Overview
This page provides the minimum entry requirements to study at Charter Australia. Some courses have specific course requirements, which can be found at the bottom of the individual course page.
Note: If you do not meet the admission requirements for your particular course at Charter Australia, there may be other ways to secure a place. Please contact us to enquire.
Age Requirements
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or above for courses that require work placement.
- International students must be 18 years of age or above.
Work Placement Requirements
Many vocational courses that Charter Australia offers require a mandatory work placement component. Students are required to have:
- up-to-date immunizations including Covid-19 vaccination, and
- a valid police check.
Charter Australia organises students' work placements with suitable employers. Employers may have specific requirements for student work placements; therefore, the course entry requirements may be adjusted to ensure all enrolled students have the opportunity for work placement.
Computer Requirements
Students are required to use a computer to access study materials, do research, prepare assessments, make notes and communicate with trainers, support staff and/or other students. Students are also required to bring a laptop or tablet computer while attending classes.
Digital Skills Requirements
Applicants must have sufficient digital skills to participate in training. They should be able to independently operate common digital tools for routine tasks, for example: send and receive emails, fill in online forms, participate in video calls and use search engines.
English Language Requirements
1. Domestic Student
Domestic applicants are tested with Charter Australia’s Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test. Exemptions may apply.
This table outlines the minimum LLN levels required for each type of course. The LLN levels are measured using the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).
|
Type of Course |
Minimum ACSF Levels |
||||
|
Learning |
Reading |
Writing |
Oral |
Numeracy |
|
|
Certificate III Qualification |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Certificate IV Qualification |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
Diploma Qualification |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
Short Course (Statement of Attainment) |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
LLN Support
If you do not meet all the LLN requirements, you may still be able to enter the course, with support, as long as your scores are not more than one level below. However, LLN support can only be provided for face-to-face courses, not intensive or online courses.Exemptions for the LLN Test
Not all applicants need to take an LLN test. Some exemptions apply:
- The applicant completed Year 10 or equivalent in Australia or another English-language education system.
- The applicant completed a qualification in Australia at Certificate III level or higher.
- The applicant has completed an external English test in the past 2 years, with a result equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or above.
2. International Student (Student Visa)
International students apply through the Department of Home Affairs using external English tests. The test should be no more than 2 years old (or 3 years old, if taken before August 2025). Exemptions may apply.
This table outlines the external tests that the Australian Government accepts for student visa applications, and the minimum scores required. If a student’s scores are slightly under the minimum requirement, they might be able to undertake an ELICOS English course before their vocational course. This can be done at Charter Australia or another English college.
|
External English Tests for Student Visa Applicants This table shows the minimum test scores required for entry into vocational courses on a student visa. |
|||
|
English Test |
B2+ Level Meets English requirements for all vocational courses. |
B2 Level Can do vocational study after 10 weeks English study. |
B1+ Level Can do vocational study after 20 weeks English study. |
|
IELTS (General or Academic) |
6.0 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
|
PTE Academic |
47 |
39 |
31 |
|
TOEFL iBT |
67 |
51 |
37 |
|
C1 Advanced |
161 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
CELPIP General |
7 |
6 |
5 |
|
LanguageCert Academic |
61 |
54 |
46 |
|
MET |
53 |
49 |
44 |
|
OET |
1210 |
1090 |
1020 |
NOTE: The information in this table is applicable to tests done from 7 August 2025 onwards. If you completed your test before 7 August 2025, slightly different rules may apply. Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs or you can consult with your agent.
Exemptions for External English Tests
Some international students do not have to provide an English language test result. FOr example:
- You are a citizen and hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland.
- You have completed at least 5 years’ study in English in Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland.
- You are enrolled in a principal course of study that is a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
For the full list of exemptions, please refer the Department of Home Affairs website:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500#Eligibility
3. Study-Work Program (Working Holiday Visa and Other Visas)
The Study-Work Program is an intensive 4-month program that includes vocational study, a work placement, plus guided support to gain employment in Australia. Students can also package this with English language study (for example, our English for Healthcare and Nursing course).
Placement Test
Study-Work Program applicants will take Charter Australia’s placement test. This can be done online while outside of Australia. Because the Study-Work Program is quite intensive, and requires a work placement, we need to ensure that applicants have a sufficient level of English to be able to thrive in this program.
The minimum English language requirements are:
- B2 English (equivalent to IELTS 5.5): You can enter the Study-Work Program. English study is optional.
- B1+ English (equivalent to IELTS 4.5-5.0): You can enter the Study-Work Program with 13 weeks of English study, e.g. English for Healthcare and Nursing. The English study is done at the same time as the vocational course.
NOTE: Besides English language, other entry requirements may apply to the Study-Work Program, for example: previous qualifications in your home country, work history, digital skills and numeracy skills.
Exemptions for the Placement Test
Not all applicants need to take a placement test. Some exemptions apply:
- The applicant completed a qualification in Australia at Certificate III level or higher.
- The applicant has completed an external English test in the past 2 years. If the result was equivalent to B2 (IELTS 5.5) or higher, English study is optional. If the result was equivalent to B1+ (IELTS 4.5), then English study is required.
Visa Rules
When studying on a visa other than a student visa, please be aware of your visa rules. For example:
- Working holiday visa: Maximum of 4 months (17 weeks) of formal study.
- Tourist visa: Maximum of 3 months (13 weeks) of formal study.
4. ELICOS (English language) Students
An ELICOS student is someone who is studying English in Australia as their main focus. This requires 20 hours of face-to-face English language training per week. ELICOS students should take Charter Australia’s placement test to determine the English course that is most suitable for them.