
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for educational qualifications in Australia.
It is administered nationally by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territories, through the Standing Council of Tertiary Education Skills and Employment.
While the AQF specifies the standards, education and training organisations are authorised by accrediting authorities to issue qualification.



The AQF was first introduced in 1995 to underpin the national system of qualifications in Australia encompassing higher education, vocational education and training and schools.
The AQF is the agreed policy of Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers.The AQF provides an integrated policy that comprises:
- the learning outcomes for each AQF level and qualification type
- the specifications for the application of the AQF in the accreditation and development of qualifications
- the policy requirements for issuing AQF qualifications
- the policy requirements for qualification linkages and student pathways
- AQF qualifications and qualification pathways
- the policy requirements for the addition or removal of qualification types in the AQF, and the definitions of the terminology used in the policy.
One of the key objectives of the Australian Qualifications Framework is to facilitate pathways to, and through, formal qualifications.
AQF levels
The Framework is structured around levels of descriptive criteria, with formal qualifications aligned to the appropriate levels.

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education sectors
The ‘Senior Secondary Certificate of Education’ (SSCE) General or Advance is the graduation certificate awarded to most students in Australian high schools, and is equivalent to the High school diploma of North America at General level and the Advanced Level (UK) A-Levels of the United Kingdom at Advance Level.
Students completing the SSCE are usually aged 16 to 18 and study full-time for two years (years 11 and 12 of schooling).
In some states adults may gain the certificate through a Technical and Further Education college or other provider.
The curriculum, assessment and name of the SSCE is different in each States and territories of Australia state and territory.
The government of each determines these themselves, although the curriculum must address mutually agreed national competencies.
Senior Secondary School Certificate | |
---|---|
Australian Capital Territory | ACTE Australian Capital Territory Year 12 Certificate |
New South Wales | HSC Higher School Certificate |
Northern Territory | NTCE Northern Territory Certificate of Education |
Queensland | QCE Queensland Certificate of Education |
South Australia | SACE South Australia Certificate of Education |
Tasmania | TCE Tasmanian Certificate of Education |
Victoria | VCE Victoria Certificate of Education |
Western Australia | WACE Western Australian Certificate Education |

Vocational Education and Training sectors
Certificate I (Non Ter)
Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning.
Certificate II (Non Ter)
Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning
Certificate III (6 months)
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.
Certificate IV (1 year)
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning.
Diploma (1 to 2 years)
Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.
Associate degree (1.5 to 2 years) / Advanced diploma (1.5 to 2 years)
Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.
Higher Education sectors
– Bachelor degree (3 to 4 years)
Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning
– Graduate Diploma (1 to 2 years) / Graduate Certificate (6 months to 1 year)
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning

– Bachelor honours degree (1 year) / Bachelor degree (3 to 4 years)
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning
– Masters degree (extended) (3 to 4 years) / Masters degree (coursework) (1 to 2 years) – Masters degree (research) (1 to 2 years)
Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.
– Doctoral degree / Doctoral degree (3 to 4 years)
Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.
Qualification issuing agencies
Whilst the AQF specifies the standards for qualifications, it is the education and training organisations that issue a qualification. Education and training organisations are authorised to issue qualifications by one of the following authorities.- State and territory government authorised statutory bodies responsible for issuing the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in their own state or territory.
– Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) authorised by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and the government accrediting authorities in Victoria and Western Australia, to issue AQF qualifications in vocational education and training.
– Non-self-accrediting higher education providers authorised by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to issue AQF qualifications in higher education.
– Self-accrediting universities and higher education providers authorised by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to issue AQF qualifications in higher education.
– The other users of the Specifications are industry and professional bodies, licensing and regulatory bodies, students, graduates and employers.