How to Choose the Best RTO for Your Needs?
In order to grow professionally, you need to self-improve, which usually means that you should keep learning long after your formal education comes to an end. In Australia, a lot of people handle this issue by enlisting on an RTO that can provide them with a chance to improve their knowledge and develop new skills. Nonetheless, the very act of choosing the best RTO for your needs isn’t an easy thing. With that in mind and without further ado, here are the top seven tips you should adhere to in order to choose the best RTO for your needs.
1. TAFE and RTO are not the same things
The first thing you need to do is figure out a difference between TAFE and RTO and the difference is a simple one. While both are vocational training institutions, TAFE is usually government backed while RTO is privately owned. In other words, we’re talking about a difference between private and public sector. Also, due to the fact that RTOs are far more numerous, they’re more likely to have the exact course you need, as well as to provide you with the specialized education you need.
2. Can you afford it?
Another issue you need to discuss is one of budget. So, before you even start, you need to understand that not all RTOs are forthcoming with their costs. A lot of them have hidden fees that might make the end result much different from what you’ve expected. Now, to be fair, your education is definitely worth investing in. In fact, it’s even worth getting a loan over or finding an alternative last-minute cash boost. However, you need to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Figuring this one out might take some extra research but the effort is more than worth it.
3. Can you get learning resources?
Just having access to the course won’t be enough, what you also need are some reliable learning resources and finding them isn’t nearly as easy. Fortunately, nowadays there are platforms specializing in RTO learning resources, thus making this job a lot easier. Sure, you can also trade materials with people online, yet, having a reliable specialized platform is a much safer option. These resources can later be used in your career, as well, meaning that they have their useful life long past your education. Also, your options for browsing and accessing materials are a lot more pragmatic this way, as well.
4. Are its credentials satisfying
Bear in mind that there are some courses offering a passing rate of 100 percent. What this means is that there’s a you-pay-you-graduate system in place, yet, if you know this, others are aware of it, as well. This means that your potential employer won’t take your certificate seriously and, in that case, what has it all been about. So, the first thing you need to do is to check the reputation of the organization in question. Also, if you plan to relocate in the future, you might want to check if the degree that you’re getting is internationally or nationally recognized. If not, then you might just be wasting your time, money and resources.
5. What are others saying about it?
Lastly, you need to figure out the way to see how happy other people are with the service that they’ve previously received from the RTO in question. While you may not believe reviews and comments, chances are that there’s a community forum or a Facebook group where you can find a lot of real people who have, in the past, attended courses of the RTO that you’re currently considering. A brief conversation with some of these people might turn out to be more insightful than long independent research. Just keep in mind that other people’s experiences and that of your own don’t necessarily have to align.
In conclusion
In the end, it’s important that you understand that there’s no such thing as the ideal RTO. Sometimes, all you care about is the quality of education or the validity of the certificate, while, in other scenarios, you need to think about the cost-efficiency of the education that you’re getting. All in all, there’s no such thing as ideal, there’s only ideal in your particular situation.