Yes. Military experience can be considered as part of a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment, but it does not automatically give you the CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations. Defence personnel can bring extremely valuable transferable skills into the security industry, including risk assessment, communication, teamwork, situational awareness, patrol procedures, access control, incident response, radio communications, first aid and working effectively under pressure.

However, military service and civilian security are different working environments. CPP20218 contains 14 core units with specific knowledge and practical assessment requirements, and competency still needs to be demonstrated against those requirements. BARS Training Australia can review your previous military qualifications, Statements of Attainment, service and training records and other relevant evidence to determine what may contribute towards RPL. Practical assessment may still be required where your existing evidence does not demonstrate the current competency requirements.

This is particularly important with areas such as Queensland security law, crowd control, dealing with intoxicated persons, civilian client service and security-specific procedures that may be quite different from military operations. So absolutely tell us about your Defence experience – it may significantly assist an RPL assessment. But just like former police officers, military personnel don't receive an automatic security qualification simply because of their previous occupation. RPL recognises what you can already demonstrate, while identifying any gaps that still need to be trained and assessed.