The submission window is now officially open. For Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia, the 2026 ASQA Annual Declaration on Compliance (ADC) represents a critical milestone in regulatory accountability.

This year is particularly significant as it marks the first full reporting cycle under the 2025 Standards for RTOs. If you are a CEO or Compliance Manager, understanding the nuances of the 2026 ASQA Annual Declaration on Compliance (ADC) is vital to maintaining your registration and demonstrating a commitment to quality VET delivery.

What is the 2026 ASQA Annual Declaration on Compliance (ADC)?

The 2026 ASQA Annual Declaration on Compliance (ADC) is a mandatory online report where the person legally responsible for an RTO (the CEO) declares that the organisation is meeting its requirements under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.

By submitting the ADC, your CEO is formally declaring that:

1. Systemic Monitoring: The RTO has monitored its own compliance against the 2025 Standards (and the NVR Act).
2. Current Compliance: The RTO currently meets all registration requirements.
3. Self-Assurance: The RTO has processes in place to identify and rectify any non-compliance.

2026 ADC Key Dates & Eligibility

• Window Opens: 3 March 2026
• Window Closes: 31 March 2026 (11:59 PM AEDT)
• Who must submit? Any RTO registered on training.gov.au prior to 31 December 2025.

Your 2026 Compliance Declaration Checklist

Each year, ASQA invites the Chief Executive Officer of each training provider, by email, to complete the declaration. Each email contains a unique web link to your online declaration.

To help you prepare, we have summarized the essential steps from the Official ASQA ADC Checklist:

1. Accuracy Audit (asqanet & training.gov.au)

Before starting the declaration, you must ensure your data is perfect.

• Verify your CEO’s email address on training.gov.au. (The unique link is sent only to this address).
• Check that your Legal Entity Name and Scope of Registration are accurate in asqanet.
• Update any incorrect records immediately.

2. Evaluate Against the 2025 Standards

This is the first year you will declare compliance against the 2025 Standards for RTOs.

• Move away from old tools: ASQA has retired the pre-2025 self-assessment tools.
• Use Practice Guides: Review the ASQA Practice Guides for Information and Transparency, Integrity of Nationally Recognised Training, and Accountability.
• Self-assurance: Ensure you have evidence of how you monitor training quality and learner outcomes under the new framework.

3. Identify and Disclose Non-Compliance

The ADC is not just about saying “yes.” It is a tool for transparency.

• If you find an area where you are not compliant, you must disclose it.
• The 2026 form allows you to provide information on rectification steps you have taken or are currently taking. ASQA values “Self-Assurance” – finding and fixing your own errors is a sign of a high-quality provider.

4. CEO Submission

The declaration must be completed by the CEO listed on asqanet. While staff can help gather data, the final submission link is unique to the CEO and carries legal weight. 

If your RTO CEO did not receive the unique weblink to the online declaration during the submission period, they should take the following steps:

1. Check the spam/junk mail folder.
2. Check that the email address for its CEO contact is correctly listed on training.gov.au. If the address is incorrect, the RTO should update the contact details in asqanet, and then contact the ASQA Info Line to request that ASQA re-send the email.
3. If none of the above apply, the RTO should contact the Info Line and advise that the RTO has not received the email.

View Annual Declaration on Compliance Guidance 

What Happens if You Don’t Submit?

Failure to submit by 31 March 2026 is a breach of your registration conditions. This can lead to:

• An immediate “High Risk” rating in ASQA’s risk profile.
• Potential suspension of your registration.
• Financial penalties.

The 2026 ADC is a crucial compliance obligation for every RTO. Preparing early – with a clear ASQA compliance checklist – not only ensures you meet the 3–31 March deadline but also positions your organisation for stronger governance, lower regulatory risk and higher market credibility.

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