In Year 10, schools work with students and their parents/carers to develop a Senior Education and Training ( SET ) Plan, or similar.
Developing a SET Plan helps you to:
- think about your education, training and career goals after Year 12
- structure your learning in Years 11 and 12 around your abilities, interests and ambitions
- decide which learning options you should choose to achieve your learning, further education and training, and career goals
- map your pathway to a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
Once your plan is developed, your school will register you with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and your learning account will be created. You can track your progress towards a QCE via the Student Portal and your learning account.
A quick guide to planning your pathway
This video will help you understand the senior pathways planning process and the QCE requirements.
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Making decisions about the subjects and courses you’ll take in Year 11 and 12 is an important step in planning your future.
Whether your plans after Year 12 include further study, learning a trade or finding a job, the QCE lets you design a pathway that’s right for you.
In Year 10 your school will work with you and your parents or carers to help you think about your career goals, tailor your learning to your abilities, interests and ambitions, map your pathway to a Queensland Certificate of Education – Queensland’s internationally recognised senior schooling qualification.
To receive a QCE you need a set amount of learning, at a set standard, in a set pattern, and you must meet literacy and numeracy requirements. There are lots of study options to choose from: QCAA subjects and courses, vocational education and training, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and other recognised learning such as uni subjects.
So, where will your QCE take you? Talk with your school and explore your options at the myQCE website.
Example QCE pathways
There are hundreds of possible course combinations that may lead to a QCE. Your pathway will depend on your goals and the courses your school offers. Here are some examples of subject combinations that meet QCE requirements:
Example 1
A student enrols in six General subjects (Core category) over four semesters.
- English
- Mathematical Methods
- Psychology
- Geography
- Philosophy & Reason
- Dance
Example 2
A student enrols in six Applied subjects (Core category) over four semesters and a short course (Preparatory category) for one semester.
- Essential English
- Business Studies
- Religion & Ethics
- Arts in Practice
- Information & Communication Technology
- Agricultural Practices
- Short Course in Numeracy
Example 3
A student enrols in a combination of General and Applied subjects (Core and Preparatory categories) and completes learning as part of a school-based apprenticeship in Carpentry.
- Essential English
- General Mathematics
- Certificate I in Engineering
- Science in Practice
- Certificate III in Carpentry 30% of certificate completed 50 days/year on-the-job (100 total)
Where will your QCE take you?
Whatever you want to do when you leave school, the QCE lets you tailor your learning to suit your goals. Before you meet with your school you may like to do some research of your own.
Before you meet with your school to develop your SET Plan, you may like to:
- Think about your likes, interests, experience and achievements so far.
- Make connections between where you are now and where you want to go.
- Consider your personal strengths and areas to work on.
- Think about the different educational and vocational education and training choices available.
- Consider the subjects you're good at and enjoy.
- Research jobs that interest you, including educational requirements, salary, working conditions, future outlook, and anything else that can help narrow your focus.
- Compare your skills and interests with the jobs you have selected.
- Find out what school subjects (and results) are needed for the jobs that interest you.
- Look at the different costs associated with further education and training options.
Whatever you want to do when you leave school, the QCE lets you tailor your learning to suit your goals. You can choose from:
Whatever learning options you choose, it’s important that your combination meets the requirements to achieve a QCE. To receive a QCE, you must achieve:
- the set amount of learning
- at the set standard
- in a set pattern
- while meeting literacy and numeracy requirements.
Your school can help you plan your senior studies to meet QCE eligibility requirements and tertiary entrance requirements.
To get into many tertiary entrance courses, you'll need an ATAR. To be eligible, you must:
- satisfactorily complete an English subject
- complete 5 General subjects, or 4 General subjects + 1 Applied subject or VET course at Certificate III or above.
Some universities also require prerequisites. Make sure you find out what these are.
The QCE planner helps you develop a draft QCE plan to discuss with your school — you can list your interests and goals and see what your pathway might look like!
The planning includes an overview of the different QCE Categories and courses and their credit values.
FAQs
If you are not sure what you want to do after Year 12, choose subjects you like or have an interest in, and in which you are likely to do well.
The myQCE website has lots of information and resources that may help you with your career pathway planning.
If you intend to do further study after completing Year 12, you should check how students are selected for your preferred course/s. You need to ensure you choose subjects that fulfil the prerequisites for the course/s you are considering. You should then choose subjects that interest you and in which you are likely to do well.
Your school can help you to plan your senior studies to ensure you meet eligibility requirements, subject prerequisites, and other course entry requirements.
If you complete an AQF Certificate III or higher-level VET qualification while at school, you may be able to use this as the basis of admission to a higher education course. You may also be given credit at TAFE for units of competency or qualifications you have completed during Years 11 and 12.
School-based apprenticeships are unlikely to be completed while at school. If you start one, you may complete it as a full-time or part-time apprenticeship after Year 12. Once you have completed your training, you may use the apprenticeship to enter the workforce or continue with further study.
If you complete a school-based traineeship at school, you may use it to enter the workforce or continue with further study after Year 12.
Your school guidance officer can help you understand school-based traineeships/apprenticeships and help you investigate the best options for you.
If you enter the workforce after completing Year 12, you can return to further study at any time. To be eligible for a course, you must have successfully completed any prerequisite subjects.
If you do not meet prerequisite subjects based on your senior school subjects, there may be other learning options that the institutions and courses you are applying to accept as equivalent.
Tertiary institutions welcome applications from mature age and other applicants who are not seeking entry to tertiary courses immediately following Year 12.
If you have one, your ATAR from senior schooling will still be relevant, and for many institutions so will other qualifications and experiences you have gained since leaving school.
Contact QTAC or the institution you are seeking entry to for specific advice, including upgrading pathways.
