Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is one of the
most impactful initiatives of the Informal Sector Industry Skills Council
(ISISC). It provides formal recognition to workers who have gained skills
through experience, apprenticeship, or on-the-job learning, even if they
have never attended formal training.
RPL ensures that millions of informal workers in Bangladesh
receive official certification, boosting their confidence,
employability, and income potential.
What Is RPL?
RPL is a formal process that assesses and certifies the
skills that individuals have already acquired.
Instead of requiring workers to start from the beginning of a training program,
RPL evaluates what they already know and can do.
Who Benefits from RPL?
- Informal
sector workers
- Master
craftspersons and apprentices
- Migrant
workers
- Workers
with years of practical experience
- Individuals
who learned skills without attending formal training
Why RPL Is Important for the Informal Sector
The informal sector is skill-rich but certificate-poor.
Millions possess strong practical abilities but lack documentation.
RPL helps to:
- Provide
formal certification for informal skills
- Increase
employment opportunities at home and abroad
- Enhance
wages and career mobility
- Improve
productivity and quality in enterprises
- Recognize
the value of traditional and experience-based skills
How ISISC Implements RPL
ISISC follows a structured and transparent process to ensure
fair and accurate assessment.
RPL Process
Candidate
Registration
Workers sign up based on their occupation and experience.
Pre-Assessment
& Orientation
Candidates are informed about assessment standards and requirements.
Competency
Assessment
Certified assessors evaluate workers through:
- Practical
demonstration
- Oral
interviews
- Workplace-based
performance checks
- Evidence
and portfolio review
Certification
Successful candidates receive NSDA-approved national certificates
aligned with NOS (National Occupational Standards).
Counselling
& Career Guidance
Certified workers are guided on:
- Employment
opportunities
- Further
training or upskilling pathways
How RPL Supports National Skills Development
ISISC’s RPL initiative contributes to:
- A
skilled, certified workforce
- Recognition
of lifelong learning
- Improved
labor market competitiveness
- Safer
migration opportunities
- Quality
assurance across informal enterprises
It strengthens the national goal of making skills inclusive,
accessible, and industry-aligned.
Impact of RPL
- Empowers
workers with formal identity and dignity
- Helps
enterprises maintain quality and standards
- Enhances
workforce development in Bangladesh
- Supports
national and international employment pathways
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