RPL for Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology takes 36 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 AUR30620 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 36 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 AUR30620. 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 AUR30620 involves →

The 36 units you complete, chosen from these 91

You do not do all 91. Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology is 20 core units, which everyone does, plus 16 chosen from the 71 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: 4 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• AURAEA002 — Follow environmental and sustainability best practice in an automotive workplace
• AURASA102 — Follow safe working practices in an automotive workplace
• AURETR112 — Test and repair basic electrical circuits
• AURETR123 — Diagnose and repair spark ignition engine management systems
• AURETR125 — Test, charge and replace batteries and jump-start vehicles
• AURETR129 — Diagnose and repair charging systems
• AURETR130 — Diagnose and repair starting systems
• AURETR131 — Diagnose and repair ignition systems
• AURLTB103 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle hydraulic braking systems
• AURLTD104 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle steering systems
• AURLTD105 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle suspension systems
• AURLTE102 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle engines
• AURLTZ101 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle emission control systems
• AURTTA104 — Carry out servicing operations
• AURTTA118 — Develop and carry out diagnostic test strategies
• AURTTB101 — Inspect and service braking systems
• AURTTC103 — Diagnose and repair cooling systems
• AURTTE104 — Inspect and service engines
• AURTTF101 — Inspect and service petrol fuel systems
• AURTTK102 — Use and maintain tools and equipment in an automotive workplace

Electives — you choose from these

• AURACA101 — Respond to customer needs and enquiries in an automotive workplace
• AURAFA103 — Communicate effectively in an automotive workplace
• AURETD101 — Diagnose and repair electronically controlled steering systems
• AURETH011 — Depower and reinitialise hybrid electric vehicles
• AURETH012 — Service and maintain electrical components in hybrid electric vehicles
• AURETH017 — Work safely with hydrogen in the automotive industry
• AURETH018 — Inspect and maintain hydrogen fuel cell system
• AURETH101 — Depower and reinitialise battery electric vehicles
• AURETH102 — Inspect and maintain battery electric vehicles
• AURETR010 — Repair wiring harnesses and looms
• AURETR011 — Install basic ancillary electrical systems and components
• AURETR052 — Apply knowledge of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
• AURETR054 — Diagnose and repair Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and components in vehicles
• AURETR120 — Diagnose and repair network electronic control systems
• AURETR122 — Diagnose and repair vehicle dynamic control systems
• AURETR124 — Diagnose and repair compression ignition engine management systems
• AURETR128 — Diagnose and repair instruments and warning systems
• AURETR132 — Diagnose and repair automotive electrical systems
• AURETR143 — Diagnose and repair electronic body management systems
• AURETR144 — Diagnose and repair integrated engine and transmission management systems
• AURETR236 — Diagnose and repair electronically controlled suspension systems
• AURETR249 — Scan and calibrate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
• AURETU103 — Service air conditioning and HVAC systems
• AURETU104 — Diagnose and repair air conditioning and HVAC components
• AURETU105 — Retrofit automotive air conditioning and HVAC systems
• AURLTD002 — Service and repair light vehicle lift assisted suspension systems
• AURLTD101 — Select and install performance enhanced suspension system products
• AURLTD106 — Carry out light vehicle wheel alignment operations
• AURLTE001 — Remove and install light vehicle engine assemblies
• AURLTF101 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle mechanical fuel injection systems
• AURLTF102 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle diesel fuel injection systems
• AURLTJ111 — Select light vehicle wheels and tyres
• AURLTJ202 — Remove, inspect, repair and refit light vehicle tyres
• AURLTJ213 — Remove, inspect and refit light vehicle wheel and tyre assemblies
• AURLTQ101 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle final drive assemblies
• AURLTQ102 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle drive shafts
• AURLTX101 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle manual transmissions
• AURLTX102 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle automatic transmissions
• AURLTX103 — Diagnose and repair light vehicle clutch systems
• AURTTA009 — Carry out mechanical pre-repair operations
• AURTTA017 — Carry out vehicle safety inspections
• AURTTA105 — Select and use bearings, seals, gaskets, sealants and adhesives
• AURTTB013 — Machine brake drums and brake disc rotors
• AURTTB015 — Assemble and fit braking system components
• AURTTC001 — Inspect and service cooling systems
• AURTTD002 — Inspect and service steering systems
• AURTTD004 — Inspect and service suspension systems
• AURTTF102 — Inspect and service diesel fuel injection systems
• AURTTF105 — Diagnose and repair engine forced-induction systems
• AURTTF106 — Diagnose and repair petrol carburettor systems
• AURTTJ111 — Balance wheels and tyres
• AURTTK001 — Use and maintain measuring equipment in an automotive workplace
• AURTTL003 — Install CNG fuel systems
• AURTTL007 — Inspect and service LPG fuel systems
• AURTTL009 — Install LPG fuel systems
• AURTTL104 — Inspect and service LNG fuel systems
• AURTTL105 — Diagnose and repair LNG fuel systems
• AURTTL108 — Diagnose and repair LPG fuel systems
• AURTTQ001 — Inspect and service final drive assemblies
• AURTTQ103 — Inspect and service drive shafts
• AURTTW001 — Carry out soft soldering techniques
• AURTTX102 — Inspect and service manual transmissions
• AURTTX103 — Inspect and service automatic transmissions
• AURTTZ102 — Diagnose and repair exhaust systems
• AURVTA104 — Inspect damaged vehicle systems and recommend repairs
• AURVTW002 — Carry out oxyacetylene brazing of components
• AURVTW018 — Carry out oxyacetylene welding, thermal heating and cutting
• AURVTW101 — Carry out manual metal arc welding on components
• AURVTW103 — Carry out advanced gas metal arc welding on vehicle body sections
• AURVTW104 — Carry out tungsten inert gas welding
• AURVTW109 — Carry out basic gas metal arc welding

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 Agricultural Mechanical Technology (AUR30420, 36 units)
• Certificate III in Automotive Administration (AUR30126, 18 units)
• Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology (AUR30320, 32 units)
• Certificate III in Bicycle Workshop Operations (AUR30220, 28 units)
• Certificate III in Marine Mechanical Technology (AUR30520, 30 units)
• Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment Technology (AUR30720, 38 units)

More RPL in automotive

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

When you are ready, see what AUR30620 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.