What Are the Entry Requirements for Cert IV in Ageing Support?

To enrol in the Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015) at the Australian Leading Institute of Technology (ALIT), you need a Certificate III in Individual Support or an equivalent qualification, and you must be at least 18 years of age. You will also need current police and Working with Children checks, an English level of IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, and you must complete ALIT’s language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assessment at ACSF Level 3 or higher. This guide walks through each requirement, the enrolment process, indicative fees and what to do if you are not quite ready yet.

Entry requirements at a glance

ALIT’s five published entry requirements for CHC43015 are:

• Qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent
• Age: 18 years or older
• Checks: current police check and Working with Children Check
• English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent
• LLN: complete ALIT’s LLN assessment and achieve ACSF Level 3 or higher

New to this qualification? Start with our plain-English overview of what CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support is.

1. Qualification prerequisite: Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent

CHC43015 sits at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 4, so it assumes you already have the foundation skills of entry-level care work. That is why the first entry requirement is a Certificate III in Individual Support — typically CHC33021, completed in the ageing, disability or home and community stream — or an equivalent qualification.

If you hold a different but related Cert III, or a qualification assessed as equivalent, an ALIT advisor can confirm whether it satisfies the prerequisite. If you are still deciding whether the step up is worth it, our comparison of Certificate III in Individual Support and Certificate IV in Ageing Support explains the difference in responsibility, study depth and the roles each unlocks.

2. Age requirement: 18 years or older

You must be 18 or older at the time of enrolment. This matches aged care industry expectations: the providers that host work placement require students to be adults, and most direct care roles carry the same expectation.

3. Police check and Working with Children Check

Because CHC43015 includes work placement with older people, you need a current police check (a national criminal history check) and a Working with Children Check. In Victoria, the Working with Children Check is issued by the Victorian Government, and both checks are normally arranged before placement begins.

Individual aged care providers can set additional requirements of their own, and a national registration scheme for aged care workers is being introduced in stages. Before placement, confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority and your placement provider.

4. English language requirement: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

ALIT’s published English entry requirement is an IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent. Equivalent tests — such as PTE Academic or TOEFL — are generally accepted, and prior study completed in English can often be used instead of a formal test. If you are unsure whether your evidence qualifies, an advisor can review it with you before you apply.

5. ALIT’s LLN assessment: ACSF Level 3 or higher

The final entry requirement is ALIT’s own language, literacy and numeracy assessment. It is a short online check — around 20 minutes — built directly into the application flow, so there is no separate booking, and you receive instant feedback.

You need to achieve ACSF Level 3 or higher. The assessment is not designed to catch you out; it is used to make sure you are set up to succeed at level 4 study and to identify any support ALIT should put in place from day one.

Do you need first aid or medication training before enrolling?

No. At ALIT, the CHC43015 program includes HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, HLTHPS006 Assist Clients with Medication and CHCCCS033 Identify and Report Abuse within the course, so you complete them as part of your study rather than beforehand. If you want a head start on the medication unit, our guide to what the HLTHPS006 unit covers is a good starting point.

How the enrolment process works

ALIT runs enrolment in six steps: enquire, apply online (about 10 minutes), complete the LLN assessment, confirm your offer and lock in a start date, study with trainer support, then graduate with a nationally recognised qualification. For the complete walkthrough from USI to placement clearances, follow our step-by-step guide to enrolling in the Cert IV in Ageing Support in Victoria. CHC43015 is delivered on campus at West Melbourne with work placement, runs for 36–52 weeks, and has monthly intakes, so most applicants can start within weeks of enquiring.

For a fuller timeline, see our guide to how long the Certificate IV in Ageing Support takes.

What if you do not meet the requirements yet?

If you do not hold a Cert III, the usual route is to complete CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support first, then step up to CHC43015. The two qualifications are designed to stack, so the foundation skills you gain carry straight into the level 4 program.

If you already have substantial aged care experience — for example years of work as a personal care assistant — you may be a candidate for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). ALIT offers RPL for CHC43015, which converts your existing skills, work history and training into the qualification without repeating content you have already mastered. An advisor can tell you which path fits your background.

Fees to plan for

ALIT’s published fees for CHC43015 are a course fee of $3,399, a Standard Program fee of $2,899 for domestic students and a Standard Program fee of $7,499 for international students (52 weeks). All figures are indicative and confirmed at enrolment, and payment schedules can be discussed with an advisor — our guide to Cert IV in Ageing Support costs in Victoria covers the detail. International students study CHC43015 at ALIT under CRICOS course code 114247G.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enrol in CHC43015 with no prior qualification?

At ALIT, no — the published prerequisite is a Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent. If you have significant industry experience, ask about Recognition of Prior Learning instead.

Is the LLN assessment a pass-or-fail exam?

No. It is a short online check, built into the application, that confirms you are working at ACSF Level 3 or above and helps ALIT put the right support in place.

Do I need a driver’s licence?

A licence is not an enrolment requirement. Some home and community care employers prefer workers who can drive between clients, but residential roles rarely need one.

How long does CHC43015 take at ALIT?

36–52 weeks, delivered on campus at West Melbourne with work placement included, and monthly intakes.

What comes after the Certificate IV?

Graduates commonly move into senior support, team leader, care coordinator and lifestyle officer roles, and CHC43015 is a stepping stone to the CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services (Case Management).

Related ALIT guide: the units in the Certificate IV in Ageing Support. For details on whether you can study this qualification online, see Can I Study Cert IV in Ageing Support Online in Victoria?.