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Nationally Recognised RPL Pathway

Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations

RII30120

Your years of experience operating heavy machinery in open-cut mines or quarries can now be converted into a nationally recognised qualification. We help you map your on-site expertise against current industry standards to fast-track your career advancement. Start your journey today with a free skills review.

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About This Qualification

This qualification reflects the role of individuals such as production operators, working in open cut coal or metalliferous mines or quarries, who perform tasks involving a broad range of skilled applications in a varied work context, using some discretion and judgement in selecting equipment, services or contingency measures. 

Qualification Code

RII30120

Training Package

RII — Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package

AQF Level

Certificate III

Total Units

13 (3 core + 10 elective)

Entry Requirements

Nil

RPL It Status: Available

Important: RPL It Australia is a student support service. All assessment and qualification issuance is conducted by our partner Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). RPL It does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.

Career Outcomes

According to training.gov.au, this qualification supports the following roles:

RoleResponsibilities
Haul Truck Operator (Mining)Operating large-scale haulage vehicles to transport raw materials across complex mine sites.
ShotfirerManaging the assembly, positioning, and detonation of explosives for fragmenting rock and soil.
Excavator OperatorPerforming precision digging, moving, and loading of materials to meet specific site alignments.
Quarry Operations Leading HandProviding technical guidance and operational leadership to small teams within extractive environments.

Licensing

STATE SPECIFIC

⚠️ Important

Many roles within surface extraction, particularly shotfiring and heavy plant operation, require specific state-based licences or high-risk work permits. While this qualification is a significant step, the final licence is issued by the relevant state authority based on their specific assessment criteria.

NSWSafeWork NSW & NSW Resources Regulator
VICWorkSafe Victoria
QLDResources Safety & Health Queensland
WADepartment of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
SASafeWork SA
TASWorkSafe Tasmania
NTNT WorkSafe
ACTAccess Canberra

Delivering Registered Training Organisations

All assessment and qualification issuance for this qualification is carried out by one of the following partner RTOs, each of which holds RII30120 on their scope of registration with ASQA:

Which RTO will deliver my qualification? The delivering RTO will be confirmed during your skills review and prior to enrolment. Your qualification will be issued directly by the delivering RTO and is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Fees

Final pricing will be confirmed before enrolment.

You will receive a detailed, personalised quote — including the total fee, payment terms, interest-free payment plan options, and the name of the delivering RTO — before you are asked to enrol or make any payment.

Refund policy:If RPL It is unable to process your application, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid to RPL It. Once your portfolio has been submitted to the RTO for assessment, the RTO's refund policy applies. Details will be provided before enrolment.

Indicative Timeframes

✓ What we control

  • • Guiding you through evidence gathering
  • • Submitting a complete portfolio to the RTO
  • • Following up on your behalf

⏳ What we don't control

  • • The RTO's assessment workload
  • • The assessor's evaluation timeline
  • • The qualification issuance process

Based on our experience, the majority of RPL candidates receive their qualification within 4–6 weeks of their complete evidence portfolio being submitted to the RTO. Individual timeframes vary based on qualification complexity, evidence completeness, and RTO capacity.

Roles & Responsibilities

RPL It AustraliaDelivering RTO
RoleStudent support serviceRegistered Training Organisation
Initial skills review✅
Evidence gathering guidance✅
Formal assessment✅ Qualified assessors
Assessment judgement✅ Made by the RTO
Gap trainingAvailable if required (delivered by RTO)
Qualification issuance✅ Issued by the RTO
Complaints & appealsOwn complaints process✅ RTO process applies to assessments

RPL It Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 55 689 826 917) is not an RTO and does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.

Ready to get recognised?

Start with a free skills review to see if your experience aligns with this qualification.

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Receive a free preliminary review of your experience

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Nationally recognised qualification issued by our partner RTO

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Could RPL Be Right for You?

Experience can be evidence.

RPL is the process that helps you demonstrate it.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a formal assessment process that evaluates the skills, knowledge, and experience you've gained through your career to determine whether you meet the requirements of a nationally recognised qualification. It isn't a shortcut — it applies the same assessment standards as any other pathway.

RPL typically involves:

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A review of your work experience against the qualification requirements

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Compilation of an evidence portfolio demonstrating your competency

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Assessment by a qualified assessor from a Registered Training Organisation

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If gaps are identified, targeted training to build on your existing expertise

ℹ️ Important Pathway Advice

RPL isn't the right pathway for everyone. If you don't have substantial, relevant, and current industry experience, a traditional study pathway may serve you better.

Our approach:

“We'd rather guide you to the right pathway than enrol you in the wrong one.”

What Kind of Experience Counts?

If RPL becomes available for this qualification, the types of experience and evidence that would typically be relevant include:

🏗️

Work History & Roles

  • ✓Detailed resume or CV
  • ✓Current and past position descriptions
  • ✓Records of site-specific inductions
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Operational Records

  • ✓Daily pre-start plant checklists
  • ✓Production logs and haulage records
  • ✓Weighbridge dockets or load manifests
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Safety & Risk Management

  • ✓Samples of JSEA or SWMS you have completed
  • ✓Incident or hazard reports
  • ✓Minutes from toolbox talks or safety meetings
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Blasting & Technical Skills

  • ✓Shotfiring logs and blast patterns
  • ✓Explosives handling and storage records
  • ✓Equipment maintenance and service logs
🆔

Site Authorisations

  • ✓Verifications of Competency (VOCs)
  • ✓Site-specific plant operator tickets
  • ✓Existing blasting or shotfiring licences
❓

Not sure if you qualify?

Speak with our team for a free eligibility discussion.

Talk to us

This is general guidance based on training.gov.au. Specific requirements will be confirmed by the delivering RTO's assessor when RPL becomes available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this qualification and RPL.

How do I get started with RPL for this qualification?▾
Begin with our free skills review to identify your existing competencies. We then guide you through building an evidence portfolio, which is submitted to our partner RTO for formal assessment and certification.
Is an RPL qualification the same as one from full-time study?▾
Yes, a qualification obtained through RPL is identical to one earned through traditional classroom study. It is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and is fully accredited.
How long does the process typically take?▾
The RPL process is significantly faster than traditional study, typically taking 4 to 6 weeks to complete once your full portfolio of evidence has been submitted for assessment.
Does this qualification help with industry licensing?▾
Yes, this qualification is a key requirement for many production roles and can support your application for specific site tickets and machinery licences required by state regulators and mining employers.
What kind of evidence will I need to provide?▾
Evidence often includes work logs, site induction records, supervisor testimonials, safety reports, and existing equipment tickets or internal training records that demonstrate your proficiency in surface extraction.
Can I use experience from different mining environments?▾
Absolutely. Whether your experience is in open-cut coal, metalliferous mines, or quarrying operations, your diverse skills in plant operation and safety can be used to satisfy the qualification requirements.
Is an RPL qualification the same as one obtained through full-time study?▾
Yes. RPL is a legitimate form of assessment within the Australian VET system. The qualification issued is identical to one obtained through any other mode of delivery and is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Who assesses my evidence?▾
Your evidence is assessed by a qualified assessor employed or contracted by the delivering Registered Training Organisation (RTO) — not by RPL It. The assessor holds the credentials required under the 2025 Standards for RTOs and has current industry experience.
What if gaps are identified in my skills?▾
If the assessor identifies areas where your evidence does not fully demonstrate competency, the RTO can provide gap training. The RTO will discuss any associated requirements or costs with you if this becomes necessary. Gap training is targeted to the specific areas identified and is designed to help you meet the full requirements of the qualification.
What if I don’t have enough experience for RPL?▾
If the initial skills review indicates that RPL is not suitable for you at this time, we’ll let you know honestly and discuss alternative options. We would rather direct you to the right pathway than enrol you in a process that won’t lead to a successful outcome.
How long does the RPL process take?▾
Based on our experience, the majority of RPL candidates receive their qualification within 4–6 weeks of their complete evidence portfolio being submitted to the RTO. However, this is an average based on past outcomes — not a guarantee. Factors include qualification complexity, evidence completeness, whether gap training is required, and the RTO’s current assessment capacity.
Can I do this from outside Australia?▾
This depends on the specific qualification. Many qualifications are based on Australian codes, standards, and legislation, and some require access to an Australian workplace for assessment. If you are based outside Australia, please contact us to discuss whether RPL is feasible for your circumstances.

Related Qualifications

Other qualifications in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package.

Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction

RII60620

Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

RII60520

Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Drilling Management

RII60415

Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Extractive Industries Management

RII60220

Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Metalliferous Mining

RII60120

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