RPL Certificate IV in Kitchen Management

Last Updated on May 7, 2025 by Ozlinks Education

Convert your culinary skills and work experience into the Australian Certificate IV in Kitchen Management qualification. By obtaining credit for the skills and knowledge you already possess, you can save both time and money on training courses.

Let’s get your skills certified!

Certificate IV in Kitchen Management Overview

The SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management is specifically designed for individuals who aspire to build a career as chefs, sous chefs, or head chefs in the commercial kitchen environment. This certificate provides opportunities for careers in the hospitality industry, such as working in hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes, or starting your own restaurant business.

The skills acquired through the course can provide you with a strong foundation in culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen management, all of which are highly valued by employers.

To achieve this qualification, learners must demonstrate competency in a total of 33 units of competency that need to be completed:

  • 27 core units
  • 6 elective units

Job titles:

  • Chef
  • Chef de Partie
  • Commis Chef
  • Demi Chef
  • Second Chef
  • Sous Chef

Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery

CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Find out if you qualify for this certificate

Why do I need the Certificate IV in Kitchen Management?

You may need the Certificate IV in Kitchen Management to enhance your job opportunities if you wish to advance your career, particularly into supervisory or team leadership roles within kitchens. This qualification equips you with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to manage kitchen operations effectively. It allows you to navigate the job market more efficiently and increases your chances of securing employment in Australia, as well as providing the potential to establish your own small business in the food sector.

International students and migrants may need to obtain the Certificate IV in Kitchen Management as part of their migration skills assessment for general skilled migration visas or skills in demand visa applications.

Ozlinks Education can help you convert your skills and work experience into a formal Certificate IV in Kitchen Management through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme offered by one of our registered training organisation partners. Our expert team will assess your individual circumstances and provide customised support to ensure you obtain the qualifications necessary to advance your career.

Skill assessment for migration

rpl certificate iv in kitchen management
rpl certificate iv in kitchen management

What does a chef do?

A chef plans and organises the preparation and cooking of food in a dining or catering establishment.

Their job involves:

  • Assists in the planning of menus and determining food quantities and costs
  • Prepares and cooks food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience
  • Monitors food quality and presentation
  • Manages and trains Cooks and Kitchenhands in food preparation, cooking techniques and food safety
  • Orders and maintains inventory of food and kitchen supplies, ensuring it meets daily production needs
  • Collaborates with management to develop new dishes and improve existing recipes
  • Coordinates with front-of-house staff to ensure efficient food service
  • Ensures compliance with health and safety regulations in the kitchen

What is Recognition of Prior Learning?

The Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), governed by the Australian Government’s Department of Education in consultation with the states and territories, ensures that all students have the right to have their prior education, relevant work experience, and training acknowledged, facilitating their advancement towards and between qualifications. Each registered training organisation (RTO) has its policies and procedures for determining your Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) eligibility, but the core principles remain consistent. The experience and skills you have gained through your work can assist you in completing a qualification more quickly and reducing the time commitment involved in taking a course to bring you closer to your dream job.

The advantages of using RPL program

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program offer numerous benefits, including time and cost savings by validating existing skills and experience, expedited qualification achievement, and improved employment prospects. RPL program helps you:

  • There is no need to relearn what you already know.
  • It saves both your time and tuition fees.
  • Assist you in achieving your career change objectives in Australia.
  • Gaining an Australian qualification requires less time.
  • You do not need to attend classes or redo the training you have already completed.
  • Open new career opportunities in the building industry.
  • Obtain a qualification to satisfy the visa or skills assessment requirements.

Evidence requirements

Below is the general list of documents that you are required to provide to support your RPL assessment application:

  • 100 points of identification documents (ID)
  • A current resume outlines your relevant employment history
  • Student USI number
  • Employment evidence, including an employment reference letter, employment contract, payslips, income statement, and superannuation.
  • Workplace photos and videos that showcase you performing your tasks in accordance with the job duties outlined above demonstrate your competency in the relevant qualification.

Note: Additional gap training may be necessary to address any areas for improvement and to ensure a positive assessment outcome. An RTO assessor might conduct a competency interview with you to identify any existing training gaps.

General Skilled Migration

The RPL process is done in 3 simple steps.

The RPL process consists of three stages and typically takes between six and eight weeks to complete from the time an applicant applies to an RPL assessment institute. During this period, applicants gather evidence of their skills and experiences, which is then evaluated against the relevant qualifications. This thorough process ensures that the recognition of prior learning accurately reflects the applicant's capabilities and knowledge.

Register / Enrolment

Step 1: During the enrolment stage, you will have to demonstrate your skill level in relation to your chosen qualification by completing a self-assessment related to the required skills and knowledge to determine the relevance of the RPL pathway.

Assessment/ Evidence Review

Step 2: The RPL assessor will give you tests in the subjects of your applied qualification to find out what skills you have and match them to the skills needed to work in the industry and for the qualification you have chosen.

You will need to provide proof of the necessary documents, photos, and videos to show that you know how each subject in your qualification.

Result

Step 3: If you meet all units of competency under the qualification, you will be issued with a Certificate and Statement of Results.

Register / Enrolment

Step 1: During the enrolment stage, you will have to demonstrate your skill level in relation to your chosen qualification by completing a self-assessment related to the required skills and knowledge to determine the relevance of the RPL pathway.

Assessment/ Evidence Review

Step 2: The RPL assessor will give you tests in the subjects of your applied qualification to find out what skills you have and match them to the skills needed to work in the industry and for the qualification you have chosen.

You will need to provide proof of the necessary documents, photos, and videos to show that you know how each subject in your qualification.

Result

Step 3: If you meet all units of competency under the qualification, you will be issued with a Certificate and Statement of Results.

What qualification are you looking for?

To enhance your chances of securing a well-paying job in the Australian market, consider evaluating your skills and work experience, along with obtaining formal recognition of your qualifications. If you are a skilled baker, chef, cook, or restaurant manager, you may apply for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Select the qualification that best aligns with your needs and circumstances from the list provided below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions that our customers often ask us. If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact Ozlinks Education now.

Why should you consider RPL?

The RPL is generally a faster way to an Australian qualification than completing a formal training course because it recognizes your previous work experience.

Yes. The RPL evaluation process is just as thorough as any other evaluation. But the evidence you need to show may be different from what is usually asked in a class assessment.

When the criteria for each of the subjects are met, a degree may be partially or fully accredited. For example, only completed subjects can be counted towards the qualification.

Even if your credits aren't enough to qualify, you can still receive written certification of the courses you've completed.

This will depend on the complexity of your qualification, how many subjects you apply for and how long it takes you to gather proof of work experience, collate and submit proof. Usually, the RPL process is 6 to 8 weeks from the date of application to the RPL assessment institute and also depends on your industry and qualifications.