All students require a unique student identifier (USI) when enrolling in training. To apply for your USI, go to the Australian Government Unique Student Identifier website.
- Students undertaking vocational education and training (VET) need a USI to receive their nationally recognised training qualification.
- USIs comprise ten numbers and/or letters and it typically looks something like this:
3AW88YH9U5 - They are free.
- They can be created online in less than 5 minutes.
- Students only need one USI and it stays with them for life. The USI allows students access to their personal training records in the National VET Data Collection.
USI transcripts
Through their USI account, students can access an online national training record known as a USI transcript, which they can use when applying for a job or when enrolling in further training. USI transcripts contain nationally recognised training from 2015, but do not replace the hardcopy qualifications issued by registered training organisations (RTOs). An online USI transcript is a valuable supplement to these documents, especially when a student’s training activity accumulates over time. Students can download and share a copy of their USI transcript and they can give an RTO online access to their transcript.
Using USIs
Student can use their USI to:
- update their personal details in their USI account (by logging in to the USI Student Portal)
- view their national training record from 2015 onwards
- download their USI transcript
- allow and manage access by RTOs to their USI account and/or their USI transcript..
RTOs are required to:
- collect a USI from each student
- verify USIs supplied by students
- ensure students have a valid USI before issuing them with a qualification or statement of attainment
- report USIs with training information into the National Data Collections according to the Standards for RTOs 2015
- ensure the security of student USIs
- destroy any personal information collected to create a USI on a student’s behalf.