From 2026, Year 12 graduates must complete an academic integrity course to be eligible for the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
This requirement responds to advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. It follows consultation with principals, parents, academics and other groups.
Students who finished, or were scheduled to finish Year 12 before August 2026 do not need to complete an academic integrity course to be eligible for a QCE.
What is academic integrity?
Academic integrity means approaching academic responsibilities in an honest, moral and ethical way. It includes:
- using appropriate processes and materials in academic work
- understanding ownership of information
- ideas and images.
Creating and maintaining good academic habits makes it easier for students to do their own work and acknowledge others’ work.
Since 2020, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has supported schools and students to understand the benefits of academic integrity through academic courses for students and their teachers.
The academic integrity requirement for the QCE further supports schools and teachers to make students aware of their responsibilities when submitting assessment.
Course options
To meet the academic integrity requirement for the QCE, students must complete one of the following options:
The online QCAA academic integrity course takes approximately one hour to complete. It is self-paced and includes scenarios and quizzes to help students understand:
- what academic integrity is and why it is important
- what academic misconduct is and how to avoid it
- developing effective academic practices, such as:
- accurately representing contributions from other sources (including collaboration and content created by AI tools)
- ensuring all work submitted for assessment is original.
Students in Year 10, 11 and 12 can access the academic integrity course through the Student Portal on the myQCE website.
The Student Portal frequently asked questions provide information and advice to help students access the Student Portal and troubleshoot login issues.
Completion of the online course will be automatically recorded in students' learning accounts in the Student Portal.
The alternative format toolkit allows schools to deliver the QCAA academic integrity course in a way that suits the needs of cohorts or individual students who may be unable to access or use the myQCE Student Portal to complete the course.
The toolkit is flexible — it can be used as is or adapted to suit the school context.
Schools can access the academic integrity alternative format toolkit through the Noticeboard on the QCAA Portal.
Completion of the alternative format of the academic integrity course is recorded by schools in the Student Management application in the QCAA Portal. The record of completion confirms that the principal or their delegate has approved the learning as an appropriate alternative to the QCAA’s online course.
The QCAA acknowledges that some schools may deliver their own academic integrity course or use a third party provider. If an equivalent program is used, it should expand students' knowledge and understanding of:
- the nature of academic integrity
- academic misconduct and how to avoid it
- effective academic practices, including:
- time management and forward planning
- sourcing appropriate information
- ensuring work is original
- ethical and responsible use of AI tools
- accurately representing contributions or ideas from other sources (including collaboration and content created by AI tools)
- appropriate referencing
- drafting and editing skills.
Completion of an equivalent academic integrity course will be recorded by schools in the Student Management application in the QCAA Portal. The record of completion confirms that the principal or their delegate has approved the learning as an appropriate alternative to the QCAA's online course.
- Last updated:
- 28 July 2026
