RTO Registration & Setup Support
Looking for help to set up your RTO?
To become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in Australia, you apply to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) for initial registration. People often call this getting an RTO licence or RTO approval. ASQA assesses whether your organisation is ready to deliver nationally recognised training from the day it is registered, and the process is detailed and easy to underestimate.
RTO Consulting provides RTO registration and setup support, from deciding whether becoming an RTO is right for you through to your application and ASQA assessment. We were founded in 1999 by Angela McGregor, who has more than 20 years' experience as an RTO consultant and has set up and managed her own RTO.
How We Support Your RTO Registration And Setup
- A clear, streamlined process for setting up your RTO.
- An overview of the requirements of becoming an RTO and the ongoing RTO compliance issues you may face.
- An overview of what compliance with the VET Quality Framework requires.
- Advice on how to prepare and submit your application for RTO status.
- Guidance to prepare for your initial ASQA assessment, including interviews and any site visit.
- Everything you need to know about the VET sector and operating your RTO.
Find Out If Your Organisation Is Ready To Become An RTO
Tell us about your plans and we'll tell you what is involved in RTO registration, what it is likely to cost and whether the timing is right.
Book a Discovery CallAre You Ready To Become An RTO?
ASQA expects you to be ready to deliver from the date of registration. It advises against applying if you are not yet ready, as set out in its Guide to initial RTO registration.
You May Be Ready If…
- You are a legal entity, such as a company, incorporated association or sole trader, with an ABN and/or ACN
- You can show governance, qualified trainers and assessors, and suitable facilities and resources from the day you are registered
- You have training and assessment strategies for each product you plan to deliver in your first two years
- You can complete the Financial Viability Risk Assessment with an independent nominated accountant
You May Need More Preparation If…
- You don't yet have trainers and assessors, facilities or systems in place
- Your main motivation is commercial rather than delivering quality training
- You plan to rely on generic or templated documents that don't reflect your own organisation
- You haven't yet looked at the true cost and ongoing compliance obligations of running an RTO
How ASQA RTO Initial Registration Works
Applying for ASQA registration follows five stages, and we support you at each one.
-
Step 1
Prepare Your Application
What ASQA requires: You gather your legal entity evidence, Fit and Proper Person Declarations, the CEO Statutory Declaration, the Financial Viability Risk Assessment with supporting documents, and training and assessment strategies for each product in your first two years.
How we help: We give you an overview of the requirements and the VET Quality Framework, and help you prepare an application that reflects how your organisation will actually operate.
-
Step 2
Lodge Your Application
What ASQA requires: You submit the Initial RTO Registration Application Form and supporting documents through ASQA's asqanet portal. ASQA invoices a lodgement fee, and processing depends on that invoice being paid.
How we help: We advise you on how to prepare and submit your application for RTO status.
-
Step 3
Pre-Assessment Check
What ASQA requires: ASQA checks that your application is valid and complete. If information is missing you have 2 calendar days to provide it. Once ASQA confirms the application is complete, it invoices the assessment fee, which must be paid before assessment begins.
How we help: We help you review your application before it goes in, so gaps are fixed first.
-
Step 4
Assessment
What ASQA requires: An assessor reviews your evidence against the VET Quality Framework and interviews all applicants, in person or on MS Teams. ASQA may visit your site or ask to see your facilities and equipment, and you have 5 calendar days to respond to requests for additional evidence. A closing meeting presents the outcome.
How we help: We guide you to prepare for your initial ASQA assessment, including what to expect in the interviews and any site visit.
-
Step 5
Decision
What ASQA requires: ASQA issues its decision in writing with the assessment report. Approval may cover all, some or conditional training products. If an application is refused, ASQA gives reasons and you can request a review.
How we help: We help you understand the outcome and plan for the ongoing compliance obligations of operating as an RTO.
RTO Licence, RTO Approval And The Standards You Must Meet
“RTO licence” and “RTO approval” are everyday terms for RTO registration. Officially, ASQA registers organisations as RTOs, and registration allows you to deliver the nationally recognised training on your scope of registration. ASQA assesses your application against:
- Outcome Standards for Registered Training Organisations Instrument 2025
- Compliance Standards for NVR RTOs and Fit and Proper Person Requirements Instrument 2025
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
- Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements Instrument 2021
- Data Provision Requirements Instrument 2020
- Credential Policy
Read ASQA's own Guide to initial RTO registration, or talk to us about what it means for your organisation.
What Does RTO Registration Cost?
ASQA charges a $600 lodgement fee and an $8,000 assessment fee for initial registration. The assessment fee must be paid before assessment begins. Fees can change, so always check the current amounts on ASQA's fees and charges page.
ASQA's fees are only part of the budget. Total setup costs typically range from $15,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on your circumstances, and larger organisations or those with several training locations can pay significantly more. Your budget should also allow for an accountant, a consultant, technology, course development, staff and facilities.
Our consulting fee depends on how much support you need. Book a discovery call and we'll talk through your plans, the likely effort and the cost.
Why Use An RTO Consultant For Your ASQA Registration?
ASQA allows applicants to use consultants, but its Guide to initial RTO registration says the applicant remains responsible for the application, and that it is unlikely to approve generic or templated materials that don't reflect your own organisation. ASQA also publishes a Guide to Working with Consultants, and it can't recommend consultants, so it matters that you choose one with a proven record.
We help you save time, money and stress by building an application around how your organisation will really operate, and by preparing you for what ASQA will ask.
Ready to talk? Book a discovery call or phone 1800RTO101.
Are you ready to become an RTO?
Approximately two thirds of all RTO applications get rejected by ASQA.
Watch this video interview (13m 31s) with VET expert Angela McGregor to find out how to improve your chances of being approved first time round.
After watching the video, take our self-assessment to decide if you’re ready to go through the RTO registration process.
Considering starting an RTO?
Empower Your Educational Vision: A thoughtful book guide to initiating your RTO Journey. Navigate the essentials of starting a registered training organisation with insightful tips. You can either read the guide online or get the downloadable PDF version here.
Begin your educational endeavor with confidence.
Not sure if setting up an RTO is the right option for you or your business?
Don’t apply for RTO status without being well informed and prepared – that’s what we are here for.
Talk to us about your business and your goals and we will make sure you have the industry insights and information you need to make the right decision.
“I have to say, it has been the most stressful 18 months I have ever known trying to understand the registration process along with all the standards and conditions. I was lucky enough to be advised about Angela’s service and expertise in this area of compliance. After contacting her with a desperation she calmly spoke of others that are in the same position, so I did not feel so isolated and bewildered by the whole process.
I sent through the last audit report and she instantly identified the issues associated with the report and an action plan to implement.
Angela’s expertise and knowledge were extensive and I felt I could phone and ask any question relating to my RTO status without feeling intimidated or sometimes silly.”
- Carol Williams, Trendz Beauty and Training
RTO Registration FAQs
What is RTO registration?
RTO registration is ASQA's approval for an organisation to deliver and assess nationally recognised training and issue the certificates for the qualifications on its scope of registration. People also call it an RTO licence or RTO approval.
How do I become an RTO?
You prepare your legal entity, governance, trainers and assessors, facilities, finances and training and assessment strategies, then submit an initial registration application to ASQA through asqanet. ASQA checks the application, assesses your evidence against the VET Quality Framework, interviews the applicants, may visit your site, and then makes a decision. ASQA sets out each stage in its Guide to initial RTO registration.
Is an RTO licence the same as RTO registration?
Yes. “RTO licence” and “RTO approval” are everyday terms for RTO registration. Officially, ASQA registers organisations as RTOs.
How long does RTO registration take?
Allow about 3 to 6 months to prepare before you apply. From lodging your application to approval typically takes 6 to 12 months, depending on how quickly your supporting documents are prepared and on ASQA's processing times.
How much does it cost to register an RTO?
ASQA charges a $600 lodgement fee and an $8,000 assessment fee for initial registration, so check ASQA's fees and charges page for the current amounts. Total setup costs typically range from $15,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on your circumstances, because you also need to budget for items such as an accountant, a consultant, technology, course development, staff and facilities.
Which regulator registers my RTO?
ASQA is the national regulator for most RTOs. If your principal place of business is in Victoria or Western Australia and you only train domestic students in that state, you are regulated by the VRQA or the WA Training Accreditation Council instead.
Do I need to be a company to become an RTO?
You need to be a legal entity. According to ASQA's Guide to initial RTO registration, it accepts sole traders, Pty Ltd and Ltd companies, incorporated associations, partnerships, cooperatives and government entities, and requires a valid ABN and/or ACN.
Can I train international students?
Only if you are also registered under ESOS. According to ASQA's Guide to initial RTO registration, that generally requires at least two years of domestic VET delivery, unless you are exempt.
Do I need a consultant to register an RTO?
No, but many applicants use one. ASQA's Guide to initial RTO registration says consultants can help with the application and system development, but the applicant remains responsible for it, and ASQA is unlikely to approve generic or templated materials that don't reflect your organisation. ASQA also publishes a Guide to Working with Consultants. We help you build an application that is genuinely yours.
What happens if ASQA refuses my application?
ASQA gives its reasons in writing and you can request a review of the decision. Contact us and we'll talk through your options.
Save time, money and stress with RTO Consulting
Find out how we can support you with your RTO setup
