Senior and foundation secondary education is usually undertaken in Years 11 and 12.
Senior secondary education prepares students for initial entry into the workforce, for vocational education and training and higher education studies.
Foundation secondary education prepares students with knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and further learning.
There are 2 bodies that award senior or foundation secondary qualifications (awarding bodies) in Victoria: the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO).
We have accredited 3 VCAA courses:
- the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), a senior secondary course that includes the Vocational Major
- the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), which is a foundation secondary course
We have also accredited the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which is a globally recognised senior secondary course awarded by the IBO.
In Victoria, we are responsible for the:
- registration of senior and foundation secondary providers to deliver one or more senior or foundation secondary qualification in schools and in non-school settings
- registration of awarding bodies
- accreditation and registration of senior secondary and foundation secondary courses and qualifications.
For information about applying to provide senior or foundation secondary education, see:
To search for registered providers, see:
For information about becoming an awarding body or the accreditation and registration of senior secondary and foundation secondary courses and qualifications, see: