Four learners sitting side by side. Two the learners are looking at each other and smiling. The other two learners are looking ahead and smiling. They represent the learners that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) could benefit

Recognition of Prior Learning for employers

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Learners Employers Educators & Advisers RPL Guide RPL Stories

Make the most of
your team with RPL

Recognising Prior Learning (RPL) unearths the skills your employees already have. It saves time, supports career progression and helps your business get the most from your team.

Start using RPL today – head to our RPL Guide for tailored support, or watch our 40-second guide, see right.

We also regularly hold RPL workshops – click the link below to view workshops.

RPL Guide
RPL Workshops

The benefits of RPL

Unearthing hidden skills:

Discover the depths of employees’ knowledge and skills

Identifying training needs:

Find skill gaps and target training effectively

Saving money:

Reducing unnecessary training time by minimising duplication of learning

A graphic of icon bars, to signify the ascending SCQF levels

Motivating employees:

Recognise their achievements and boost engagement

Sparking innovation:

Encourage reflection on workplace activities, which can unlock new ideas

How can employers use RPL?

Employers can use RPL to support all aspects of workforce development, including:

Qualifications

It can help workers gain college or university qualifications more quickly if they are awarded SCQF credit points for prior learning. The use of Credit Transfer may also be considered by training providers.

Recruitment

By use RPL reflection in interviews, employers can help applicants showcase their skills.

Induction

Help new employees build on their existing skills and avoid unnecessary training.

Performance reviews

Help employees identify strengths and development areas.

Promotions

Help employees reflect on relevant past experiences, identify skills and aid progression.

Recognition of Prior Learning in action

Want to see how RPL works? Watch this recording from the European RPL Network Conference 2025 featuring Michael Cusack of ACS Clothing. Michael shares the story of employee Grant, who took his learning and development to the next level with RPL, and is now thriving in the classroom and the workplace.

Next steps

Get personalised help:

Explore our interactive RPL Guide for tailored guidance.

Begin an RPL reflection

Encourage your employees to reflect on their skills and experiences using our RPL Reflection Exercise.

Discover inspiring stories:

View our case studies of people who have successfully used RPL.

Need help?

Get in touch today

Contact us

Glossary Term

Authority

Appears at Level 12 only where it is used in the phrase ‘demonstrate substantial authority’, reflecting a recognised high level and depth of expertise/expert knowledge and understanding, along with confidence. It does not mean ‘exercise authority over staff and resources’ etc, as that could clearly apply at earlier levels.

Glossary Term

Exercise

Used in connection with management and/or supervisory responsibility, denotes a requirement of a formal, substantive role.

Glossary Term

Directive

Applied to ‘supervision’, signifies a task or activity that is guided.

Glossary Term

Graphical Data

Encompasses maps, plans, diagrams, tables and graphs.

Glossary Term

Synthesis

Combine discrete elements into a coherent whole.

Glossary Term

Analysis

Examine in detail with a view to explanation and interpretation.

Glossary Term

Present

Set out, put forward, deliver information using a variety of mediums as appropriate.

Glossary Term

Hypothetical

Supposed, assumed for the sake of argument.

Glossary Term

Straightforward

Clear and uncomplicated activity, but not as demanding or systematic and therefore not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Creativity

Often used in combination with ‘originality’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of creativity appears to be imagination.

Glossary Term

Originality

Often used in combination with ‘creativity’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of originality appears to be independence.

Glossary Term

Professional

Used throughout as an adjective and applied to terms including level, skills, techniques, practices, contexts, and issues where it bears broad interpretation as ‘behaving appropriately/doing things properly and well and to notions of accepted, (including externally) prescribed standards’, as well as narrow, relating to a specific occupation designated as a profession. In this latter sense, the term applies in all contexts including academic study, eg footnoting properly.

Glossary Term

Unfamiliar

New territory for an activity.

Glossary Term

Routine

Used as an adjective throughout and applied to terms including skills, tasks, elements, practices, contexts, methods and problems where it describes activity that is standard, usual, unvarying, customary, common.

Glossary Term

Everyday

Slightly more advanced and beyond personal but a known experience/activity encountered/applied regularly - less advanced than ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Familiar

Often encountered or experienced; common; something one has a good knowledge of - more advanced than ‘personal’ and ‘everyday’, not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Personal

An experience relating only or primarily to the person – one would expect to start here then widen out into the rest of the world, so not as advanced as ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Critical

Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment.

Glossary Term

Discerning

Using judgement to recognise differences but not fully equipped/informed to analyse and discuss them in depth, so less advanced than critical.

Glossary Term

Awareness

Consciousness, including a background consciousness. Can be a starting point for further exploration.

Glossary Term

Appreciation

A sense, perception, a hold, fix or grasp of one or more of the various aspects of a subject/discipline/sector.

Glossary Term

Understanding

A thorough and firm grasp of a subject/discipline/sector or an element or elements of it, derived from education/study, experience and reasoning in appropriate combination. Can be defined as ‘know why’, as opposed to ‘know that’. More holistic knowledge of processes and contexts, so more advanced than appreciation and knowledge.

Glossary Term

Simple

Undemanding activity not necessarily part of a formal structure - not as advanced as ‘basic’.

Glossary Term

Knowledge

Facts, ideas, theories and concepts in a subject/discipline/sector acquired through experience and/or education – a surer grasp than appreciation so more advanced.

Glossary Term

Basic

Activity is early stepping stone on a structure or framework that can be built upon – more advanced than ‘simple’.