Where it fits › Western Australia
Where does VET fit? · Western Australia
In WA, VET helps you finish school and gives you a separate way into university.
A Certificate II or higher is one of the recognised ways to complete the WACE. VET does not count in the WA ATAR, but a completed Certificate IV or Diploma can be used to apply to university without one.
Year 11–12
Courses + your VET qualification
↓
1
The WACE
VET can stand in for up to 8 of the 20 units, and a Certificate II meets a key requirement.
3
Its own way into university
A completed Certificate IV or Diploma can earn a selection rank for entry, without an ATAR.
1 · WACE
VET counts towards finishing school
The WACE is built from course units. VET earns “unit equivalents” that stand in for some of them.
20
units or equivalents, including 10 at Year 12
14
C grades or better, at least 6 of them in Year 12
+
minimum literacy and numeracy, through NAPLAN or OLNA
Complete one of these three
• At least four Year 12 ATAR courses
• At least five Year 12 General courses, or a General and ATAR mix
• A Certificate II or higher, with other courses
Unit equivalents from VET
Certificate I
2 Year 11 units
Certificate II
2 Year 11 + 2 Year 12 units
Certificate III or higher
2 Year 11 + 4 Year 12 units
At most 8 unit equivalents in total: 4 at Year 11 and 4 at Year 12.
2 + 3 · University
In WA, VET reaches university by its own route
The ATAR and a VET qualification are separate. Students can aim for one, or keep both open.
The ATAR
VET does not count here
TISC calculates the ATAR from your best four scaled scores in Year 12 ATAR courses. Only ATAR courses with the external exam can be used.
ATAR course
ATAR course
ATAR course
ATAR course
A student can take fewer than four ATAR courses alongside a Certificate IV, keeping an ATAR subject in an area of interest while using VET for entry.
The VET route
A selection rank without an ATAR
School leavers following a VET pathway can use a Certificate IV or higher for a selection rank to selected courses at each WA university. It is not an ATAR.
Curtin
Certificate IV, WACE and English competence
ECU
Certificate IV and English competence; WACE may be required
Murdoch
Certificate IV and Year 12 for most courses
Notre Dame
Certificate IV, WACE and English competence
UWA
Diploma for selected courses, with WACE and English competence
A Diploma also meets the English competence requirement at every WA university.
Before you count on it
Get your WACE
Most WA universities expect school leavers on the VET route to have achieved the WACE.
Meet English competence
A Certificate IV alone may not; a Diploma does.
Prerequisites still apply
Some courses need set ATAR courses, and some need a Diploma rather than a Certificate IV.
Check the year you apply
Admission rules change between years. Always confirm with the university.
Shafston School of Business · VET in Schools 2027. Sources: SCSA, TISC 2027 admission requirements for school leavers, and WA university admissions information, checked October 2026.