Validation vs Moderation in RTOs: What Australian Training Providers Still Get Wrong

Why RTOs Still Confuse Validation and Moderation (and Why It Matters in 2025)

Despite years of reforms, updated ASQA guidance, and countless audit outcomes, many Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in Australia are still mixing up validation and moderation, often at the cost of compliance. With the new Standards for RTOs coming into effect as of 1 July 2025, it's more important than ever to get it right.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Assessment Validation in an RTO?

Assessment validation is a structured, documented process used to ensure your assessment tools, judgement decisions, and evidence align with the requirements of the unit of competency.

There are two types of validation:

  • Pre-assessment validation (before tools are used)

  • Post-assessment validation (after delivery, focusing on judgement quality)

Under ASQA requirements, post-assessment validation must include at least one person who was not involved in the original assessment. This independence is critical.

✅ Common mistake: Running an "assessment workshop" with the same assessors and calling it validation. If there’s no independence, it’s not compliant validation.

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What Is Moderation (and Why It’s Often Misused)?

Moderation is the process of comparing assessment decisions across assessors to ensure consistent judgements before finalising student results. It’s commonly used in schools and higher education, but here's the catch:

⚠️ Moderation is NOT required under the current or upcoming Standards for RTOs.

Still, many RTOs conduct moderation sessions and mistakenly label them as validation. While moderation can be a helpful internal quality strategy, it must not be confused with or substituted for formal validation.

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Why the Difference Between Validation and Moderation Matters

Under the 2025 ASQA Standards, assessment validation is even more central to ensuring training quality and student outcomes.

If your validation practices are still informal, undocumented, or conducted by involved assessors, you could face major audit non-compliance.

🛑 Simply renaming a calendar invite “Validation Meeting” doesn't make it compliant.

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Quick Tips for RTOs: How to Stay Compliant

  • Use moderation only as an internal consistency tool, but don’t label it as validation.

  • Conduct post-assessment validation with at least one independent, qualified person.

  • Document everything: what was validated, how it was done, and what changes were made.

  • Train all trainers and assessors on the clear difference between validation and moderation.

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Need Help With RTO Validation Processes?

You’re not alone—many RTOs struggle with the nuances of assessment validation vs moderation. At VET Solutions, we help RTOs across Australia implement compliant validation systems that align with the new 2025 Standards.

Let’s talk about how we can support your compliance journey.

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