The Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) recognises the achievements of students who follow an individual learning program. It is an official record that shows students have completed at least 12 years of education.
The QCIA provides students with a summary of their skills and knowledge to present to employers and training providers.
Individual learning programs
An individual learning program is a school-developed program of study. It uses curriculum organisers, learning goals and learning focuses on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s (QCAA) Guideline for individual learning (GIL) (PDF, 838.0 KB).
Schools develop these programs for students who have disabilities that affect their learning. These disabilities are not primarily due to socioeconomic, cultural or linguistic factors.
Schools record individual learning programs through the QCAA Portal. These programs:
- do not contribute credit to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
- cannot duplicate learning from any QCE-contributing studies (General, Applied or Short Course syllabuses, or VET courses).
Eligibility for the QCIA
To be eligible for the QCIA, a student must:
- be nominated by their school principal
- complete at least 12 years of education
- have at least one result for QCIA-contributing studies recorded in their learning account
- complete studies in an individual learning program
- not previously have been issued with a QCIA, QCE, Senior Certificate or equivalent interstate or overseas qualification.
What appears on the certificate?
The QCIA includes Statements of Achievement and Statements of Participation. These are based on evidence collected about students’ achievement and participation.
Schools report achievement under one or more of the curriculum organisers from the GIL:
- Communication and technologies
- Community, citizenship and the environment
- Leisure and recreation
- Personal and living dimensions
- Vocational and transition activities.
More information
For detailed information on all aspects of the QCIA, see Section 3 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook. This includes information on eligibility, certificate inclusions, curriculum plans, quality assurance, statements of achievement, statements of participation and important dates.
For QCIA students exiting in 2026 and 2027, see memo 008/26: QCIA students exiting in 2026 and 2027 (PDF, 168.3 KB).
Frequently asked questions
No. Student achievements can be reported in other ways. Schools will discuss the most suitable certification options with students and their parents or carers in Year 10 during Senior Education and Training (SET) planning.
No. The individual learning program for the QCIA does not have credit value nor can it contribute to the QCE.
No. A student finishing Year 12 cannot receive a QCIA and a QCE. However, QCIA students may undertake some QCE-contributing studies while at school and continue working towards a QCE after school.
Yes. A QCIA student may undertake QCE-contributing studies while at school. However, this learning cannot be duplicated on the student’s QCIA. Instead, it will be reported on the Senior Statement which the student will receive at the end of Year 12 along with their QCIA.
Yes. A QCIA student who undertakes QCE-contributing studies while at school will receive a statement with their QCIA when they finish Year 12. The Senior Statement shows all studies that contribute to the QCE and the results the student has achieved. If no QCE-contributing studies are undertaken, no Senior Statement is issued.
No. A student may record up to a maximum of 3 completed QCE-contributing studies from the Core learning category in the learning account, regardless of the level of achievement. Recording more than 3 studies will affect QCIA eligibility.
No. Learning accounts in the Student Management application are used to record results for assessments completed according to syllabus specifications and conditions to accrue credits towards the QCE.
No. Statements of achievement and participation reflect only the individual learning students have completed for which the school has collected evidence. Completed and partially completed QCE learning is recorded in the student learning account and will be listed on the Senior Statement.
Students can show their QCIA to:
- employers as a summary of the student’s knowledge and skills
- training providers to help them decide the best training options to provide.
More information
For any queries email QCIA@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
- Last updated:
- 9 September 2026
