The Certificate II in Process Plant Operations has been developed as a technical qualification for use in the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining Training Package (PMA08).

Job roles/employment outcomes
The Certificate II in Process Plant Operations is intended for competent operators who operate production equipment or undertake similar roles directly producing products. The operator would apply a breadth and depth of knowledge to a defined range of situations and would be expected to apply this knowledge to solve a defined range of problems by applying known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems.
Other non-technical Certificates II are available for production support employees at this level, such as MSA20107 Certificate II in Process Manufacturing. This certificate should be used where the job requirements do not allow for the development of competency in sufficient technical units of competency. The Certificate II in Competitive Manufacturing MSA21108 is also available for employees at this level where the job requires sophisticated manufacturing practice skills rather than technical skills.

Application
This qualification is typically used to prepare new employees or develop existing workers performing an operational role in the chemical, hydrocarbons or refining sectors.
Operators may specialise in one of the following sectors:
• fine chemicals
• heavy chemicals
• petrochemicals
• polymer manufacture
• hydrocarbon extraction
• hydrocarbon transmission
• hydrocarbon processing/refining
• minerals processing/refining
• metals smelting/processing
• other related areas.
Specialisations must be reflected by the selection of units identified for specialised streams.
Training programs for this qualification are suitable to be undertaken as part of a formal training contract with an employer under an Australian Traineeship or Apprenticeship arrangement.

Pathways into the qualification
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry. Credit may be granted towards this qualification by those who have completed MSA10207 Certificate I in Process Manufacturing in the MSA07 Manufacturing Training Package or other relevant qualifications. Credit for this qualification may also include units contained within relevant skill sets.

Pathways from the qualification
Further training pathways from this qualification include PMA30108 Certificate III in Process Plant Operation, MSA30107 Certificate III in Process Manufacturing, MSA31108 Certificate III in Competitive Manufacturing, MSA30208 Certificate III in Manufacturing Technology or other relevant qualifications.

Additional qualification advice
An industry specialisation should include a range of units (typically production or other units relevant to the specialisation) that focus more on the industry speciality than a generic qualification.
An industry specialisation does not change the title of the qualification although RTOs may choose to record the specialisation.
MSA20107 Certificate II in Process Manufacturing from the MSA07 Manufacturing Training Package is available for production support employees at this level and should be used where the job requirements do not allow for the development of competency in sufficient technical units of competency.
MSA21108 Certificate II in Competitive Manufacturing is available for employees at this level who already possess technical skills and who require additional manufacturing practice skills above those available in this qualification.

Licensing considerations
There are no specific licences that relate to this qualification. However, in some jurisdictions some units in this qualification may have licensing or regulatory requirements. Local regulations should be checked for details.

Packaging Rules
To be awarded the Certificate II in Process Plant Operations competency must be achieved in sixteen (16) units of competency:
• five (5) core units of competency
• eleven (11) elective units of competency chosen as specified in the qualification notes.

Note
Where prerequisite units apply, these must be considered in the total number of units chosen.