# Link Competency Evidence
Every trainer needs evidence they're competent in the units they deliver. RTOSafe checks each unit on a trainer's scope for a credential that proves competency, and flags the ones that have none on the [**Trainer Competency Evidence Gaps**](https://app.rtosafe.com.au/Reports/TrainerCompetencyEvidenceGaps) report. This article shows how to link that evidence so it counts.
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## What Counts as Competency Evidence
Competency evidence is a **training product credential** — a unit, qualification, or skill set from training.gov.au that the trainer holds. RTOSafe treats a credential as evidence for a unit when it's:
* **The unit itself** — the trainer holds that exact unit, or
* **A qualification or record of results that contains the unit**, or
* **An equivalent superseded version** — RTOSafe recognises these automatically using the National Register.
A **licence, check, or general certification** — a Working with Children Check, police check, first aid certificate, forklift licence — is a valid document to keep on file, but it doesn't prove competency in a training unit. Uploading one won't clear a gap.
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## Linking Evidence
1
Go to the trainer's **Documents** tab and select **Add Document**
2
Choose **A training product**, then select the unit, qualification, or skill set the credential covers
3
If it's a qualification or record of results, mark the units it contains so RTOSafe knows which units it evidences
4
**Verify** the document
Once verified, RTOSafe matches the credential to the trainer's scope automatically — including any units it contains and any equivalent superseded versions.
To link a document you've already added to particular units, open it and use **Map Scope**.
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## What Happens Next
The unit clears from the [**Trainer Competency Evidence Gaps**](https://app.rtosafe.com.au/Reports/TrainerCompetencyEvidenceGaps) report, and the credential appears against that unit in the [Trainer Matrix](/help/trainer-matrix). Evidence only counts while the document stays verified.
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## Common Issues
I added a document but the gap's still there
Check it's a **training product** credential, not a licence or check — only training products prove competency in a unit. It also has to be verified. If it's a qualification, make sure you've marked the units it contains.
"Holds related version — not deemed equivalent"
The trainer holds a related version of the unit that the National Register doesn't treat as equivalent, so holding it isn't enough on its own. Link a credential for the current unit, or use **Map Scope** to record which unit an existing credential covers.
The trainer is competent but has no training product credential
Where competency comes from experience rather than a training product, link the supporting document to the unit with **Map Scope** so the evidence is recorded against their scope.