AQF Skill Levels

Skills Performed at Each Level of the Australian Qualifications Framework

Certificate I
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate knowledge by recall in a narrow range of areas
  • Demonstrate basic practical skills, such as the use of relevant tools
  • Perform a sequence of routine tasks under clear direction
  • Receive and pass on messages or information

Certificate II
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate basic operational knowledge in a moderate range of areas
  • Apply a defined range of skills
  • Apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems
  • Perform a range of tasks where choice between a limited range of options is required
  • Assess and record information from varied sources
  • Take limited responsibility for their own outputs in work and learning

Certificate III
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge
  • Apply a range of well-developed skills
  • Apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
  • Perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required
  • Interpret available information using discretion and judgement
  • Take responsibility for their own outputs in work and learning
  • Take limited responsibility for the output of others

Certificate IV
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts
  • Apply solutions to a defined range of predictable problems
  • Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, in some cases in-depth
  • Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources
  • Take responsibility for their own outputs in relation to specified quality standards
  • Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

Diploma
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, in some cases in substantial depth
  • Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements
  • Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations
  • Evaluate information, using it in forecasting for planning or research purposes
  • Take responsibility for their own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters
  • Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes

Advanced Diploma
The worker will normally be engaged in a workplace in which they:

  • Demonstrate understanding of specialized knowledge with depth in some areas
  • Analyse, diagnose, design and execute judgements across a broad range of technical or management functions
  • Generate ides through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level
  • Demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialized technical, creative or conceptual skills
  • Demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within broad parameters
  • Demonstrate accountability for personal and group outcomes within broad parameters