Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — Policy

Company: Tyrogen Limited (16884876)
Owner: Head of Assessment & Standards (HoA&S)
Approved by: Governing Body (or delegated authority per Delegation of Authority)
Status: Draft (controlled policy)
Version: 0.2
Last updated: 2026-04-05
Next review: 2026-04-30

1) Purpose

This policy defines how Tyrogen considers and decides applications for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Tyrogen’s arrangements ensure that any use of RPL:

• is controlled, evidence-based, and qualification-specific,
• does not compromise validity, reliability, or comparability,
• does not bypass any requirement that must still be demonstrated directly,
• is decided by competent decision-makers,
• and is recorded in a way that remains auditable.

1.1 Policy ownership boundary

This file is the canonical owner of Tyrogen’s published policy for Recognition of Prior Learning.

This file does not own:

• the appeals process for challenging an RPL decision, which is owned by Appeals Policy,
• general complaints process ownership, which is owned by Complaints Policy,
• qualification design and lifecycle governance, which is owned by Qualification & Assessment Lifecycle,
• or general document-control rules, which are owned by Document Control.

1.2 Ofqual alignment

This policy supports Tyrogen’s compliance with requirements and expectations including:

• E10 (Recognition of Prior Learning),
• linked controls over assessment validity, comparability, and decision-making,
• and the requirement to publish the evidence, stages, criteria, outcomes, and challenge routes applying to RPL.

2) Scope

This policy applies where Tyrogen permits prior learning, prior achievement, or prior certificated evidence to be considered as part of a qualification or assessment decision.

It applies to:

• learner or Centre requests for RPL,
• review of the evidence and eligibility basis,
• partial acceptance, conditional acceptance, or refusal of an RPL claim,
• recordkeeping,
• and the related complaints or appeal linkage.

RPL is available only where the relevant qualification rules allow it and where Tyrogen can remain satisfied that the resulting qualification outcome is valid, reliable, and defensible.

3) Principles

Tyrogen recognises prior learning only where doing so:

• does not compromise validity, reliability, or comparability,
• is consistent with the qualification objective, specification, and assessment strategy,
• is supported by sufficient, relevant, authentic, and appropriately current evidence,
• does not remove any requirement that must still be demonstrated directly,
• and is recorded with a clear rationale.

Taken together, these principles show that RPL is a controlled recognition route rather than a shortcut: Tyrogen accepts prior learning only where the evidence and qualification rules support a valid and auditable decision.

4) Definitions

• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): recognition of relevant prior learning, prior achievement, or prior certificated evidence as counting toward part of a qualification requirement where Tyrogen permits this.
• Prior learning evidence: evidence offered to show that a learner has already achieved relevant knowledge, skills, or understanding.
• Residual assessment requirement: any unit, outcome, competence requirement, or assessment element that must still be completed because the RPL evidence does not cover it fully or cannot appropriately replace direct demonstration.

5) Eligibility and decision criteria

When considering an RPL request, Tyrogen assesses whether:

• the prior learning is relevant to the qualification requirements,
• the evidence is sufficiently current for the purpose,
• the evidence is authentic and attributable to the learner,
• the evidence is sufficient in quality and scope,
• any competence, currency, safety-critical, or mandatory direct-assessment requirement must still be demonstrated,
• and recognition of the prior learning would still allow the qualification outcome to remain valid and reliable.

Tyrogen may:

• approve a request,
• partially approve it,
• approve it subject to conditions,
• request further information,
• or refuse it with a recorded rationale.

Tyrogen’s decision criteria therefore test relevance, currency, authenticity, sufficiency, and standards impact before any prior learning is recognised.

6) Evidence requirements

Evidence for an RPL claim may include, as appropriate:

• certificates or formal achievement records,
• portfolios or authenticated work products,
• employer, assessor, or provider statements,
• mapped evidence showing how prior learning aligns to qualification requirements,
• and any additional evidence Tyrogen requires to confirm authenticity, sufficiency, currency, or scope.

Evidence must be proportionate to the claim and sufficient to support a defensible decision.

7) Application and decision route

7.1 Submission

The learner or Centre submits an RPL request with supporting evidence.

Requests must identify:

• the qualification,
• the unit(s), outcome(s), or requirements affected,
• the basis of the claim,
• and the evidence relied upon.

7.2 Review

Tyrogen reviews the evidence against the qualification requirements and the criteria in this policy.

Tyrogen may request additional information where evidence is incomplete, unclear, insufficient, or not adequately authenticated.

7.3 Decision

Tyrogen records the decision and rationale and, where relevant, identifies:

• what has been recognised,
• what has not been recognised,
• what conditions apply,
• and what residual assessment or evidence still needs to be completed.

7.4 Possible outcomes

Possible outcomes include:

• full acceptance of the claim for the specific element requested,
• partial acceptance,
• conditional acceptance,
• refusal,
• or request for further evidence before a final decision is made.

The RPL route is therefore a staged evidence-and-decision process: the claim is submitted, reviewed against qualification rules and evidence criteria, and resolved through a recorded outcome that makes any remaining learner obligations explicit.

8) Role of Centres and decision-makers

Centres may support an RPL application by:

• helping the learner assemble the evidence,
• providing contextual information,
• mapping evidence to qualification requirements where appropriate,
• and identifying any residual requirements.

However, Tyrogen retains the authority to determine whether an RPL claim is accepted where the qualification rules require Tyrogen’s decision.

RPL decisions must be made or approved by staff who are competent to consider RPL claims and to judge their validity against the qualification requirements.

9) Limits and qualification-specific constraints

Any qualification-specific limit on the amount or type of RPL permitted must be stated in the relevant qualification rules, specification, or supporting guidance.

Where no qualification-specific route has been published, no assumption should be made that whole-qualification award through RPL is available. Tyrogen applies RPL only to the extent that the qualification rules, evidence available, and standards requirements support it.

10) Complaints and appeals

If a learner or Centre is dissatisfied with the service, handling, or administration of an RPL matter, they may complain under Complaints Policy.

If a learner or Centre believes an RPL decision itself is unfair, the matter may be appealed under Appeals Policy.

11) Records and review

Minimum records include:

• the RPL request and supporting evidence,
• assessment of eligibility and evidence sufficiency,
• the decision record and rationale,
• any conditions, limitations, or residual assessment requirements,
• and any complaint or appeal record where applicable.

Tyrogen reviews this policy periodically and amends it where necessary to keep it effective, clear, and compatible with qualification validity and regulatory expectations.

The retained RPL record set shows the claim, the evidence, the decision basis, the outcome, and any remaining learner requirements so that recognition of prior learning remains auditable.

12) Related documents

• Appeals Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Document Control
• Qualification & Assessment Lifecycle

13) Change log