RPL for Diploma of Laboratory Technology

Diploma of Laboratory Technology takes 18 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 MSL50122 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 18 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 MSL50122. 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 MSL50122 involves →

The 18 units you complete, chosen from these 69

You do not do all 69. Diploma of Laboratory Technology is 5 core units, which everyone does, plus 13 chosen from the 64 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: 29 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• MSL924005 — Process and interpret data
• MSL924006 — Use laboratory application software
• MSL934008 — Maintain instruments and equipment
• MSL934009 — Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes
• MSL935008 — Monitor the quality of test results and data

Electives — you choose from these

• FBPFST4004 — Perform microbiological procedures in the food industry
• FBPFST5005 — Examine the biochemical properties of food
• FBPFSY3003 — Monitor the implementation of food safety and quality programs
• FBPFSY5001 — Develop a HACCP-based food safety plan
• MSL904003 — Perform standard calibrations
• MSL905004 — Perform non-standard calibrations
• MSL905005 — Create or modify calibration procedures
• MSL915003 — Provide information to customers
• MSL915004 — Schedule laboratory work for a small team
• MSL916011 — Develop and maintain laboratory documentation
• MSL916012 — Manage and develop teams
• MSL916013 — Supervise laboratory operations in work or functional area
• MSL916014 — Maintain compliance in work or functional area
• MSL916015 — Manage complex projects
• MSL925005 — Analyse measurements and estimate uncertainties
• MSL925006 — Analyse data and report results
• MSL935005 — Authorise the issue of test results
• MSL935006 — Assist in the maintenance of reference materials
• MSL954006 — Relate anatomical and physiological features to laboratory samples
• MSL954007 — Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan
• MSL973021 — Conduct field-based acceptance tests for construction materials
• MSL973022 — Conduct laboratory-based acceptance tests for construction materials
• MSL973023 — Perform fire pouring techniques
• MSL973027 — Perform techniques that prevent cross-contamination
• MSL973028 — Perform microscopic examination
• MSL974016 — Perform physical and mechanical tests
• MSL974018 — Conduct geotechnical site investigations
• MSL974022 — Undertake environmental field-based monitoring
• MSL974026 — Perform tests to determine the properties of construction materials
• MSL974028 — Classify soils
• MSL974032 — Perform chemical tests and procedures
• MSL974033 — Perform food tests
• MSL974034 — Perform biological procedures
• MSL974036 — Process body fluid specimens using a point of care testing device
• MSL974037 — Triage and allocate tissue specimens
• MSL974038 — Use techniques to complete simple tissue specimen transfers
• MSL975032 — Provide input to production trials
• MSL975038 — Conduct sensory analysis
• MSL975041 — Perform fire assay techniques
• MSL975042 — Design and supervise complex environmental field surveys
• MSL975043 — Prepare animal and plant material for display
• MSL975044 — Perform complex tests to measure engineering properties of materials
• MSL975051 — Supervise geotechnical site investigations
• MSL975052 — Locate, record and collect forensic samples
• MSL975055 — Classify building sites
• MSL975056 — Perform advanced histological techniques
• MSL975057 — Perform histological tests
• MSL975058 — Perform immunohaematological tests
• MSL975059 — Supervise sampling, inspections and testing at construction sites
• MSL975060 — Perform tissue or cell culture techniques
• MSL975061 — Perform molecular biology tests and procedures
• MSL975062 — Perform microbiological tests
• MSL975063 — Perform haematological tests
• MSL975064 — Perform chemical pathology tests
• MSL975065 — Apply electrophoretic techniques
• MSL975066 — Apply routine chromatographic techniques
• MSL975067 — Perform complex tests to measure chemical properties of materials
• MSL975068 — Apply complex instrumental techniques
• MSL975069 — Apply routine spectrometric techniques
• MSL975070 — Apply routine electrometric techniques
• MSL975071 — Perform food analyses
• MSL975072 — Use surgical cut-up techniques for non-complex tissue specimens
• MSMENV472 — Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
• RIISTD401 — Monitor quarry laboratory operations and the quality of results

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.

When you are ready, see what MSL50122 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.