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Course Updates and Student FAQs

Review course updates, unit changes, and key FAQs for current and future students. Learn about transitions, prerequisites, gap assessments, and RPL options. Stay aligned with SAA requirements.

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Accreditation Course Questions

01How are the different courses conducted?

Design and Install Course split into three parts:

  1. Online Theory – assessment questions completed as you read through the course material; this should be attempted before you attend the practical component.
  2. Practical – two or three day practical at the Sydney Training Facility, doing installations, fault finding, commissioning and revising online theory.
  3. Design Task – final assignment to bring together all theory and practical knowledge.


Install Only Course split into two parts:

  1. Online Theory – assessment questions completed as you read through the course material: this should be attempted before you attend the practical component. Note: the install online component is shorter than the Design and Install online component.
  2. Practical – two or three day practical at the Sydney Training Facility, doing installations, fault finding, commissioning and revising online theory.


Design Only Course split into two parts:

  1. Online Theory – assessment questions completed as you read through the course material: this should be attempted before you attend the practical component
  2. Design Task – final assignment to bring together all theory and practical knowledge.

Non-electricians can complete the Electrical Principles prerequisite course. This course covers the electrical knowledge needed to enrol in the Design Only courses. The Electrical Principles course is open to anyone, but it can be challenging if you do not have any background or experience in electrical design. Engineers or others who are already experienced in electrical design can use this course as Recognition of Prior Learning for their previous electrical training, by simply completing the course assessments without needing to revise the provided learning materials.
Once you have completed the Electrical Principles course, you can enrol into the Grid-Connected PV Systems Design Only or Stand Alone Power Systems Design Only courses. Successful completion of the Design course will mean you are eligible to apply for Solar Accreditation Australia Design Only accreditation!

In February 2024, the CEC stepped down as the installer and designer accreditation administrator. The new administrator is a new organisation, Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). SAA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded by the Smart Energy Council and Masters Electricians Australia.

Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) have set up a dedicated phone number and website for accreditation.
Website: https://saaustralia.com.au/
Phone: 1300 001 580

GSES recognises Statement of Attainments from other RTOs. So if you already have completed, for example UEERE0054, then you won’t have to complete that unit again. GSES needs to see your certificate, and verify that it is valid for you to get credit for previous units.

The National units of competency required for SAA accreditation are occasionally updated by the government. As a result, GSES has spent the last few months updating all our paperwork and materials to meet the requirements of the latest update for all of our accreditation courses.

I’m a current student, how does this affect me?

We’ve emailed all current students with information on their particular situation. Let us know if you didn’t see the email! Essentially students need to either complete their current course by December 2023 or transition to the new units. Transitioning to the new units will involve additional assessments, but no extra cost for existing students. Students can also opt to move to the new units, just send us an email and we’ll work out how to do this for you without losing your current assessment progress.

I’m interested in enrolling, how does this affect me?

When you enrol, you’ll be enrolled straight into the latest version of the units of competency needed for SAA accreditation.
For non-electricians, this means you now need to complete the Electrical Principles course before enrolling into a Design Only course.

For battery course students, you may need to complete some gap assessment to meet the new PV prerequisite requirements, but this is free and included in your course if you hold a Statement of Attainment in UEERE0011, UEENEEK135A, UEENEEK035C or UEENEEK0035B (aka the grid-connected PV design units for the last 10-15 years), and you’ll receive an updated Statement of Attainment in the current grid-connected PV design unit UEERE0061 as a bonus!

As always, feel free to get in touch with our training team directly at training@gses.com.au and we’ll be happy to give you advice specific to your situation.

I previously completed an accreditation course with GSES, can I get Recognition of Prior Learning and upgrade to the new units?
The new units have been deemed not equivalent to the previous units of competency. This means a bridging course is needed to upgrade to the new units. The assessments may depend on when you did your previous training. GSES is planning on offering bridging courses for those interested in upgrading their units – get in touch if you’d like to be notified when they’re available!

What are the new units of competency?

The units of competency for each course have changed as follows:

Queries from Registered Students

01I have registered, but now I can’t log in.

When you register for the first time, you will receive an email that contains your new username and password.
Sometimes, your email client may treat such messages as spam and they may be sent to your junk mail folder – so if the email has not appeared in your inbox, please check your junk mail box.

If you have entered your email address incorrectly, you won’t receive the email or be able to activate your account. You will need to email the tutors at tutor@gses.com.au to activate your account.

Make sure you have entered your username and password correctly. The password is case sensitive, so make sure that ‘Caps Lock’ is off.
If you have forgotten your password, you can click on the ‘Forgotten Your Password’ link, enter your email, and your details will be sent to your email address.

If you can’t remember the email address you used to log in, you will need to contact the tutors at tutor@gses.com.au to retrieve your details.

All online courses have a duration of 12 months from the student’s enrolment.

Students that don’t complete the course within the 12 months can apply for a extensions by paying extension fees.

We allow a maximum of 6 months of extension. That is, the course is valid for a maximum of 18 months from the student’s enrolment.

RTOs are required to ensure that all assessments are valid and recent. Therefore, we cannot offer extensions past 18 months from enrolment.

A student that wants to continue the course after this period must re-enrol into the most recent version of the course. Options for validating assessments may be available depending on a case-by-case evaluation.

Cancellation

GSES will offer refunds for payments made through the online shop under the following conditions.

Publications and Equipment
All publications, product and equipment purchased separately (i.e. not materials supplied by GSES as part of course material) must be returned unused and in their original condition to our Sydney office. Returns will incur a 30% restocking fee. GSES reserves the right to refuse a refund on the basis that goods are damaged or have been used prior to return.

Online Training Courses
Cancellation of online training courses will be subject to the following conditions:

  • If the student’s Learning, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) levels are determined by GSES to be below the standard required to complete the coursework successfully, and the student has not yet submitted coursework for assessment, GSES may offer a full refund of the online course material and practical training component. If the student then opts to continue with the course, the standard cancellation and refund policy applies.
  • Cancellation of online training courses made within fourteen (14) days of the date of payment AND before the course has been accessed: the student will receive a full refund of the online course payment.
  • Cancellation of online training courses made within fourteen (14) days of the date of payment AND after the course has been accessed AND before any coursework has been submitted for assessment: the student will receive a refund of the online course payment less a cancellation fee of $440, unless the the value of the course is lower than this, in which case the student will receive no refund.
  • Cancellation more than fourteen (14) days after the date of payment OR after the first coursework is submitted for assessment (whichever occurs first): the student will receive no refund.
  • All course refunds are exclusive of the price of the supplied course publication as advertised at the time of enrolment, unless the publication is returned to GSES in an undamaged and unused condition. GSES reserves the right to refuse a refund of the publication on the basis that goods are damaged or have been used prior to return.
  • The cost of an online training course is inclusive of the Practical Training Component (if applicable), as are course refunds.


Practical Training Component

The confirmed date for the Practical Training Component is only available once a student has completed the necessary online assessments, used the Moodle-provided link to select a date, and received a confirmation email from GSES.

  • The date for the Practical Training Component may be changed, but this change cannot be made within fourteen (14) days of the starting date of the Practical Training Component.
  • Changing the date of any GSES Practical Training Component will incur an administration fee of $250.


There is no refund offered for cancellations less than 14 days prior to the scheduled start date of Practical Training Components.

Course Validity

Courses are valid for 12 (twelve) months, therefore the course must be completed within the expiry date given at the time of enrolment. If any extensions are required after the course expiry date, an administration fee of $150 per month will be incurred to extend the course.

If cancellation/extension/change of date etc is required, please contact GSES – tutor@gses.com.au or +61 2 9024 5312.

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