RPL for Certificate IV in Advanced Jewellery Manufacture

Certificate IV in Advanced Jewellery Manufacture is awarded on 132 points, not on a count of units — every unit you claim is worth a stated number of them. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, each unit is assessed on evidence of work you have already done rather than on training you sit through.

What the assessment looks at

Every unit sets out what you must be able to do and what you must know. An assessor works through them one at a time, asking the same question each time: does this person's evidence show they can do this reliably, in a real workplace, recently enough to count?

You can read the full requirements for MEM40322 on the national training register. They are public, and worth a look before you spend anything — if the units describe work you have never done, RPL is not your route.

Evidence worth gathering before you start

• Photos of completed jobs, ideally showing a few stages of the same job, with their original dates intact.
• Job sheets, dockets, work orders or site diaries covering a spread of jobs.
• Supervisors, employers or clients who will confirm specifically what you did.
• Any licences or tickets you already hold.

How the guided process works

You work through the units one at a time, talking about jobs you have actually done, until what you have claimed is worth 132 points. You can speak rather than type. Add photos as you find them, and stop whenever you like — progress saves itself, and most people spread this over weeks while they dig out records. At the end you have an evidence portfolio your RTO's assessor can work through.

What this does not do

It does not assess you, and it cannot promise you MEM40322. An assessor at a registered training organisation makes that decision and may require further evidence or training. What a complete portfolio buys you is a fair assessment rather than a rejection over paperwork.

See what MEM40322 involves →

The 132 points you need, and the 91 units you can earn them from

Certificate IV in Advanced Jewellery Manufacture is awarded on points, not on a count of units. The 12 core units are compulsory and are worth 33 points between them; the remaining 99 come from the 79 electives below, and they are not worth the same as each other — how many units you end up doing depends entirely on which you pick. Read both lists before you spend anything — it is the fastest way to tell whether RPL is your route. If most of this describes work you have done, you have a case to make. If whole sections describe work you have never touched, an assessor will say so, and doing the course is the honest answer.

Worth knowing: 88 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• MEM09002 — Interpret technical drawing
• MEM11011 — Undertake manual handling
• MEM12023 — Perform engineering measurements
• MEM12024 — Perform computations
• MEM13015 — Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering
• MEM14006 — Plan work activities
• MEM16006 — Organise and communicate information
• MEM16008 — Interact with computing technology
• MEM17003 — Assist in the provision of on-the-job training
• MEM18001 — Use hand tools
• MEM18002 — Use power tools/hand held operations
• MSMENV272 — Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Electives — you choose from these

• MEM03001 — Perform manual production assembly
• MEM03002 — Perform precision assembly
• MEM03006 — Set assembly stations
• MEM05006 — Perform brazing and/or silver soldering
• MEM06007 — Perform basic incidental heat/quenching, tempering and annealing
• MEM07001 — Perform operational maintenance of machines/equipment
• MEM07005 — Perform general machining
• MEM07024 — Operate and monitor machine and process
• MEM07032 — Use workshop machines for basic operations
• MEM07040 — Set multistage integrated processes
• MEM08001 — Perform wire, jig and barrel load/unload work
• MEM08002 — Pre-treat work for subsequent surface coating
• MEM08003 — Perform electroplating operations
• MEM08010 — Manually finish/polish materials
• MEM08011 — Prepare surfaces using solvents and/or mechanical means
• MEM09009 — Create 2-D drawings using computer-aided design system
• MEM09010 — Create 3-D models using computer-aided design system
• MEM11012 — Purchase materials
• MEM11016 — Order materials
• MEM12001 — Use comparison and basic measuring devices
• MEM12003 — Perform precision mechanical measurement
• MEM13001 — Perform emergency first aid
• MEM13003 — Work safely with industrial chemicals and materials
• MEM13004 — Work safely with molten metals/glass
• MEM13019 — Undertake work health and safety activities in the workplace
• MEM15003 — Use improvement processes in team activities
• MEM15004 — Perform inspection
• MEM16004 — Perform internal/external customer service
• MEM16005 — Operate as a team member to conduct manufacturing, engineering or related activities
• MEM16010 — Write reports
• MEM16011 — Communicate with individuals and small groups
• MEM16013 — Operate in a self-directed team
• MEM17001 — Assist in development and deliver training in the workplace
• MEM17002 — Conduct workplace assessment
• MEM18003 — Use tools for precision work
• MEM18055 — Dismantle, replace and assemble engineering components
• MEM19001 — Perform jewellery metal casting
• MEM19002 — Prepare jewellery illustrations
• MEM19003 — Handle gem materials
• MEM19004 — Handle and examine gemstone materials
• MEM19005 — Produce three-dimensional precision items
• MEM19007 — Perform gemstone setting
• MEM19008 — Prepare jewellery designs
• MEM19009 — Perform investment procedures for lost wax casting process
• MEM19010 — Produce rubber moulds for lost wax casting process
• MEM19011 — Perform wax injection of moulds for lost wax casting process
• MEM19012 — Produce jewellery wax model
• MEM19013 — Produce jewellery metal masters
• MEM19014 — Perform hand engraving
• MEM19015 — Perform jewellery enamelling
• MEM19016 — Construct jewellery components
• MEM19017 — Fabricate jewellery items
• MEM19018 — Repair jewellery items
• MEM19020 — Fault find and maintain micro-mechanisms
• MEM19021 — Diagnose and service micro-mechanisms
• MEM19022 — Perform precision micro-mechanism diagnosis and servicing
• MEM19033 — Create silversmithing objects
• MEM19044 — Repair and restore antique jewellery
• MEM19045 — Set gems in channel style settings
• MEM19046 — Apply grain setting techniques
• MEM19047 — Set gems in claw and bezel style settings
• MEM19048 — Develop and apply complex borders and decorations for hand engraving
• MEM19049 — Develop and apply heraldic designs for hand engraving
• MEM19050 — Hand carve engraving work
• MEM19051 — Construct multiple stone settings
• MEM19052 — Produce complex objects using silversmithing techniques
• MEM19053 — Create complex findings and mechanisms for jewellery items
• MEM19054 — Fabricate platinum jewellery items
• MEM19057 — Research the gemstone market and complete pre-cutting processes
• MEM19058 — Cut and polish solid gemstones
• MEM19059 — Complete pre-cutting processes for gemstone assemblies
• MEM19060 — Cut and polish a gemstone assembly
• MEM19061 — Carve and polish gemstones
• MEM19062 — Production cut and polish gemstones
• MEM19063 — Use a faceting machine
• MEM19064 — Cut gemstone spheres and beads
• MEM19065 — Obtain rough and polished gemstones
• MEM19066 — Identify the requirements for establishing a gemstone-cutting workshop
• MEM19067 — Apply advanced pre-cutting processes to complex gemstones

Each unit breaks down further into elements and performance criteria — the specific things you have to be able to show. The guide works through them one unit at a time and asks about jobs you have actually done, rather than making you read the register yourself.

Related qualifications

Same training package, and a common second choice for people who find this one is not quite their trade:

• Certificate III in Engineering - Electronic Trade (MEM30422, 96 points)
• Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (MEM30219, 96 points)
• Certificate III in Engineering - Production Systems (MEM30119, 96 points)
• Certificate III in Engineering - Technical (MEM30522, 10 units)
• Diploma of Engineering - Prototyping (MEM50622, 20 units)

More RPL in engineering and manufacturing

Every qualification in this industry, which of them have a guide ready, and what assessors here accept as evidence: RPL in engineering and manufacturing.

When you are ready, see what MEM40322 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.