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CRICOS Code: Every Information You Need In The Nutshell

You might be familiar with the CRICOS code if you are in the education business. If you’re planning to become an education agent, this term might be new to you. Even though it sounds complex, you can easily understand it.

It is essential for an education agent as the CRICOS code determines how genuine and experienced you are. You cannot run your consultancy without getting familiar with it.

To help you out, we have explained every information you need to know about CRICOS in a nutshell.

So, let’s begin!

What is CRICOS Code?

Firstly, CRICOS stands for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. In Australia and New Zealand, training providers or educational institutions must be approved for registration on the CRICOS before they teach international students. 

Why is CRICOS important for students and agencies?

The CRICOS website lists all of the institutions and courses available to students applying to study in Australia on a student visa. As a student, when you are choosing your faculty or institution abroad, you need to know if the course and the institution are CRICOS registered. You can search for the subject of your interest and meet the standard expectation.

As a migration and education agent, you need to be careful while choosing your partnership with universities and education institutions and know if they are CRICOS registered or not. It is because only the institutes with CRICOS registration can teach overseas students. So, if you happen to partner with someone without such registration, it can cost you your market reputation and trust among your clients. Also, with approved courses and institutions, you can suggest the best options for your clients.

Thus, it simply assures you that the course or the institution is secure and trustworthy.

Is CRICOS course search the best tool for the Australian Based Education Agency?

CRICOS is an Australian government registry of Australian educational institutes that provide education services to international students. All the institutes register themselves and the faculties of subjects for international students under CRICOS.

 For an institute to provide services to international students on a student visa, they must register in the CRICOS. Only CRICOS registered institutions can offer courses to international students in Australia legally.

The Australian Government Department of Education manages the CRICOS. It is publicly available, and you can search courses by provider name or code.  

It contains specific information about the institution, the course offered, and contact details. In addition, segments of each course and subject field of education are there along with research or vocational importance, study levels, whether foundation studies are required or not, duration of the study, and total fee.

Australian education agencies looking to collaborate with providers have a ready-made platform to explore and grow their business. Moreover, registration with CRICOS is proof that the education provider is qualified to offer the course to international students. Combining it with your educational consultant management platform makes your agency management much more manageable.

CRICOS registered courses have an essential role, especially in line with Australia’s current immigration policy. It helps to decrease visa sub-categories and make the entire process more streamlined. At the same time, it is also an alternative resource for students who wish to do their research.

So is CRICOS course search the best tool for Australia’s education agencies? Most likely, the answer is ‘yes. Thus far, the CRICOS course has been beneficial for the education agency and helps in further improvement.

CRICOS requirements

If an education provider wishes to attract overseas students, CRICOS is the key. However, the providers applying for CRICOS registration must fulfill specific requirements based on legal obligations and quality of training experience.

For Australia, the requirements are to have an RTO registered certificate and the ELICOS national standards(for ELICOS COURSES). Similarly, the education should also ensure that they have maintained the requirements of the ESOS Act and the National code. If the courses are entirely online, the course cannot get the CRICOS code. 

Therefore, the overseas students must attend at least one on-campus unit a semester. The students can take more than 25% of their total course online. Consequently, the universities registered with the CRICOS code are of the top-notch level and are more advanced. They are comfortable collaborating with your features and education agency CRM tool.

How can I apply for registration?

If you want to apply for CRICOS registration initially, you can use the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Before submitting your application, you will need to prepare certain documents in asqanet. Then, you will need to pay all relevant fees for ASQA to consider your application. Once you submit your CRICOS and ELICOS registration application, your application will be reviewed to make sure you can comply with all the legislative assessments. 

CRICOS registration doesn’t happen right away. There is a list of steps the institutes have to go through. The process itself prepares the institutes to provide the required services to the international students.

We have explained the registration process in detail below for you. The requirements for CRICOS reflect the necessity and show how it safeguards the education system.

CRICOS Registration

Institutes cannot apply for CRICOS without meeting the requisites of it. Firstly, the registered training organisation (RTO) offering vocational education and training courses is eligible for CRICOS registration. Also, the providers providing English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS) courses can apply for CRICOS. But, ELICOS courses delivered as a school, as a higher education provider, or for entry arrangement with one education provider at least are not considered.

Again, for the courses to be registered, there are specific criteria as well. It must be registered as a Registered Training Organization that delivers vocational education and training courses. Similarly, it has to meet the ELICOS standard to fulfil the CRICOS course code requirement.

Besides, the ESOS act and national code are also the requirements for the institutions.

ESOS ACT

The Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act) protects international students in Australia. The act lays out the legal framework with specific standards for quality assurance.

The legal framework is the provision for overseas students for their welfare. It includes the registration requirements and the ongoing standards for education providers offering courses to international students.

The framework maintains the quality of the training and increases the care of students.

The objectives of the ESOS Act are to provide tuition assurance, and refunds, to overseas students for their paid courses. It is there to uplift Australia’s education and training services quality.

It also supports Australia’s migration laws, ensuring the collection and reporting of relevant information relating to student visas.

National Code

Another requirement National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students(National Code) is standards made under the ESOS framework.

The motive of the National Code is to support the ESOS framework. Moreover, it establishes Australia’s reliability and high standard in education and training courses. The registered providers get help in supervising student compliance concerning student visa conditions. It supports providers in reporting to the Australian Government about any student breaches.

Besides, the National Code regulates the delivery of courses to overseas students for their protection.

The National Code is a legislative instrument under the ESOS Act. Under the ESOS Act, violation of the National Code by education providers can result in legal action against them. This action can result in imposing certain conditions on registration or suspension and sometimes even cancellation of registration.

Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS)

As the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), register providers must submit some international students’ information to the Australian Government. They have to submit the information electronically through the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS).

Some Australian Government agencies have the advantage of monitoring student compliance and provider compliance through PRISMS.

PRISMS has a secure system for providers. It lets them issue ‘Confirmations of Enrolment’ for overseas students, i.e., required to get a student visa and report changes in any course enrolment. The Department of Education authorises prism in association with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

After approval of CRICOS registration, the Department of Education provides access to PRISMS.

Preparation for application

The providers need to prepare for starting an application for CRICOS registration.

An understanding of requirements is necessary. The requirements given below are essential:

  • ESOS Act
  • Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001 (ESOS Regulations)
  • English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Standards 2018.
  • National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code)

Local council approval

Providers’ planned location for providing services may require approvals from local councils. Beginners or newcomers in the education and training industry must visit the local board for the planning process and know acceptance. The committee provides them with all the information regarding the approval if required.

Providers without council approval have difficulty in operating and claiming the insurance coverage.

Demonstrate financial viability

Providers need to prove their financial viability while applying for CRICOS registration. Some registration requires detailed financial records and calculations using tools. The organisation should submit evidence about its members being up to the requirements.

Providers can submit the initial applications through the online registration portal to process the applications online and get an initial application invoice after applying CRICOS as the confirmation of the application.

CRICOS registration fees

CRICOS registration is not free. Extra fees may apply for adding items in registration and additional delivery sites. There are annual registration charges as well. The assessment of the application doesn’t begin without the invoice payment.

CRICOS design is wise, and it regulates universities and prevents any discrepancies in communication between students and institutions. If we see the application assessment, it is uncompromising. The requirements for the application are specific and mandatory. Authorities assess them at every stage for application approval. Detailed evaluation of the application takes place. The documents submitted after the deadline have a high chance of being rejected.

However, providers applying for CRICOS registration have to keep a few things in mind.

Providers with an agreement with other registered providers to provide training and courses can promote their service to students but have to mention their registered codes and courses.

The registration process and requirements are pretty tricky, and it ensures the high education standards in institutes.

So, the institutes processing the registration are the finest education providers responsible for maintaining excellent quality. The governments and CRICOS authorise the legally registered institutes that secure the students and upgrade the education system. It has helped to create a better reputation for Australian education.

After reading the CRICOS standards, we know that it is not merely a rule to follow. You can make sure through CRICOS that your clients get the best education in the authorised institution. Registration and verification in CRICOS will also boost the client relationship management of your company. However, you can contribute using Migration Agent CRM which is excellent client service.

Never forget to look for CRICOS registration while partnering with Australian institutes.

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