How do you read a training code?

What the policy fixes

The rules come from the Training Package Products Policy, version 3.0, approved by Skills Ministers in November 2022 and effective from 1 January 2023. The policy asks to be attributed as the Training Package Products Policy.

The policy's clause 2.1.2 sets what a unit of competency's code must conform to: the three alpha characters of the training package identifier, then alpha and/or numeric characters within the length AVETMISS sets, which the policy caps at 12 characters in all. A cross-sector unit must end in X, and a unit that is not cross-sector must not use X as its final character. SIRXCEG003 was released on 31 March 2016, before this version of the policy took effect on 1 January 2023, so this page does not read its code against that rule.

Among a qualification code's parts, its clause 3.1.2 names a sequence identifier of two numeric characters, for the sequence of that qualification at that level in the package, and a version identifier of two numeric characters, for the year the qualification was approved for implementation.

Its clause 4.2.1 builds a skill set's code from the three alpha characters of the training package identifier, then the two letters SS, then a five-digit numeric sequence applied in order across the package's skill sets.

A qualification code, read

Take two from the register's own list: FNS51822, the current Diploma of Financial Services, and SIR30216, the current Certificate III in Retail.

Against the policy, each is the register's unique code for that qualification, complying with AVETMISS, and two of its parts are the sequence identifier and the version identifier: two numeric characters each.

A skill set code, read

SIRSS00025 is the register's current skill set Retail Customer Relationship.

Read against clause 4.2.1: SIR is the identifier of the Retail Services Training Package, SS marks the product as a skill set, and 00025 is the sequence number it was given.

The skill set bundles six units: SIRXCEG001 Engage the customer, SIRXCEG002 Assist with customer difficulties, SIRXCEG003 Build customer relationships and loyalty, SIRWSLS002 Analyse and achieve sales targets, SIRXIND001 Work effectively in a service environment, and SIRXSLS001 Sell to the retail customer.

The two units, read

FNSCUS504 is the register's code for the unit Manage premium customer relationships, whose record sits in the FNS Financial Services Training Package.

SIRXCEG003 is the code the register's list prints for Build customer relationships and loyalty, whose record sits in the Retail Services Training Package.

Read against clause 2.1.2, both codes open with the three alpha characters of their package's identifier, and each whole code runs to no more than 12 characters.

The register also records each unit's release and status: FNSCUS504 is release 1, released 25 March 2015, and SIRXCEG003 is release 1, released 31 March 2016, each current when the register was read on 12 October 2026.

What a code does not tell you

A code names a product; it is not by itself proof that a course is recognised. Recognition is checked on the National Register, which holds each organisation's registration status and the training it is registered to deliver, and against the product's own record.

A registered training organisation must not allow anyone to commence training in a product that has expired, been removed or been deleted from the register, so the register's record is also where a product's currency is checked.

This guide is short by design: a code is a short string, and the policy that builds one runs to a clause for each kind of product.