What is the AQF?
The Australian Qualifications Framework — or AQF — is the national system that officially classifies every recognised qualification in Australia on a scale from Level 1 to Level 10.
It means that no matter where you study or which training provider you use, a Certificate IV is a Certificate IV. An employer in Brisbane knows it means the same thing as one in Perth. A university in Melbourne will recognise it the same way as one in Adelaide.
The full AQF scale
| AQF Level | Qualification | Typical duration | Typical career stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Certificate I | Weeks–months | Foundation / pre-employment |
| Level 2 | Certificate II | 6–12 months | Entry-level support roles |
| Level 3 | Certificate III | 12 months | Skilled trades / junior tech roles |
| Level 4 | Certificate IV | 12 months | Technical specialist roles |
| Level 5 | Diploma | 18 months | Advanced technical / team lead |
| Level 6 | Advanced Diploma / Associate Degree | 2 years | Senior technical / paraprofessional |
| Level 7 | Bachelor Degree | 3 years | Professional / graduate roles |
| Level 8 | Honours / Grad Certificate / Grad Diploma | 1–2 years post-degree | Specialist / research roles |
| Level 9 | Masters Degree | 1–2 years post-degree | Leadership / research |
| Level 10 | Doctoral Degree | 3–5 years | Research / academic |
Levels highlighted in green are the most common entry and early-career qualifications in tech.
Why does it matter for your career?
Knowing the AQF level of a qualification helps you in three ways:
- You can compare qualifications side by side — a Diploma (Level 5) from any provider represents the same level of achievement.
- Qualifications are credit-transferable — if you complete a Diploma, you may be able to use it to get credit toward a Bachelor degree rather than starting from scratch.
- Employers use AQF levels to set hiring requirements — knowing the level helps you understand exactly what a job ad is asking for.
The learning pathway shown on your results page follows the AQF ladder in order — from micro-credentials through to degree level. You can start wherever suits your situation and build from there.
Source: Australian Qualifications Framework (aqf.edu.au) — the official Australian Government AQF website.