Published: July 2025
Have you always had a passion for teaching or training others?
If so, becoming a trainer and assessor in Australia could be the perfect career path for you. Imagine playing a vital role in helping students and young people gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed—whether in a traditional classroom, an online learning, or other dynamic learning environments.
This career offers flexibility and the opportunity to make a real difference. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential qualifications like the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, key requirements, and practical steps to successfully complete your training and support student learning—whether you’re starting out or an online student balancing study with other commitments.
Table of Contents
What are the Tasks of a Trainer and Assessor?
A trainer and assessor play a crucial role in delivering skills training and assessing the competency of students across a range of industries. They work in various learning environments, from face-to-face classrooms to online courses, providing essential learning support to help students develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed in their chosen fields.
If you want to learn more about the specific tasks and responsibilities of a trainer and assessor, check out our detailed blog on the role of an assessor.
Three Requirements in Australia
To work as a trainer and assessor in Australia, you must meet three essential requirements. These ensure you have the skill and knowledge to deliver high-quality training, assess student learning accurately, and operate effectively in various learning environments, including online courses and classroom settings.
- Vocational Competencies
You must possess technical skills and knowledge relevant to the industry or field in which you are delivering training and assessment. For example, if you teach accounting and bookkeeping, you should hold qualifications such as a FNS40222 Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping and be familiar with tasks like preparing a Business Activity Statement (BAS) or working with accounts receivable. Vocational competency means having a deep understanding of your subject matter and being able to demonstrate it in practical, real-world situations. - Current Industry Skills
Trainers and assessors must maintain up-to-date industry skills. This involves staying informed on the latest practices, technologies, and trends in your field—whether that’s new accounting software, updated tax agent requirements, or innovations in online learning delivery. You can achieve this through professional development, attending industry events, and hands-on experience. - Qualification in Training and Assessment
A formal qualification is mandatory. In Australia, this typically means holding the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or a higher-level qualification such as the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training.
It’s important to note that holding a teaching qualification for primary, secondary, or university lecturing is not the same as holding a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. The TAE is specifically required to teach and assess within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector in Australia. Even experienced teachers and lecturers must complete the TAE if they wish to deliver and assess nationally recognised training.
Once you've enrolled in Certificate IV, you’re qualified to perform both roles: trainer and assessor.
Is Trainer and Assessor the Right Role for You?
If you’re not quite sure whether becoming a trainer and assessor is the right career path, you don’t have to commit to the full qualification straight away. A great stepping stone is the TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set.
This skill set equips you with the essential skills to assess student learning and competency even while you’re still studying. It’s ideal if you want to:
- Explore whether training and assessment is the right fit for you
- Gain practical experience in assessment before moving into training delivery
- Add assessor skills to your current role and strengthen your industry expertise
Can You Start Training and Assessing While Studying the TAE?
Yes — if you’re still completing your qualification, you may be able to start training under supervision. Under the current Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) Standards, a person who is actively working towards a training and assessment credential can deliver training and contribute to assessment activities within the vocational industry. However, it’s important to note that they cannot make final assessment judgments until they are fully qualified.
To be considered actively working towards your TAE, you must:
- Be enrolled in and have commenced either the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or its successor) or the TAE50122 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (or its successor).
- Make satisfactory progress, with the expectation that your course will be completed within two years of commencement. RTOs will usually check in on your progress and provide support if you fall behind.
This arrangement is designed to help you gain valuable practical experience while you study, but it also ensures quality standards are maintained. Even while actively working towards your credential, you must still meet the other key requirements: holding relevant vocational competencies in your industry and keeping your industry skills current.
Get Certified with Applied Education
At Applied Education, we make it simple to take the next step in your career as a trainer and assessor. Our nationally recognised course, TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, is designed to give you job-ready skills and the knowledge you need to deliver quality training and assessment in real-world learning environments.
When you enrol, you’ll receive 12 months of course access, giving you plenty of time to successfully complete your qualification. With dedicated learning support, experienced support staff, and resources designed for online students, you’ll have everything you need to successfully complete your qualification.
