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Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations

This qualification reflects the role of individuals working as entry-level operators in open cut coal or metalliferous mines or quarries, who perform a prescribed range of tasks involving known routines and procedures, and take some responsibility for the quality of work outcomes.  

Register your interest and we will email you if this qualification opens through a delivering RTO.

Important:RPL it Australia is a student support service. All assessment and qualification issuance is conducted by the delivering Registered Training Organisation. RPL it does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.

Qualification overview
RII20220
LevelAQF 2Certificate II
Units94 core, 5 elective
PackageRIIResources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package
AvailabilityNot yet available through RPL it. No delivering RTO, fee or timeline is confirmed yet. Registering interest is not an enrolment and does not guarantee future availability.
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Recognition of Prior Learning

What is an RPL qualification?

Recognition of Prior Learning assesses skills you already have against a nationally recognised qualification. Demonstrate competency, and you receive the same nationally recognised qualification, issued by a registered training organisation (RTO), as someone who completed the full course.

Who is eligible for RPL?

  • You have years of experience in your field
  • You learned the work on the job, through mentoring or on your own
  • You need the qualification for licensing, promotion or migration
  • You hold overseas qualifications you want recognised in Australia
An RPL it team member sorting an electrician's job photos and reference letter into his evidence folder at a ute tailgate on a building site

If This Qualification Opens Through an RTO

  1. Register interest

    Tell us you are interested in RII20220. There is no commitment or obligation.

  2. Availability confirmed

    We contact you when a suitable delivering RTO and current servicing details are confirmed.

  3. Evidence planning

    If you choose to proceed, we help you understand the workplace evidence an RTO may need to review.

  4. RTO assessment

    Formal assessment and any qualification outcome are handled only by the delivering Registered Training Organisation.

Career Outcomes

Explore Roles Associated with this Qualification

If your current or past work looks like one of these roles, this qualification may suit you.

  • 01

    Haul Truck Operator

    Operating heavy-duty vehicles to transport raw mined materials across open-cut sites.

  • 02

    Open Cut Coal Miner

    Performing entry-level tasks to assist in the excavation and transport of coal resources.

  • 03

    Quarry Equipment Operator

    Using mobile plant to extract earth materials such as sand, gravel, and crushed rock.

  • 04

    Water Cart Operator

    Distributing water across road surfaces and stockpiles to suppress dust on site.

Evidence Checklist

What Suitable Evidence Can Support Your Evidence Portfolio?

Your consultant can help you identify relevant workplace records. The delivering RTO decides whether the evidence is sufficient and current.

Work History & Roles
  • Comprehensive resume detailing your time in open-cut mining or quarries
  • Official position descriptions for roles such as Haul Truck or Plant Operator
  • Letters of employment or reference from site supervisors

Safety & Risk Control
  • Completed Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) or Take-Five safety records
  • Incident reports or hazard notifications you have submitted
  • Evidence of participating in site-specific WHS briefings and toolbox talks

Operational Documentation
  • Equipment pre-start checklists and daily inspection logs
  • Production records or shift logs for mobile plant operations
  • Evidence of conducting dust suppression or basic site maintenance

Communication & Reporting
  • Shift handover notes and radio communication logs
  • Completed site work processes and procedural documentation
  • Records of participating in sustainable work practice initiatives

Maintenance & Plant Access
  • Plant isolation records and lock-out/tag-out permits
  • Basic servicing records for mine plant and equipment
  • Site samples collection logs or weighbridge dockets

Certifications & Training
  • Verification of Competency (VOC) records for specific machinery
  • Current site inductions and basic first aid certificates
  • Relevant High Risk Work Licences or industry white cards

Qualfication comparison

RPL and Traditional Study

Two routes to the same qualification, assessed against the same RTO competency standards.

RPL PathwaySupported by RPL it, assessed by the RTO
Traditional StudyDelivered and assessed by the RTO
Starting point
Your existing, current workplace skills and evidence
A planned course of learning and assessment
How competency is shown
Workplace evidence mapped to the qualification requirements
Learning activities, assignments, practical work, and assessment
Assessment decision
Made by a qualified assessor from the delivering RTO
Made by a qualified assessor from the delivering RTO
If gaps are identified
Additional evidence or targeted gap training may be required
Learning and assessment continue through the course structure
Qualification outcome
Issued only when the RTO determines all requirements are met
Issued only when the RTO determines all requirements are met

RPL it Australia reviews

What our clients say

Selected Google reviews. Individual experiences vary. Every applicant is assessed against the same requirements, and some require gap training or additional evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Recognition of Prior Learning, your experience, and your next step.

Got more questions?
Can I apply for this qualification now?

Not yet. The Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management is not currently available through RPL it Australia, and no delivering RTO, fee or timeline is confirmed. Registering interest is not an enrolment and does not guarantee future availability.

What happens after I register my interest?

We keep your details and email you if this qualification opens through a delivering RTO. At that point we explain which RTO would assess you, the fee and the evidence it needs, and you decide whether to go ahead. Registering interest is free and there is no obligation.

Can I start preparing evidence now?

You can start keeping records of your work, such as position descriptions, references and examples of projects you have worked on. The evidence checklist on this page gives examples. The delivering RTO decides what evidence it needs and whether it is sufficient, so what you gather now may not cover everything.

Is there a qualification I can apply for now?

Possibly. The related qualifications on this page are open for applications. You can also start a free skills review and we will tell you whether any qualification that is open now suits your experience.