RPL for Certificate III in Civil Foundations

Certificate III in Civil Foundations takes 26 units. 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 RII31220 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 26 units one at a time, talking about jobs you have actually done. 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 RII31220. 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 RII31220 involves →

The 26 units you complete, chosen from these 45

You do not do all 45. Certificate III in Civil Foundations is 15 core units, which everyone does, plus 11 chosen from the 30 electives below. 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: 2 carry licensing or regulatory notes, which differ by state and are worth checking before you start.

Core units — everyone does these

• RIIBEF201E — Plan and organise work
• RIICCM201E — Carry out measurements and calculations
• RIICCM202E — Identify, locate and protect underground services
• RIICCM203E — Read and interpret plans and job specifications
• RIICCM205F — Carry out manual excavation
• RIICCM207E — Spread and compact materials manually
• RIICCM208E — Carry out basic levelling
• RIICOM201E — Communicate in the workplace
• RIIRIS301E — Apply risk management processes
• RIISAM201E — Handle resources and infrastructure materials and safely dispose of nontoxic materials
• RIISAM203E — Use hand and power tools
• RIISAM204E — Operate small plant and equipment
• RIIWHS201E — Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures
• RIIWMG203E — Drain and dewater civil construction sites
• RIIWMG301E — Control construction site water tables

Electives — you choose from these

• AHCSAW201 — Conduct erosion and sediment control activities
• AHCSAW301 — Construct conservation earthworks
• BSBTWK301 — Use inclusive work practices
• CPCCLDG3001A — Licence to perform dogging
• CPCCLSF2001A — Licence to erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding basic level
• RIICCM210E — Install trench support
• RIICCM211E — Construct and dismantle fences and gates
• RIICFW301E — Construct underpinning
• RIICFW302E — Install temporary and permanent rock anchors
• RIICFW303E — Install primary ground supports
• RIICFW304E — Conduct pile driving operations
• RIICFW305E — Conduct cast in-situ pilings operations
• RIICFW306E — Direct pile driving operations
• RIICFW307E — Direct cast in-situ piling operations
• RIICFW308 — Conduct screw piling operations
• RIICRC306E — Conduct earthworks
• RIIHAN208E — Perform dogging
• RIIHAN211D — Conduct basic scaffolding operations
• RIIHAN301E — Operate elevating work platform
• RIIIMG301E — Maintain site records
• RIINHB202E — Set up and pack up drill sites
• RIIQUA201E — Maintain and monitor site quality standards
• RIIRIS201E — Conduct local risk control
• RIIRIS202E — Respond to site based spills
• RIISAM205E — Cut, weld and bend materials
• RIISAM213E — Position and set up mobile lighting
• RIIWHS202E — Enter and work in confined spaces
• RIIWHS205E — Control traffic with stop-slow bat
• RIIWHS302E — Implement traffic management plans
• TLILIC0005 — Licence to operate a boom-type elevating work platform (boom length 11 metres or more)

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 Drilling Operations (RII31820, 13 units)
• Certificate III in Trenchless Technology (RII31619, 26 units)
• Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations (RII32226, 14 units)
• Certificate IV in Surface Coal Mining (Open Cut Examiner) (RII40226, 14 units)
• Certificate IV in Surface Extraction Operations (RII40120, 13 units)
• Certificate IV in Underground Metalliferous Mining Operations (RII40320, 16 units)

More RPL in resources and infrastructure

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

When you are ready, see what RII31220 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.