About Us » Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I need to do an apprenticeship to work in a trade?

A. No. Sure- some trade jobs need to be supervised by or signed off by someone who has done an appropriate qualification such as an apprenticeship certificate; but a lot of people work in trades without any particular formal qualifications. The most important thing is to know how to do the job, do it well and do it safely.

Q. Why study a shorter course rather than a full apprenticeship in order to learn trade skills.

A. A shorter course can give you the knowledge and skill to do trade jobs without needing to commit to a lengthy apprenticeship which typically takes several years to complete, with relatively low annual income over those years. Some people learn in order to do work for themselves (eg. home renovation, equipment repair, painting or gardening). Others may use a shorter course to acquire knowledge or skills to help them get work or expand the things they can do in work they already do.

Q. When can I start studying?
A. Anytime. We have daily intakes. Access to your course materials is sent to you via email. Once you have received the enrolment information from us, we encourage you to get started right away. 

Q. How long does it take to complete the course?

A. That is up to you; but it's important to understand that the best learning is usually achieved by spready the course over time. Give yourself time enough to study a lesson and reflect on what your studied, then get feedback on an assignment and reflect on that feedback. When learners don't rush through the process, they tend to remember a lot more of what was studied, and for a lot longer.

Q. How do ACS Certificate courses work? 

A Certificate means you will sit an exam at the end of each module. You are entitled to receive a Statement of Attainment on completion of each module you select as part of your course. After succeeding in six selected modules, your achievement will be highly recognised with a Certificate in (Name of Course here).

As a traditional online student you are entitled to:

• Unlimited access to our friendly expert tutors
• Frequent, automated self-assessments
• Feedback through submitted assignments
• Self-paced study which means you can do more when you have time, and take a break when needed
• Study where it suits you - means less transport costs, not attending a campus or classroom

Q. Do I need to complete work experience? 

For most courses, no formal placement is necessary. We recommend our students connect with industry as much as possible and we've carefully designed tasks and experiences to help you achieve this. 

Q. Do I need a lot of tools, materials and equipment.

A. You can do these courses with a minimum amount of tools. Some courses require little more than a computer and the motivation to learn, but others may expect you to have some tools related to whatever you are studying.  To get the most from a carpentry course for example, it is best to own some basic woodworking tools, and have some timber you can work with; but there are no specific requirements that necessitate spending a lot of extra money to complete the course. If you plan to buy tools and have not yet done it; you are advised to wait until you are studying and get a tutors advice on what is most useful.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (e.g. Get sick, go on holidays, have a baby).
A. If you need to, just apply to defer your studies, and we will put your course on hold for you, for up to 6 months with no additional charge. If you wish to defer for longer, a restart fee may apply later on.

Q. Do I need any extra books?
A. You are supplied with all "essential" reference material to complete a course. Learning to undertake research is important in any area of study these days though; so you may at times need to have access to a library or the internet, to undertake some work beyond the course notes supplied.

Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. A range of ebook references have been developed specifically to compliment many of the courses; and these are available through our book store on this web site, if you are ever seeking additional reading.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
Email, call or use social media to get in touch. If your tutor isn't available immediately, they will get back to you. 

Q. What can I achieve as a student?
A. You need to understand that a course is "a learning experience” designed to transform your understanding of the subject you study. If you apply yourself, and have faith in the expertise of the course writers ad tutors, you should leave the course different capabilities and a mindset that will enable you to be more effective within your area of study. Whether these added abilities are sought to impress employers, improve business prospects or simply enhance your personal passions, this course does have the potential to help you achieve whatever goals you might have.

Q. Do we get a discount if two people enrol together?
A. You may claim a 10% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.

Q. Do I get a discount if we enrol in a second course?
A. Yes, you may claim a 10% fee discount when you enrol in a second course. (This does not apply however to the second stage or part of the same certificate). 

Q. How does recognition of these courses compare with others?
A. Exceptionally well; but different.  These courses have a long history dating back to 1979 when the first was developed by John Mason, an internationally respected author, educationist, businessman and horticulturist. Mr Mason is the author of over 150 books and 600 courses; and worked for decades in both Australia and the UK.  The courses have been delivered by a group of affiliated colleges, out of seven different countries; and have been studied by over 150,000 different people. This college is one of those “affiliated” colleges.

Q. How is Practical Work Done?
Unless you have experienced our courses it can be difficult to comprehend how an online course can be anything more than reading and answering questions. In reality though students studying this way are treated as individuals, which doesn’t tend to happen in a large college or university classroom, with one teacher attempting to communicate with dozens of different students, each with different needs, all at the same time.

Our courses are very practical, and allow for learning that focuses on “differing individual needs”

Set tasks are a key part of most courses; challenging students to interact with the real world through observation, research and simple practical tasks. Every subject is different; every student is in a different situation, and every situation calls for a different learning experience. These courses recognise and cater for these considerations. If you would like some specific examples, contact us and ask us.

Yes! We'd like that. 

We are experienced in helping people make career changes and decisions. 

We have course counsellors that can offer you support or advice with no sales pressure, have a friendly and informative chat. 

We have written books on working in different industries and we know what employers need. 

We know how to help you ease into education if it's been a while, or help you get started and feel confident to pursue your ambitions. 

Talk to us today.