Applying to provide senior or foundation secondary education in a non-school setting

What is a non-school setting?

​​In Victoria, you can apply to deliver senior or foundation secondary education in a non-school setting.

Registration is required to deliver one or more of the following senior and foundation secondary courses:

  • Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
  • Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC)

You can also register to provide a single course within the VCE. For example:

  • VCE Languages Units 1–4
  • VCE Dance
  • VCE Music

​Providers wishing to apply to offer a senior or foundation secondary course should carefully read the following information before applying:

Pre-registration

Before registering to deliver the VCE or VPC, you must first apply for authorisation from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).

For information on how to apply, see: 

Before getting started familiarise yourself with the minimum standards for registration to provide an accredited senior or foundation secondary course. You will need to show how you meet them in your application.

For more information, see:

Pre-registration information sessions

Depending on demand, we run information sessions before applications close each year. Anyone planning to apply is invited to attend. When available, details are listed on our Events page. You can also email us for information:

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​Dates and timeline

Applications to register as a new non-school senior or foundation secondary provider are subject to the same dates and timeline for school applications. For more information, see:

Application form

To register to become a non-school senior or foundation secondary education provider you need to complete an application form.

Please make sure your application is clear and well-organised. Incomplete or poor-quality applications will be returned.

For more information see:

To complete some sections, you will need to fill in additional forms. To download these separately, see:

Contact us if you have any questions about to the application form:

​Application fee

A non-refundable fee applies to all applications. You can pay the fee online by credit card (Mastercard or Visa), BPAY or by Post Billpay.

To view the current fee or pay online, see: 

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​Submitting your application

Submit an electronic copy of your application to the VRQA Schools inbox as a zip file via email:

Once we receive your complete application, we will email you an invoice for the application fee by way of acknowledgement.

Assessing your application

Once you have paid the application fee, we will assess your application against the minimum standards for registration. If necessary, we may request additional information.

We will ask you to attend a meeting, usually arranged within 4–6 weeks of you applying.

You may receive written feedback after the meeting, as well as one opportunity to re-submit any documentation found not meet the minimum standards and requirements for registration.

Outcome of application

We will contact you when we have made a decision on your application. If we grant registration, we will issue you a certificate of registration.

We will not grant registration unless satisfied that your organisation complies with the minimum standards and other requirements.

Duration of registration

Non-school senior and foundation secondary education providers are registered for up to 5 years. Providers wanting to continue their registration need to submit an application for re-registration.

For more information, see:

Appeals

A person whose interests are affected by a decision not to grant registration can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review the decision. The application to VCAT must be made within 28 days of:

  • the day on which the VRQA makes a decision; or
  • the day on which a statement of reasons is provided (if requested); or
  • the day on which the VRQA informs the applicant that a statement of reasons will not be given (if requested).​