During an apprenticeship, you’re not marked against other students or given a score out of a hundred. You’re assessed on whether you can carry out a specific task, called a competency, to the standard expected in the workplace.
How apprenticeship assessment works
Rather than an overall grade, you’re assessed on each competency separately. Not being marked competent means much the same thing as not passing something, since you weren’t able to complete the task to the standard required. Where it differs is in what happens next. You’re either marked competent, meaning you’ve demonstrated the skill properly, or not yet competent, often shortened to NYC, meaning you haven’t demonstrated it to that level yet.
Because each unit is assessed on its own, a reassessment isn’t something you have to ask permission for or hope you’re granted, it’s built into how the system works. An NYC result also doesn’t get averaged into an overall mark the way a failed test might drag down a final grade. It simply flags that one specific unit needs another attempt.
An NYC result usually comes down to one of a few things: a missed step, evidence that wasn’t detailed enough, or one part of the task that wasn’t fully covered. Workplace tasks often have several specific requirements attached to them, and all of those requirements generally need to be met, even if most of the task was done well. Trades and industries rely on a consistent level of quality before someone is signed off to work independently, both for the person doing the job and for the people affected by it, and this system exists to make sure that happens.
What happens after a not yet competent result
When you’re marked not yet competent, your Registered Training Organisation, or RTO, is required to give you feedback that explains why. This feedback should point to the specific part of the task or unit you didn’t demonstrate, so you know exactly what to focus on before trying again.
An NYC result only applies to that specific unit. Apprenticeships are broken into separate units, so if you’re marked competent in nine out of ten and not yet competent in one, only that one unit needs to be reassessed. Competency you’ve already demonstrated in other units stays in place.
Whether it shows up on your record
An NYC result is a normal step within the assessment process. Once you’re reassessed as competent, it generally doesn’t appear on your final qualification or statement of attainment. Your official record reflects the final outcome for each unit, regardless of how many attempts it took to get there.
Support before you try again
RTOs typically offer support before a reassessment rather than leaving you to work it out alone. Depending on your RTO and employer, this could include:
- Additional training or a refresher session on the specific skill
- One-on-one time with a trainer or assessor to go over what needs improving
- Extra practice opportunities in the workplace with your employer or supervisor
- Access to resources or materials to fill any knowledge gaps
Your employer is often involved in this too, since a lot of your practical skills are built and observed on the job.
What to do if you disagree with an NYC result
If you don’t agree with a not yet competent result, you’re entitled to raise it. RTOs are required to have a clear appeals process that lets you challenge an assessment decision, and they need to make that process easy to find and understand.
Usually this starts with speaking to your trainer or assessor directly, since that conversation often clarifies exactly what was expected and why the result was given. If that doesn’t resolve things, most RTOs have a formal appeal or review step, where someone other than the original assessor looks at the decision again. Your RTO should be able to tell you their specific timeframes and how to lodge an appeal, and this information is usually available on their website or in your enrolment documents. If a dispute with your RTO still can’t be resolved, ASQA is the national regulator for vocational education and training and can direct you to services that assist with provider disputes.
How long reassessment takes
There’s no fixed timeframe that applies to every RTO. As a general guide, some providers can arrange a reassessment within a couple of weeks if the gap is small, while others require a set assessment period or a certain amount of extra training first. These timelines vary significantly between providers and qualifications, so there’s no guarantee your experience will match this, and it’s best to ask your RTO directly what their process looks like.
If it happens more than once
A single not yet competent result on one unit is a normal part of working through an apprenticeship and doesn’t put your training contract at risk on its own. The system is built around the expectation that most people need more than one attempt to reach a professional standard.
Repeated not yet competent results on the same unit, without improvement between attempts, are treated differently. At that point, your RTO and employer will usually sit down with you to work out what’s getting in the way, whether that’s a different approach to training, more time, or an alternative way of demonstrating the skill. If the gaps continue without progress, it can eventually affect your training contract, since both your RTO and employer need to see you working toward what’s required over the course of your apprenticeship.
If you want to learn more about how apprenticeships work day to day, check out our apprenticeships and traineeships section.
