What is the RTO Annual Registration Charge?
The Annual Registration Charge (ARC) is an annual fee paid by all Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) regulated Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) providers. It covers the costs incurred by ASQA for sector-wide regulatory activities that ensure quality VET (Vocational Education and Training) provision.
Why is the ARC Necessary?
ASQA's regulation of the VET sector is crucial for maintaining high-quality standards in training and education. This regulation protects students, employers, and the Australian economy by ensuring that RTOs and ESOS providers meet the required standards. The ARC is essential to fund these regulatory activities and maintain an effective regulatory framework.
What Does the ARC Cover?
The ARC covers the costs of various sector-wide regulatory activities undertaken by ASQA, including:
- Advisory Council and regulatory governance
- Service delivery
- Regulatory education
- Regulatory intelligence
- Regulatory policy and design
- Regulatory risk and assurance
- Regulatory stakeholder engagement and communication
- Regulatory reporting
- Regulatory support
- Monitoring compliance with service standards
More details about the covered activities can be found in ASQA's Cost Recovery Implementation Statement 2022-23.
How is the ARC Calculated?
The ARC is calculated using two metrics:
- Number of Qualifications and Courses: This includes the total number of qualifications and accredited courses listed on the provider's scope on the National Register as of July 1st each year. Individual units of competency and skill sets are not counted.
- Number of Unique Students Enrolled: This refers to the total number of unique students enrolled in a qualification, course, or skill set within a calendar year, as reported by the provider through AVETMISS. Each student is counted only once, even if enrolled in multiple courses.
These metrics are divided into five tiers, and the ARC is calculated based on the combination of tiers for both metrics. The table below illustrates the ARC fee structure:
|
Tier Size |
0-99 Students |
100-249 Students |
250-499 Students |
500-999 Students |
1000+ Students |
|
0-4 Quals |
$1,500 |
$2,300 |
$3,400 |
$5,100 |
$7,700 |
|
5-10 Quals |
$4,400 |
$5,300 |
$6,300 |
$7,500 |
$9,000 |
|
11-25 Quals |
$7,900 |
$8,700 |
$9,700 |
$10,700 |
$11,900 |
|
26-50 Quals |
$11,300 |
$12,500 |
$13,800 |
$15,300 |
$16,900 |
|
51+ Quals |
$15,900 |
$17,600 |
$19,500 |
$21,600 |
$23,900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
For further clarification, you can refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section on the ASQA website.
Further Information
For detailed information about the ARC, including its calculation methodology and covered activities, please refer to Annual registration charge | Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
