Frequently Asked Questions

To enrol in our courses, you must have a good understanding of written and verbal English and maths, also known as language, literacy and numeracy (LLN). All students are required to undertake an LLN assessment before starting their course.

To enrol the prospective learner must:

• Have completed at least Year 10 or equivalent.
• Be 18 years of age or over
• Have a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) number
• Have a valid and current email address and phone number
• Have a valid Photo ID
• Provide Proof of Residency (Birth Certificate/Passport/Medicare Card or Citizenship Certificate)
• Emergency contact

Additionally, it is important that prospective learners require:

• Computer skills:
  As this qualification involves accessing computers for accessing learning materials, downloading and uploading documents, we recommend learners have the basic computer skills to engage with all requirements.
• Physical requirements:
  This qualification requires dealing with emergency situations which may involve:
  • Lifting and manual handling to assist clients
  • Maintain high level of personal hygiene
  • Monitoring client’s health till required assistance arrives
  • Patience, sincerity and adherence to policy and processes

While some learning materials may be available online, both HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection and HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance courses require in-person attendance for all learning, practical training and assessment.

The HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course is typically delivered in a blended mode, where students complete an online learning module before attending a face-to-face practical session to learn and be assessed for their knowledge and skills acquired.

The HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection requires 30 weeks to complete the course, HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance generally take 26 weeks to complete. The HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course is much shorter and can typically be completed in two days.

Yes, HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection has a requirement of 62 hours of work placement training and assessment; HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance, students are required to complete a practical work placement of 18 hours. This takes place in a clinical or laboratory setting to ensure students gain hands-on experience. 

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course, work placement is not required; however, students must successfully demonstrate practical first aid skills in a supervised training environment.

Students are responsible for finding a suitable work placement opportunity however NKTC will also assist you in finding one where you are unable to find one.

Yes, our courses are nationally accredited under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This means that upon successful completion, a formal AQF Certificate is offered for the HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection or the HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance. 

Students will be awarded a nationally accredited Statement of Attainment for successful completion of HLTAID011 Provide First Aid.

Each of the above are recognised across Australia and can be used to gain employment or further studies in the healthcare services industry.

The HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection is designed for those who want to become pathology collectors or phlebotomists, focusing on collecting blood and other specimens from patients. This course includes venepuncture training and teaches students how to interact with patients professionally. 

The HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance, on the other hand, is geared towards individuals who want to work in a laboratory setting, assisting with specimen processing, handling, and preparation. 

While both courses involve working with pathology specimens, the main difference is that pathology collectors focus on direct patient interaction, whereas pathology assistants work primarily in a laboratory environment.

Graduates of the HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection can pursue roles such as a phlebotomist, pathology collector, or specimen collector in hospitals, pathology clinics, and diagnostic laboratories. 

Those who complete the HLT37415 Certificate III in Pathology Assistance can pursue roles as pathology assistants, laboratory assistants, or specimen reception staff, where they will primarily handle and process medical samples rather than collect them from patients. 

No, NKTC will provide you with all the equipment you will need for each course. This includes items required for practical training, such as needles, blood collection tubes, gloves, and first aid materials. However, students may need to wear appropriate attire, such as closed-toe shoes, especially during work placement.

The HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certification is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed to remain current. However, the CPR component of the course must be refreshed every 12 months to ensure individuals maintain competency in performing CPR techniques.

NKTC offers all courses under the Fee for service mode. Please contact us for any assistance you may require.

A USI is your individual education number for life. It also gives you an online record of your vocational education and training (VET) undertaken in Australia.

• Create a USI – Get your USI | Unique Student Identifier
• Keep a record of your number – Find your USI | Unique Student Identifier
• Enrol with a provider – Give access to providers | Unique Student Identifier (usi.gov.au)
• Access your VET transcript – VET transcripts – Information for students | Unique Student Identifier (usi.gov.au)

Protection of Students Privacy

The protection of your USI – and the personal and educational data that it links to – is paramount and important safeguards will be in place to protect your privacy. A key principle underpinning the initiative is that individuals will have control over their USI and can determine who can have access to the personal and educational records associated with it.
Under the USI initiative a student’s USI must not be collected, used or disclosed by anyone other than the student for a purpose other than those set out in the legislation. There is also a requirement that anyone that has record of your USI is to protect that record from misuse or unauthorised access.
For further information including applying for an USI Number, please visit:https://www.usi.gov.au/