CRICOS Service

Why Do Australian Businesses Need to get RTO Consulting & Compliance?

If your intention is to provide education to students from abroad, it’s mandatory to have your institution registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). However, if your focus is solely on training local students, this registration isn’t a requisite.
There are two primary grounds why training providers should pursue CRICOS registration:

1. To offer Vocational Education and Training (VET) or higher education programs to students with international visas. CRICOS registration becomes obligatory for institutions aiming to lawfully admit and educate overseas students. Australia’s international education sector holds substantial potential for growth. Understandably, numerous training providers aspire to be part of this trend, particularly with anticipated growth following the pandemic.
Present statistics highlight Australia’s significance in the realm of overseas students:

• Australia ranks as the third most preferred country worldwide for international students in terms of satisfaction.
• The nation currently hosts nearly 700,000 international students.
• In 2018, the contribution of international students injected $31.9 billion into the Australian economy, directly enhancing employment opportunities, wages, and overall living standards in the country.

2. Providing English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Beyond vocational training, some institutions offer courses aimed at enhancing the English language proficiency of international students. To facilitate this, including an ELICOS course in your CRICOS registration application is essential.
Several reasons drive international students to enhance their English proficiency:

• It can enhance their employment prospects as job seekers.
• It can foster a sense of community connection and overall social well-being.

Financial viability risk assessment tool

The financial viability risk assessment tool is a well-laid-out report confirming the financial viability of the business offering training services. It is typically prepared by an accountant and shows the training provider’s financial history and projections.

Fit and proper person requirements declaration

ASQA and TEQSA use the Fit and Proper Person Requirements 2011 to determine a training provider’s compliance for CRICOS registration. The idea is to ensure that key training organisation personnel have the characteristics and principles to deliver high-quality services and outcomes for international VET graduates.

You can download the Fit and proper person requirements declaration (DOC) for ASQA and TEQSA.

CRICOS Requirements

CRICOS registration comes with a multitude of responsibilities. For instance, as a registered CRICOS provider, it is imperative to consistently adhere to the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework to prevent any instances of noncompliance. Additionally, compliance with the 11 standards outlined in the National Code 2018 is mandatory.

In addition to operating within the prescribed legislative framework, educational institutions registered under CRICOS must also:

1. Ensure a high-quality educational experience for international students throughout the entirety of the course.
2. Timely payment of the annual CRICOS registration fees to ASQA.
3. Fulfill the stipulated requirements of the Tuition Protection Service (TPS).
4. Provide comprehensive reports on student data, education agent details, course deferrals, and related matters.