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Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations

This qualification is not yet available through RPL It. Register your interest to be notified when it becomes available.

RII30120

Your experience in open-cut mining or quarrying is the result of years spent navigating complex site environments and operating heavy machinery. We are currently establishing partnerships with Registered Training Organisations to provide a streamlined recognition pathway for this qualification. Register your interest to be notified when we can help you guide your surface extraction expertise into formal recognition.

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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: Not yet available — Registering interest

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

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Join our priority list to get notified the moment we open enrolments with our partner RTOs.

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Get notified when RPL is available for RII30120

Receive a preliminary review of your experience

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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:

📋

A review of your work experience against the qualification requirements

💼

Compilation of an evidence portfolio demonstrating your competency

👤

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.

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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.

Is this qualification currently available through your platform?
We are currently in the process of identifying and vetting Registered Training Organisation (RTO) partners who meet our standards for surface extraction recognition. At this stage, we are accepting registrations of interest rather than active enrolments.
Why should I register my interest now?
Registering your interest allows us to gauge demand and prioritise which RTO partnerships we finalise first. You will be the first to be notified when a compliant RPL pathway becomes available for your industry.
Is RPL for surface extraction the same as doing a course?
RPL is not a training course; it is a formal assessment of the skills you have already mastered on the job. It is held to the same national standard as any other pathway, ensuring your qualification carries the same value and respect.
What happens if I have experience in multiple types of plant?
Your experience across different machinery—such as dozers, graders, and excavators—can often be used to meet the elective requirements of the qualification. We will help you document this variety as part of your evidence portfolio.
Will my site-specific tickets count toward the qualification?
While site tickets are not qualifications themselves, they serve as excellent evidence of your practical competency. An assessor will review these alongside your other evidence to determine if you meet the national standard.

Register Your Interest

We're establishing partnerships to offer RII30120 through RPL. Tell us about your background — we'll let you know when it's available and whether RPL is likely to suit your experience.

Priority Notification

Be the first to know when enrolments open for RII30120.

Preliminary Review

Receive free guidance on whether RPL could suit your career background.

No Commitments

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Your Experience

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