What is the difference between VCE and VCAL?
VCE is a valuable pathway to further study at university, TAFE and the world at work. It is possible to complete a school based apprenticeship or traineeship within your VCE. A VCE program will usually consist of 20-24 semester units taken over two years.
VCAL gives practical hands-on experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. Like the VCE, it is a recognised qualification. Students who do VCAL are likely to be interested in going on to training at TAFE (Technical and Further Education), doing an apprenticeship/traineeship, or getting a job after completing school, rather than attending university.
If you start your VCAL and then decide VCE is the right option for you, you can change your mind. In fact, any VCE units you complete as part of VCAL will count towards your VCE, just as most VCAL units will count towards your VCE.
Click on the image below to access the VCAA website for more details:
VCE/VCAL Terms used in this Handbook
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| ATAR | Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (used by tertiary institutions to select students for courses) |
| SAC | School-assessed coursework |
| SAT | School-assessed tasks |
| VCAA | Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (which administers the VCE) |
| VCAL | Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning |
| VCE | Victorian Certificate of Education |
| VET | Vocational Education and Training program (of the VCE) |
| VICTER | Victorian Tertiary Entrance Requirements |
| VTAC | Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre |