete all the requirements of a nationally recognised VET qualification may earn the full VET qualification alongside credits towards their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), including the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), or the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) VCE, VCE VM or VPC by successfully completing the VET required units of competency.

Full VET qualification

A well-integrated senior secondary program that sets students up for success post school is an important factor in deciding how much VET a student should, or can, do.

Some full VET qualifications can be achieved whilst undertaking senior secondary studies as the hours required fit within time available over the school year.

However, some qualifications, and some students, may require the commitment of more hours than are available in total school time over the school year.

If a student wants to complete a full VET qualification, that may require more VET hours than the student can comfortably fit into their school time over the year, or more VET hours than the student can receive credit for in senior secondary studies, this decision must be supported by the student’s school.

Full qualifications may not always be in the student’s best interests, especially where full qualifications require more than normal study loads and are not well integrated with their other senior secondary studies.

Schools are best placed to decide how much VET is suitable for their students, based on student need and individual circumstances.

Partial qualifications

Some qualifications, and some students, may require the commitment of more hours than are available in total school time over the school year.

If a full qualification is not possible, is not in the student’s best interest or a student successfully completes some but not all the requirements of a nationally recognised VET qualification, they will achieve a partial VET qualification.

Partial completion of a VET qualification enables a student to develop a particular set of skills and knowledge while also participating in other studies that align with their interests or career goals. Where a student successfully completes a portion of a VET qualification, they will receive a statement of attainment for the units completed.

The individual units of competency from partially completed qualifications are nationally recognised by industry and further education providers and may be used to transfer credit or gain recognition of prior learning if a student chooses to continue their VET studies post school. This approach supports students to benefit from participation in qualifications while balancing the hours that are available in total school time over the school year.

While schools are best placed to decide how much VET is suitable for their students, based on student need and individual circumstances, if a student wants to complete a VET qualification that may require more VET hours than the student can comfortably fit into their school time over the year, or more VET hours than the student can receive credit for in senior secondary studies, this decision must be supported by the student’s school.

What should schools consider when choosing between a full or partial qualification?

Considerations for schools

In deciding whether a full VET qualification is suitable for an individual student, schools should consider:

• student study load – will the full qualification require more hours than the student has available in school hours over the year? Will the full qualification require more hours than the student can have credited towards their senior secondary studies? Will it affect their ability to manage other subjects? Schools may also wish to consider how much credit a student can gain towards their senior secondary studies from VET qualifications
• student motivation – why is the student undertaking VET? Are they focused on a specific career, exploring options, seeking engaging learning or a combination of these? The appropriateness of a full qualification may depend on these goals
• student pathways – will a full or partial qualification better support the student’s future study, eligibility for higher wages or adult apprenticeships? Jobs Skills and Pathways Managers in each region, VET Cluster coordinators, or the VET provider can provide further guidance
• school feasibility – can the full qualification be completed within the school timetable? Is there sufficient funding, staffing and capacity to offer the full qualification? What will the impacts be on the broader curriculum needs of students and can supervision requirements be accommodated?

Before entering a contractual agreement with a VET provider, schools must understand whether the VET qualification is intended as full or partial completion.

How long do full time VET qualifications take?

The time required to complete a full VET qualification varies depending on:

• the requirements of the qualification
• the provider and which elective units of competency they offer
• individual students and the time taken to achieve competency in their assessments.